HomeAnswersObstetrics and GynecologypmsMy girlfriend is not getting pre-menstrual symptoms. Is she pregnant?

Does absence of pre-menstrual symptoms suggest pregnancy?

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The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

Answered by

Dr. Reetika

Medically reviewed by

iCliniq medical review team

Published At May 7, 2022
Reviewed AtMay 24, 2022

Patient's Query

Hi,

My girlfriend is not late for her periods, but she has not had any symptoms yet, which is unusual because she normally has sore breasts or cramps around this time. Please see some details that are making me worried. Her period is normally like 35 days cycle, although the last one was 25 days or so. She has been stressed about money recently. The last time she had a short period, it was followed by a gap of 36 or 37 days. We recently took a three-hour flight. We never have penetrative sex. We had sex on the outside (only tip) on day two of her last period, and then I was traveling, so I did not have sex until days 22 to 24, and neither of those did I ejaculate. My question is should I be worried? It seems to have a low likelihood.

Answered by Dr. Reetika

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and understand your concern.

Firstly to get pregnant, the sperms have to be released inside the vagina of the female. Secondly, these sperms then need to fertilize an egg which may or may not be available depending upon the ovulation pattern of the female. Thirdly the fertilized egg is required to be implanted in the uterus of the female. When all this happens successfully, then a female is said to have conceived, and then the periods are missed.

So in simple words, for a high probability of pregnancy, the intercourse has to be unprotected and penetrative (or contraceptive failure like condom rupture, etc.). As I understand, you have had unprotected intercourse but not penetrative, so here I would like to tell you that sperms do not survive in the open for more than a few seconds (maximum 5 minutes rarely) to travel from outside the vagina right inside to fertilize an egg. So you are safe.

Further, on day 2 of menses, the ovary does not release an egg, so again there is no possibility of pregnancy even if sperms have been released inside the vagina.

Depending upon the details presented by you, pregnancy is ruled out. There is no risk of pregnancy. Secondly, the absence of pre menses signs and the possibility of delay in periods could be due to-

1. Stress is responsible for the delay of periods in 25 % of females worldwide.

2. Travel also delays periods.

Since you are stressed and hence asking the question so similarly, your partner also must be tensed, and now that her pre mense signs have not surfaced so she must be under a lot of anxiety. All this is responsible for the delay of periods and associated signs.

So you need to assure her that everything is fine and her periods will be soon there. But since she has had some irregularity in her periods, we can examine her separately to ascertain possible causes.

Feel free to ask any further questions or to share any additional information.

God bless.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Thank you, doctor,

This is helpful. We have had regular sex (again, not penetrative) after day 22 of her period. I assume this is after ovulation has occurred, so again, it is a small risk?

Answered by Dr. Reetika

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

Thanks for the update.

The ovulation process can go a little bit advance or delayed due to various body changes or hormonal effects, but, classically, after day 22, the chances of the release of an egg are low. So accordingly, pregnancy chances are low.

However, also important is the fact that it was not penetrative intercourse. As discussed earlier, sperms do not survive in the open for long. Thus they can not survive outside the vagina in the polluted and chemically intense atmosphere for long and then swim across the inside vagina.

So both the things considered together, it is relatively very less chance of getting pregnant.

Feel free to ask any questions or to share any additional information.

God bless.

Thank you.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Reetika
Dr. Reetika

Obstetrics and Gynecology

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