Dear Alice:
Yesterday, while standing in front of a terminal, I suddenly was hit with a feeling of intense weakness. It wasn't a stomachache, but a wave of weakness and nausea (perhaps? I'm not sure what nausea is). I quickly left the terminal and went to a bathroom and used it appropriately (no diarrhea). Afterwards, I felt fine, but there was still a feeling of something moving around in my lower stomach (intestines?).
My immediate thought was that it was "morning sickness," a symptom of pregnancy. However, I had thought that this occurred during the end of the first trimester. This seems impossible because I haven't been missing my period. If I did conceive, it could have happened only during last week. Wouldn't it be too early to tell? Also, are there pregnancy tests available at the Health Services in John Jay? If so, for what charge? Is it confidential? Do you recommend the store-bought home tests? When would those become effective (i.e., how many days/weeks after conception would the testing be accurate?)
Thanks a lot,
Anxious
Dear Anxious,
Throughout your letter, there is an assumption being made that you have had unprotected sexual intercourse. Going on this assumption, the usual early signs of pregnancy (one to two weeks after conception) are: a missed period; a period with less bleeding or fewer days than usual; swelling, tenderness, or tingling in your breasts;frequent urination; nausea or vomiting; feeling bloated or crampy; increased or decreased appetite; changes in digestion (constipation or heartburn); and mood changes. Keep in mind that signs of pregnancy vary from woman to woman and pregnancy to pregnancy. Also, since you suspect pregnancy but haven't had a test yet, you don't have to assume that you are definitely pregnant. However, you need to find out.
You can test for pregnancy days after unprotected sex. Confidential
testing is available at Primary Care Medical Services for free if you have
paid the mandatory health service fee (if at Columbia, call x4-2284 to makean appointment). Home pregnancy tests are accurate if the instructions arefollowed exactly. Using a home pregnancy test is getting easier all thetime. You used to need an early morning urine sample, but now you can doit at any time of the day, at almost any time in the cycle. A homepregnancy test is accurate seven to ten days after unprotected intercourse. This is because the test cannot detect the human pregnancy hormone until about one to two weeks after conception.
- Alice
Related Q&As
- "I've got that, too!": Do I have hypochondria?
- Signs of early pregnancy and abortion info
Go Ask Alice! is not an emergency or instant response service. If you are in an urgent situation, please click here to view a list of 24 hour support services and hotlines.
Pregnant?
