Q: I am 29 years old having a 2.5-year-old son. I am planning for a pregnancy now. My periods have always been regular, but this month I have not got it. I tried doing a test with the home pregnancy kit, but it turned out to be negative. These days I feel slightly dizzy, tired and get a nauseated feeling when I have food. Two weeks back the doctor had said that I was anaemic. Can this be the reason behind the delay in menstruation or is it that I am pregnant?

A:Even though a missed period is the usual first sign of a pregnancy, it may not be noticed in women who have irregular cycles. Other symptoms that suggest pregnancy include the need to pass urine frequently, a feeling of extreme tiredness and fatigue, nausea and/or vomiting and painful breasts. The urine pregnancy test that you performed is positive after 10-12 days of conception. A blood test to check for pregnancy may be positive after about a week. I would advise you to go to a gynaecologist and have yourself examined rather than checking at home.