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Hi Aunt Vadge,
Am I pregnant? I had sex with my boyfriend about three weeks ago – we used a condom and he didn’t ejaculate – but my period is late. It was both our first times. My period is almost a week late and it’s usually on time (last month it came about five days early). I’m really scared, stressed and anxious about this!
Sincerely,
Late
Ireland
Dear Late,
You’re very unlikely to be pregnant. For that to happen, live sperm has to actually get inside you, and with a condom on and no ejaculation, there was simply no way in. Condoms used properly are about as good as contraception gets, and you used yours well.
There’s an easy way to put your mind right at rest, too: it’s been three weeks, so a home pregnancy test taken now would be accurate. If you can’t settle, grab a cheap one and do it today – I’m confident it’ll be negative, and then you can stop turning it over.
As for why it’s running late – periods come off the back of ovulation, about two weeks after, so a late one usually just means you ovulated late this month. Stress (like, say, fretting that you’re pregnant!), travel, illness or a big upheaval can all push ovulation back, and once it shifts, your period shifts to match.
It’s worth learning to track your cycle so you can spot your own ovulation – then a ‘late’ period usually explains itself, and you’ll know your fertile and not-fertile days for next time.
Be kind to yourself in the meantime – this one really is a non-event.
Warmest regards,
Aunt Vadge
This is general information, not a substitute for personalised medical advice.
