How would you know if you were pregnant on the depo-injection?

[Doodle.]

I've wondered this for a while. I'm on the depo-injection and have very, very light "periods" because of it. Sometimes I don't bleed at all. It's all over the place because of it. How would I know if I was pregnant? I really don't think I am now or anything but how would I know for sure? I know the likelihood of getting pregnant on it is very slim but it could still happen :/

[Age of Ignorance]

I guess you'd know for sure if you took a pregnancy test, but even that's not a guaranteed answer.

From my understanding of the depo-injection, an egg is not released from the ovaries. Basically, for three months, you might get some light periods (or even none), but the egg will still not have been released. Over those three months, it's almost assured that you're not going to fall pregnant, regardless of whether or not you have a period. Because of the lack of menstrual bleeding, it is of course difficult to tell whether or not you are pregnant, but the odds of being pregnant are extremely slim. If you are pregnant and on the depo-injection, you shouldn't know unless you start exhibiting other symptoms related to pregnancy. If you do have other symptoms, then you should take a pregnancy test. Otherwise, you don't have to worry about it - a lack of period is a side-effect of the drug, and you shouldn't base the possibility of pregnancy on that.

[Doodle.]

Thanks It's just my mother was telling me a few days ago about her friend who got pregnant on it. That kind of freaked me out. I have it done every 3 months to the date. I'm just a bit of a paranoid person :')

[Coffee.]

The spotting wouldn't even be a signal for pregnancy, as it's simply breakthrough bleeding, so looking for a period wouldn't even be helpful. If you were ever worried, you would take a pregnancy test.

[Doodle.]

Thanks. I just have anxiety problems so I tend to worry about the unlikely -_____- This is an anxiety issue more than a physical issue. I know it's stupid to worry about a less than 1% chance of becoming pregnant but I also worry about cot death over my nephew.

[Gingerbread Latte]

Hey Ceilidh,

I'm like you and get really anxious about pregnancy and since I have the implant my periods don't happen either.

Because of my anxiety I will only have sex with two forms of contraception so my boyfriend wears condoms. The condoms never split to date *touch wood* but if it did then I would probably take a pregnancy test later in the month to set my mind at ease. I don't know if you use condoms as well or if you specifically went on the injection to avoid not using them but this is something you could do just to try and settle your anxieties.

I hope this helped!