Anonymous: Hi Sex, Etc! About 2 weeks ago, I had sex with my boyfriend using the withdrawal method. I am on the pill, but sometimes I will miss one day and take two the next. My period had been a week late, and I took a pregnancy test at a clinic which read negative. I have irregular periods, due to my one of my ovaries being removed 5 years ago, but I've never been this late. I feel fine physically, but am very nervous. I've heard of women receiving negative tests, and finding out they're pregnant later.

Hi anon,

It can take up to two weeks after having penile-vaginal sex for an egg to become fertilized and then implant in the lining of the uterus. Taking a pregnancy test when a period is late, which it sounds like you did, is the most accurate time to take one. However, because of the timing you may have to wait until your next period to take another test.

If you are concerned, you may want to speak to your health care provider or someone at the local clinic to discuss the risk for pregnancy from the situation you described.

You might also want to talk with the clinic or your health care provider about trying a new form of hormonal birth control. The pill is 99-percent effective with perfect use at preventing pregnancy, which means taking the pill everyday, at the same time everyday. The pill is a great option for many people, but if it is hard for you to remember to take your pill everyday at the same time every day, then you might want to consider other hormonal birth control methods that don’t require you to take something every day. Methods like the patch last a week, the ting lasts for 3 weeks, the shot 3 months and IUDs can work from five up to 10 years. Just something to consider!