Hello, I understand how frustrating it must be to not know the status of pregnancy and have irregular cycles. The only way to confirm status of pregnancy is by an actual test. Implantation bleeding usually occurs between 6 to 12 days after fertilization & hence spotting can coincide with or appear slightly earlier than an expected period. Usually, it can last for 1 to 2 days, mostly spotting or very light reddish-pink discharge with no clots. Cramps may also occur. Early pregnancy symptoms usually include a missed period/implantation bleeding, sore breasts, nausea, bloating, abdominal cramps, frequent urination, fatigue, constipation etcetera. PMS symptoms, symptoms of hormonal imbalance, side effects of hormonal medication etcetera can all overlap with early pregnancy symptoms, as these also occur due to hormonal fluctuations. For this reason, the confirmation of pregnancy status would only be possible by a test and it would not be possible to confirm if a woman is pregnant or not just by the symptoms. The recommended time to take a urine pregnancy test is usually 5 to 7 days after a missed/expected period. Early morning urine sample, as soon as waking up from bed is what s usually advised. At least 2 tests taken a week apart are generally needed to confirm the results. When the dates are not known or cycles are irregular, a blood test for pregnancy hormones can be done as early as 6 to 12 days after conception, with 11 days being the average and is considered confirmatory. On an average, most doctors recommend taking the blood pregnancy test at around 3 weeks after the date of the last unprotected intercourse. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. Deepthi Chandan