4 months, no period. 3 failed pregnancy tests. Am I pregnant?

Question

First, I have PCOS (poly-cystic ovaries syndrome). Because of this, my hormones are usually very imbalanced and my periods are awkward. However its been 4, almost 5 months since my last period and I'm never this late, not even close.

I am experiencing most of the classical symptoms as well, food craving, frequent thirst and urination, sickness, major mood swings, massive weight gain (gained about 45 lbs in 4 months), etc

I took 1 home pregnancy test 2 weeks after my first missed period. It came out negative. I tried again about 3 weeks after that, same thing. I then decided to go to a clinic and did the other type of urine test there about a month after my 2nd failed home pregnancy test, however the result also came in negative.

I want to know if there is a chance all the tests were wrong and I am in fact pregnant because I'm experiencing several symptoms and although my hormone has been out of whacked, its never been this late and obviously I've never gained that much weight. HELP!

Answer 1

I have never heard of urine pregnancy tests not working this late into a pregnancy. However, I would believe that anything is possible. Go to your doctor. They can do an internal exam and a blood pregnancy test. I dont really think that you are pregnant..but it could be possible. I would also think if you were 4 months along, that you would start feeling the baby move.

My best educated guess would be that your PCOS is just messing you up. If you are not pregnant, then I would highly recommend treating your PCOS with a low carb diet, exercise, and an insulin sensitizing drug such as metformin. This will help get your cycles regular and even out all your PCOS symptoms. It is very possible to not get a period at all because of PCOS. As for the other symptoms you are having..it could be anything. Modd swings and thirstiness are definitely symptoms of PCOS. The weight gain could be attributed to PCOS or anything else for that matter.

It is important to really understand what PCOS is and the correct way to treat it. Unfortunatly, many doctors are not very knowledgeable and do not really understand much about PCOS. I recommend seeing a reproductive endocrinologist (RE). They are your best bet at correct PCOS treatment and any fertility treatments you may need. Here's a little general PCOS info to get you started:

The underlying cause of PCOS is insulin resistance (IR). The best treatment for PCOS is going on an insulin sensitizing drug such as metformin (1500-2550mg per day) combined with a low carb diet and exercise. There are a few important things to know:

1. Many women "pass" the test for IR, but still respond positively from the metformin. No one knows exactlly why..my thought is that the test is not a sure fire way of detecting the IR.

2. You must be on a high enough dose of metformin. I've heard women complain that their bodies dont start working even though they've been on metformin for awhile. Some doctors are hesitant to up the dose past 1500mg...but for some of us it takes more. I don't respond until my dose is around 2000mg a day.

3. It can take a few months on the correct dose, before your body is regulated. Hopefully you will start ovulating on your own and you will be able to get pregnant without any other treatment needed. If not, the RE can begin other fertility treatments while you are still on metformin.

4. It is important to treat your PCOS even if you are not trying to get pregnant. There are higher risks for many things (high blood pressure, blood clots, diabetes, and many other things) when you have PCOS, but if it is treated properly, then those risks are lowered.


I highly recommend visiting http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-bhp... It is a great message board where you can ask all your PCOS questions, including those about getting pregnant. Good luck.

Answer 2

Many things - including fast and substantial weight gain or loss or too much exercise - can stop a period.

Normally, someone who is about five months along wouldn't have a 45 lb weight gain at that stage. Five months is often when the first little "spurt" of weight gain occurs, and a "big spurt" would be five lbs from months five and six. (Many people gain a total of about 25 lbs in the whole nine months.) When hormones are out of whack there can be food cravings, headaches, and mood swings (as there can be with PMS).

Really - you need to see a doctor. At this stage an ultrasound would easily show whether or not those pregnancy tests were incorrect. If you're not pregnant, and you're craving food to the point of gaining weight that quickly you probably would want to address any hormones imbalances before you add another 40 lbs.

There are times when a period is missed and a pregnancy gets started but ends and doesn't result in miscarriage. The tests go negative. The periods don't come. The thing with this situation (missed abortion), though, is that pregnancy symptoms also go away. If, by any chance, this were your situation it is VERY important you see a doctor and make arrangements to have it cleared out

Frequent thirst and weight gain can be a sign of diabetes. Again, see a doctor. If you have diabetes to the point where you've gained that much weight and have thirst you need to address that right away as well.

Answer 3

Screw the urine tests. If you have that many "signs", go to the doctor and get a pelvic exam. During pregnancy, the base of the cervix (I believe that's what it is) turns blue. Before modern tests, that was how doctors determined if a woman was pregnant. That's the most conservative option. You can also ask for an ultrasound which, at this point, would remove all doubt since you're coming up on three months along.

Another thing, if you start experiencing severe pain in the abdominal area, get to a doctor right away. I'm not a doctor, but I would think that PCOS might increase the chances of a tubal pregancy.

Hope you find some answers soon.. .

Answer 4

I hate to depress you but if you have gained 45lbs in 4 months it's not due to pregnancy. That doesn't mean you aren't pregnant, it's just after 4 months the baby is still extremely tiny. Significant weight gains don't usually begin until after the 5th month. The symptoms you mention could be a result of hormone inbalance but this does not necessarily mean you are pregnant either. Women's hormones can become unbalanced for all sorts of reasons. 3 negative tests suggest you probably aren't pregnant but again, no guarantee. Go and see your doctor again, explain the symptoms and tell him you'd like an ultrasound scan. That way if there is a baby in there, you'll see it.

Answer 5

Having PCOS myself, and the symptoms you have described, as well as being a former Medical Assistant, my suggestion is to go to your doc and get your TSH done (for Hypothyroid). These symptoms are fairly classic as well as a cease in periods .. because the Thyroid controls many many things. Including when you do or do not ovulate, and therefore bleed. I am also hypothyroid, so I can relate. Are you experiencing temperature changes (feeling cold).. do you have alligator pattern type of skin on your shins? Weight gain is common with this disease.

The other option is that you are diabetic.. the most tell-tale sign (most get it - not 100% of people do) is frequent urination AT NIGHT as well as a host of other symptoms. Usually diabetics lose weight and can't get enough to eat.

Please check with your doctor about the Thyroid and also you may need a Glucophage type medication to balance your insulin, as many PCOS patients are insulin resistant (I am too). Good luck with this!

Answer 6

Maybe yes, maybe no. Because of your condition you could be getting a false negative on the tests and still be pregnant, or your condition is preventing your period. You might also be experimenting a false pregnancy. The sensible thing to do would be to go to the doctor and have an examination. Then you will know.

Answer 7

Getting off the carbs and sugar swings will help you lose wt and get pregnant- you need a blood test to see if you are pregnant- could also do an ultrasound-they getting on the pill for a while may help- of course if you are not pregnant-and in the beg. of pg not much wt is gained- D

Answer 8

You can never be sure with those 4 periods/year things. But since you've failed three you probably aren't.

Answer 9

Well if you went to a clinic and the test results were negative then you're probably not pregnant. However, your best bet is to go to your gynecologist and have him/her check you. And if you're not pregnant your gynecologist will probably tell you why you haven't gotten your period in several months.

Answer 10

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