Is this normal?

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Right before every period, the possibility that I could be pregnant kind of nags me at the back of my mind. It doesn't cause any fear or anxiety (usually). But it does compel me to do research on pregnancy and think about what I would do if I was pregnant.

I practice safe sex, but there aren't really any fail-proof birth control methods that don't involve invasive surgery. I've known people who got pregnant while using methods ranging from the pill to, yes, even a vasectomy!

So it's always on my mind, like a subtle obsession, for about a week. Then I get my period, have a few weeks during which I don't worry about it much and then the thoughts increase again as the next period comes closer. I always have a few pregnancy test things on hand so I can test myself if I think my period might be late. I'd say I take a home pregnancy test almost every month or every other month. One doctor told me this was normal and common, just not spoken of much.

Anyone else experience this? Do you think it could be a hormonal thing or just practical?

hi there

I go through the same thing. It scares the hell out of me. Especially since I have on one occassion not pratcised safe sex. I think this is something girls normally fear its a natural reaction. So don't worry.

I think ur plan of having pregnancy tests ready so u can check is a very good idea and preparing urself mentally is an even better idea. I just hope u dont obess over it or see it as a terrible thing by the sounds of it ur a very mature person (don't know how old u are but u sound like ur in ur teens or twenties.) if u wanna talk more pm me.

ali
xxx

In my case, the general paranoia, yes. Going as far as actual testing, no.

how do women get a vasectomy?

They don't, but sometimes when men get one, things manage to grow back together.
The women's version is called tubal ligation, and yes, sometimes the same thing happens.
Rare, but out there.

Re: vasectomy: Yes, I was referring to a married couple in which the husband had a vasectomy after the birth of their first child. Then, about 5 years later, another one came along despite the vasectomy. They like to joke about it pretty openly.

Re: other posts: I'm in my late 20's. It is kind of an obsessive thing, but there are no negative emotions involved. No fear or anxiety or paranoia. It's more like a neutral kind of curiosity.

I think I'm drawn to the idea because of the problem-solving element. Every month, there's a slightly different situation in which I get to think about, "If I was pregnant, what would I do?" I think about every aspect from every angle, and it's kind of fun in a challenging way, like solving a puzzle. It's also practical in a general sense because it hypothetically could happen even though it is highly unlikely.

I just wonder if there are hormonal changes during one's cycle that can provoke this kind of thought process. This interests me from a biological perspective.

I had mistaken that you were considering a vasectomy, found it confusing because the female anatomy lacks vas deferens.

Well, I suppose there could be rare exceptions, but . . .

I'm the same way. I used to be ok once I got my period and the feelings would back down for a few weeks each time, but lately I've been on a different kind of hormonal contraceptive which blocks me even having periods at all. It's now on my mind much more and I've been planning recently to buy some tests for peace of mind when I get too obsessed.

I probably don't actually mind having a child really if I think about it rationally, but I'm a bit of a control freak. To put it mildly. I want every eventuality planned out and I want as much control over things as I can manage, even if absolute control isn't possible.

Kismet

Yes I used to be that way, too and did have tests around if I was a couple days later than usual. I also have PCOS, though, so my periods are a little irregular anyway, so I always thought it was because of that. It changed after I had my son and I haven't really thought about it. He is now 21 months old and the joy of my life.

I'm a guy but can appreciate what you're saying as I did get a vasectomy when I was very young as my partner at the time did not or could not bear the thought of getting pregnant to the point of it becoming a serious physcological (sp?) matter. I would do it again if I had to. I think she was going through much the same thing that you might be experiencing. I understand but I can't really provide any meaningful suggestions so just wanted to let you know that I didn't think what you were saying was unusual and in fact I'm very surprised more women don't talk about it.

It happens to me almost every month.
I used to have a saying that went something like "The period never starts until the pregnancy test has been taken"

I am pretty sure I am infertile..so it would be quite a suprise if it ever actually happened...but there is always the thought.

Still..17 years years since my abortion...and have never been pregnant since.

Haha, it's like that with me as well.

I think it's a part of the cycle that a lot of women experience but don't talk about. My gyno said that it's fairly common for women to test themselves right before every period. She said she always tells women who experience this as a routine thing to buy pregnancy tests in bulk - there's no harm in pissing on a stick.

My doctor also said it's normal for most women to experience a higher sex drive and energy level while ovulating - another part of the cycle that doesn't get discussed.

It's weird that people dwell on PMS (which not all women get) yet ignore equally common yet less negative effects of monthly hormonal changes, like being especially horny for a few days and wondering if you're pregnant.

It seems like it's taboo to talk about any aspect of the female hormonal cycle that doesn't involve bad moods or bleeding.

And perhaps even more taboo ("controversial") to state that men have hormonal cycles too. Well documented in medicine yet ignored by society. Curious.

I haven't done a home pregnancy test yet. I'm always to scared about the results, even though I'd be happy to see a positive, I just know I'm not ready to have a child.
I do worry about being pregnant though, mainly because I don't think the potential father is good father material. For one, they never even want to have kids and when I tell them I think I'm pregnant they look at me like they've seen a ghost.

That's funny. Whenever I would actually feel like I needed to take the test I would then start my period within a couple of hours. It was like my body was waiting for me to take the test.