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difference between spotting and having your period?

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August 28th, 2011
i'm 16 years old. my boyfriend and i had unprotected sex more than once and we used the pull out method. i'm not very good at keeping track of my period its always been a little irregular. its been a week since intercourse and i'm bleeding but my period is never this light it doesn't show up on my pantiliner and only a little when i wipe. a few days ago it was showing up sort of thick and dark... so my question is, whats the difference between spotting and having your period?.... which one am i having? and could i be pregnant? i'm not having any other symptoms... at least not yet.
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replied September 20th, 2011
Hi,
Welcome to ehealthforum,
Pullout method/withdrawal method is associated with highest failure rates. The symptoms (light periods/spotting, dark discharge) could be suggestive of early symptoms of pregnancy (if you are not on any form of birth control measure and if you had been sexually active after last normal periods). Wait and watch for your next periods. Visit your doctor/gynecologist for further examination (to confirm pregnancy related changes/signs in body) and blood/serum HCG level test (to confirm/rule out pregnancy accurately). Look out for development of any other new symptoms. Be in regular follow-up and monitoring of your treating gynecologist/obstetrician and report any unusual/abnormal/new symptoms immediately. Take adequate rest. Maintain healthy diet and lifestyle. Drink plenty of water.
Take care.



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