It’s been a few weeks since you did the deed (without protection), and now you’re wondering, “Am I pregnant?”
You feel more exhausted than normal; your breasts are swollen and tender; and you’re always running to the bathroom to pee. Are your symptoms normal PMS, or are you pregnant?
Because PMS symptoms can be remarkably similar to the very early signs of pregnancy, it’s a good idea for you to assume that you’re pregnant (or could be pregnant). If you think that you might be pregnant, start making healthy eating choices, pay careful attention to any over-the-counter or prescription medications you take, and avoid any nicotine or alcohol products until you rule out pregnancy. Make sure that you also begin taking prenatal vitamins!
So, what are the earliest signs of pregnancy?
Missed Period
Having a missed or late period is a universal sign of pregnancy. If your period doesn’t arrive, or if it’s delayed (and you are always regular), this is a sign that you need to run and buy a home pregnancy test.
Sometimes, a missed period can be caused by non-pregnancy related problems, such as stress, hormonal problems, breastfeeding, going off birth control, excessive weight gain, and other factors. Taking a home pregnancy test is the only way for you to really know whether or not you’re pregnant.
It is impossible for a woman to continue to menstruate during pregnancy. After fertilization (the egg and sperm join and create a new life), your future baby travels through the fallopian tube to your uterus (womb), where it will attach to your uterine lining. When this occurs, hormonal changes occur that temporarily shut off your menstrual cycle for the next nine months (or longer, if you decide to breastfeed).
High Basal Body Temperature
If you’ve been trying to conceive and you’ve charted your basal body temperature, you will notice that your BBT stays elevated after you conceive. A basal body temperature that stays high for 18 days in a row means that there’s a strong possibility that you’re pregnant.
Usually, basal body temperature only stays high from ovulation until you have your period. But if it continues to be elevated for two weeks, then you should take a home pregnancy test to confirm your pregnancy.
Light Spotting (Implantation Bleeding)
One of the very early signs of pregnancy is implantation bleeding – light brownish spotting or staining. Some women often confuse this light bleeding with a period, but it should only last one or two days. Implantation bleeding is not heavy like a regular period. It should look like a light day of your period.
Implantation bleeding typically occurs six to seven days after conception (fertilization), and it’s the result of the fertilized egg burrowing and imbedding itself into the lining of your uterus. No one really knows why some women experience this very early sign of pregnancy, and other women do not.
Tender and Swollen Breasts
If you’ve noticed that your breasts are swollen – bigger than normal – and tender to touch, this may be a really early sign of pregnancy. Sore and sensitive breasts can occur within one to three weeks after conception, even before you realize that you’re pregnant.
Hormonal changes that occur in pregnancy can make your breasts tingly, sore, and just painful to touch. Your breasts can also become heavier and fuller. Some women describe this pregnancy breast change like how your breasts feel during PMS, only ten times worse. Fortunately, your breasts don’t feel sore forever. Your discomfort tends to lessen in the second trimester.
But if you notice this early sign of pregnancy, you need to take a home pregnancy test to see whether or not it’s PMS or Pregnancy.
Extreme Fatigue
Some women experience fatigue when they’re PMSing, and extreme fatigue is also one of the earliest signs of pregnancy. If you suddenly feel overwhelmingly exhausted for no reason, you might be expecting a baby. Some pregnant women feel so tired that they fall asleep at work, and they just want to sleep all the time.
Unexplained, extreme fatigue is a very common early sign of pregnancy, and it can strike within the first week after fertilization. Pregnancy hormones, especially the soaring levels of progesterone, are to blame for this first early pregnancy sign. Fatigue tends to let up by the end of the first trimester, and you will have more energy in the second trimester.
Nausea or Vomiting
Morning sickness isn’t one of the earliest signs of pregnancy, but it can strike pretty early for some women. A majority of women won’t start to get nauseous or pukey until a month after conception (around 6 weeks pregnant), but this pregnancy symptom can strike a few weeks earlier for other women.
You may feel nauseous at any point during the day – not just in the morning. For some pregnant women, their morning sickness is just worse in the beginning of the day. Others just feel sick all day long. Your nausea might come with bouts of vomiting, but some women are queasy without the vomiting. Certain smells or foods can trigger your nausea.
Morning sickness is caused, in part, by the soaring levels of estrogen and progesterone in early pregnancy. You typically start to feel better in the second trimester, when your hormonal levels level out.
Bloating
Bloating is another early sign of pregnancy, and it’s also caused by hormonal changes. Because your digestive system slows down when you’re expecting, this can also contribute to your abdominal bloating in the first trimester.
You may notice that your stomach feels more bloated than usual; it may even look bigger than normal. Your clothes may feel tighter around the waistline. If you tend to get bloated when you have PMS, you should probably expect to feel bloated in the early weeks of pregnancy.
Frequent Urination
Everyone makes fun of pregnant women and how often they have to go pee. It’s sad but true. When you’re expecting a baby, you have to urinate … a lot.
Frequent urination is actually one of the very early signs of pregnancy. Within a few weeks after conception, the growing uterus presses against the bladder, causing you to feel like you have to urinate more often. You also have more blood circulating in your body when you’re pregnant, which causes your kidneys to have to work twice as hard, and fills up your bladder more quickly, so you have to pee a lot more.
Are You Pregnant?
If you have missed your period, and you’ve noticed any of the above early signs of pregnancy, it’s a good idea for you to take a home pregnancy test or contact your doctor for an appointment. The earlier you confirm your pregnancy and receive prenatal care, the better off your future baby will be.
i think im pregnant, my back hurts a lot, i have headaches every once in a while, i had slight minor cramps for a few days then they slowed down and they only happen every once in a while, i wiped and it was a light pinkish but it stopped the next day, my period isn’t due for another two weeks or so, i felt like i was going to throw up but i couldnt but it stopped, my nipples are a little sore, idk whats wrong with me? Help?
Hi. I was on the 3month injection and it ended end of july I only had it once and decided to leave it. My period started around 5 August and lasted for about a week and a half. I have not had my period since. My stomach stays bloated. My breasts became sore and I have a metalic like taste in my mouth the entire day. I have taken 4 pregnancy tests and all were negative. Last one I took was the day before yesterday. I dont know what is going on…
Hi I was wondering if I could be pregnant me and the hubby had sex on the 27th 28th and the 30th which is the day I ovulated I had my period on the 19th it lasted 3 days I’m now feeling sick most mornings when I wake up and during the day to but not been sick I’m starting to have a wee bump but pregnancy test says negitive someone please help
Hi , I was curious I had unprotected sex July 22 I get my period on the 12 , my breasts have been super tender and I’ve just been very emotional usually when I’m pmsing I get irritated and mad , but I’ve just been very emotional , and also very fatigue , I know I haven’t had my period yet but is there a chance I can be pregnant ? He used the pull out method but he came very quick (tmi) please help
Also, I haven’t had any weird food cravings but I’ve been peeing a lot. It’s not a UTI I’ve been drinking lots of water and thirsty asf all of the time . I’m 21 so if I’m pregnant it’s cool already getting used to the idea, it’s just relaying the message to my family. But it’s crazy how the human body’s work. This could be a number of things.
Okay, I went off of birth control officially on June 13th and I haven’t had my period since. My boobs get sore very frequently. And I get little cramping here and there and I definitely feel like something is going on down there. I’ve gained weight so swiftly I went from 136- 158-160. I’m 5’5 1/2 so it doesn’t feel or seem like I’ve gained much but it’s a crazy feeling. Like what’s going on with me? I scheduled a doctors appointment for the 11th and I haven’t taken a Pg test. What could it be?
Hello…we are actively trying to get pregnant. I am on 18th day of my cycle today and from yesterday i had light bleeding discharge. my body temperature is little high. This could be implantation bleeding??! Please reply 🙂
so i had my period on the 3rd and i ended up staying the night with my boyfriend over the weekend, and we had unprotected sex and he said he ejactulated inside me. it’s only been about 4 days, but my boobs have started hurting, and my nipples have gotten a little darker. i also looked up that you could become pregnant 4 days before you ovulate, and id start around the 14th, which that’s kinda gotten me worried too, and which I’m a teen, and my mom would kill me, but i’m really worried on if i could be pregnant or not. if someone could just help me out, that would be great.
hi, so did you get pregnant?
Two weeks ago I had my period , two days ago had some spotting and today I had sent brown discharge I have noticed my boobs have gotten a bit bigger I have had cramping below my stomach on the sides of my vagina. My stomach makes some rumbling noise even when I’m not hungry so could I be pregnant ? Can some one help e please?
I also am tired alot and I also catch my self sniffing cleaning products so could I be pregnant?
Hi,
I am also in the same situation. Are you pregnant that time. Please reply me.
So last week on i think it was tuesday i had sex with a guy while i was drunk and i know im 18 but my parents will kill me if im pregnant anywho we did it a few times with out a condom and now im feeling kinda sick but not like vomit sick and i cant suck my tummy in with out feeling like im going to throw up my period is also irregular so im not sure and my boobs have been a little sore for the past 2 days anyone help please before i get my head cut off from a yelling copetition cheers
i am going through the same thing, but I’m an age younger and my mom would definitely kill me if i were to be pregnant.
So bout 2 weeks ago I had my minstrel cycle an on my last day Me an my boyfriend did the nasty (unprotected) now I’ve been feeling nauseated an having some sharp pains in my lower stomach an just real iterated about every little thing what could this mean
Ok last month my cycle came and it last almost 2 days but very light, been had headaches, nausea, and been very emotional. Now my period is due again in 3 days but today I have light pink bleeding only when I wipe could I be pregnant?
I had unprotected sex twice during my last menstrual cycle which was around 3 weeks ago. I’ve recently had really sore nipples and lower back pain. This morning I wokeup with brownish bloody discharge and was wondering if I could be pregnant
Hi my name is Sandy,
I am 26 years old I didn’t get my period since one month yesterday I took pregnancy test it was positive and today also i checked once again but it showed negative I am really confusing with these results and I having severe abdominal pain while walking please let me the reason
Thanks
Hi hun i had the same thing a while back when i gt pregnant with my girl i did 8 diff preg tests in same day because i didnt believe i was pregnant as i had the jadelle in 7 were positive but 1 was neg i think it was an easy check test i went and gt bloods and they confirmed i was pregnant
Hi I’m on the nexplanon rod been on it since May 2014 with no period. On the 19th July I had dark brown spotting in my underwear on and off for few days with sore boobs and nausea but negative pregnancy test buy think i took to early after recent research 2 weeks later I had light brown spotting in the morning then nothing since. But I’m now exhausted all the time and my mood swings are so bad I’m. Either moody or cry over the tiniest things . Could i be pregnant should I do another test ?
You state it is impossible to menstruate during your pregnancy. Through both my pregnancies, I had regular periods. In fact, due to this I didn’t know I was pregnant the first time around until I was at 5 months! So do some research.
You CAN NOT have a menstrual period during pregnancy you can bleed during pregnancy similar to a period but it is NOT a period as a period is the shedding of the uterine lining and as your baby is attached and growing there you would she’d the baby thus miscarriage please don’t get on here with an attitude and proceed to give medical advice with clearly no actual knowledge your mission leading woman
Me to I was the same way
I’ve had a birth control implant for a year now in my arm. And two and a half years before that birth control pills after having my daughter. I have not had my period those whole three and a half years, a month n a week ago I got sexual. And a week n a half ago I started feeling nausea frequent headaches, one moment perky next moment so tired my eyes are falling on me. I’ve had hella mood swings, I’ve lost 6lbs in a week n a half, my sense of smell is off the charts things usually I can’t smell a block or two away I smell so strong I get a migraine. Two days ago at night I woke up the next morning I had spotting on my panties.. Implamentation color and style and today its reduced alot. And past two days I’ve felt as if bloating and it felt like my uterus grew by stretching and it was painful to my abdomen and vaginal area. A day ago I started having tickling sometimes sharp pains go from middle torso stretching to middle hips in different spots. And lately my boobs feel heavy and 3..4 x a day my areola and nipples change color.
hello I missed my period for almost going to a week now though I don’t feel any changes in body and sometimes my period comes late and I feel tired and sleepy I don’t know if it is stress or am pregnant or I should wait for my period to come
Hello,
For the last week I have had sore breasts. Some nights I can’t sleep because they are so sore. I have also been nauseas for a couple of days and today I had light pink spotting. My period is due in a week but I have never had these kinds of symptoms before. I think I may be pregnant, butiI’m not sure and I think it might be to early for a home test. I was hoping for another opinion.
my wife hade the some problem
I had sex 2days before my peroid when I got my peroid on the 18th and ended the 21th now After 2weeks I’m seeing spotting I’m tired and moody I normaly have my peroids for 7days please help
Me and my husband have been TTC for about a year.my periods r always the same the day I am suppose to start I start bad… now I have some brown discharge and i feel like i need to throw up could I b pregnant….
I toke a pregnancy yesterday and it came back positive, I also toke one yesterday night and it was negative. But yesterday and today I havnt stopped eating does this mean I’m pregnant but it’s to early to show and I’m constantly peeing a lot a felling sleppy ?
I’m TTC and have been for 8 months, i’m 32 and had a miscarriage two years ago.
So this time round I’m 9 days DPO, the last 2-3 days my nipples have been so tingly and sore and erect all the time, 2 days ago they felt really heavy now today nothing!
I have been having really funny dreams the last 2-3 nights os vivid and real! I really really want some advise please!
I had my period 4 sundays ago and the past couple of days I’ve been super nauseous my lower back hurts and I seem to be tired is it possible to be pregnant or could it just be premenstrual
I have dysmenorrhea. My periods are extremely painful and carry several pregnancy like symptoms. Now, my last period came an exact week early. The first two days were normal flow but the colour was brown with little to no bright red/pink. Then… my period lifted to spotting Just brown for the next three days. Heres the thing… it has been 2 weeks and all my period symptoms haven’t dulled.
But because they are identical to early pregnancy i cant identify it.
I took a test at home; negative. Id assume it was too early to determine.
Any insight? I made a doc appointment and an appointment with a fertility doc, im concerned it may be a sign of infertility…considering my dysmenorrhea and how my periods are regular.
I think your doctor can give you more concrete answers to what is going on with your hormones and your body. Good luck!
Ok. When i first got my cycle at age 13.it was far from regular but always heavy. It never came the day it was supposed to. Now im in my twenties. For the past seven years my cycle became regular every month on the 14th. Last month i had unprotected sex close to the day i ovulate. Then my period came 5days early and i thought it was weird. It lasted almost 4days and was abnormally light. Like i said all my cycles are heavy. My breasts are sore. Should i go takea test
Hi, I recently had what I think is my “period”. But I’m not 100% convinced it is. It came a month late and was brown and spotty on day 1, A little red and mild on day 2, and had completely stopped on day 3. Prior to experiencing this, I have had beyond normal sore breasts. They still continue to hurt to this day and are larger, I’ve also noticed my nipples are larger as well. I have felt a little nauseous every now and then, headaches, bloating, a craving for all things salty (I’m usually a sweets person) and have been an emotional wreck..crying at everything, and very tired. I took a test a few days before getting my so called “period” and it came back negative. I am currently using no protection and have never been pregnant before. My symptoms with this “period” are unusual for me, as is my late period. I am wondering if this is possibly my period or if I could be pregnant?
Dear Dr. nguyen… I have a question. My boyfriend and I have been having un protected sex. I breastfeed and am always regular with my periods. Even after giving birth 5 months ago. Always the same exact day and flow. Well i looked up the days i ovulate on ovulation calendars online and around march 3rd were the ovulation days which was basically when i last had sex. That and march 6. Our birthdays lol. Anyways i last had my period feb 14th and it lasted for a weel. The same before that with the same pattern. Start out light, then extremely heav and clotty. TMI sorry but… This time I missed my period by 9 days. On my 10th day it was still extremely light. a little mild for a day but after it was basically spotting and pinkish reddish brown.. Very scanty and mucousy. Never had it before. No clots either maybe one or two here and there… I feel nausea and all but im wondering am i just paranoid? The last time i ever had a late period i found out i was pregnant. lol. and it took me 7 weeks to find out i was pregnant. all the tests came back negative til week 7, surprise!!! thoughts?
My period is very heavy from the first day it starts. But this time I spotted for two days then it was heavy on and off throughout the day for three days. I took a pregnancy test it was negative but the line was faint. I’ve been having to pee a lot and I get these super bad head aches. Also my boobs feel super heavy. I had unprotected sex with my husband the weekend before my period and 3 times in the two weeks before my period. My period was 3/5 to 3/10 and I’m still spotting and cramping. Could I be pregnant?
Hi i did d deed with my boyfriend on 27 nov. And i had ended with my period on 22nd of that month. On 17th dec I can see brown bleeding. Can it be pregnancy ? How to know ?
Pls help
I had my Mirena IUD removed about 2.5 weeks ago after 4 years (no period yet). For the last few days I have been nauseous in the evening, dry heaves, sore breasts & tingling like let-down, hypersensitive to smell (gagging), feel tired, having headaches. I have never had these symptoms before a period but did have them with my 1st pregnancy. Took a preg test yesterday that was negative. If it’s too soon to show up on a test wouldn’t it be too soon to show symptoms? I’m thinking maybe out of whack hormones or possibly psychosomatic symptoms. Anyone else have experience with this?
It sounds very common after getting IUD removal. These symptoms sound like withdrawal symptoms from IUD removal.
My cycle isn’t regular,some times 28,26,27,29 and 30. I’m 29 years today and i have been trying to concieve for the past 3 years now,i have never missed nor concieved before, and every medical report says I’m sound. How can i concieve with irregular cycle?
Hello. I’m 9 days late for the first time EVER. My period comes every 28days. Not too soon and not late. I’ve been experiencing all of these things. I peed a few days ago and as I wiped I had a blush pink color of blood. Only happened one. I’ve been vomiting off and on since then. My breast are tender and swollen do are my nipples and all I want to do is sleep. My appetite as picked up and the things I use to like I absolutely hate and the things I hate I love now. Pickles and nuggets were my fave I HATE THE LOOK AND THE SMELL but ill crave mounds almond joys….ewww…lol. I’ve taken two test and so far they’ve been both negative. I’ve decided to wait two more weeks because I’m in denial.
Hello well my birthday was august 3rd my period usually come down on the 1st of every month till after my bday it comes on the fourth of every month but while me and my boyfriend was having sex on the third of this month he notice I was bleeding it was a lot of blood so the next day the 4th when my period was suppose to come nothing the next day the fifth nothing ok today the sixth a little blood on the pad but nothing heavy so what do that mean could I be pregnant or my period just irregular
i am was wondering i am 43 and have protection but i didnt start my period on the 5th of oct
the last time i had sex was sept26th i had test 3 times all negative i am so freaked out the nurse at the docs office did 1 test and told me if i was it show early signs of pregnancy how can u tell after 2 weeks i am confused isnt this to early or am i just to freaked out!
Oh i forgot to mention before the brown spotting i had very bad lower back pain. Now i am just very tired all the time..drained feeling. I get dizzy sometimes if i stand to fast. I get a upset stomach too alot. All i want to do is just SLEEP. Ive been a little moody too i get really snippy. Hope someone can help me.
Hi gor one round of thebdepo shot. I was due for another this last auust and didntgo bc me and my fiancee want a baby. We alwqys have unprotected sex. After i didnt go back toget my shot i bleed off n on for two weeks…it stopped. About a week n a half ago i spotted brown very light for half a day then it stopped. Ive taken 3 test they all say negative. Is it possible i took the tests to eary and i could in fact be pregnant or is that shot just screwed my body up even though i only didit once? HELP
Hi,
Wondering if you could give me some advice please….
Over the past couple of days I have been urinating more than usual, feel very bloated which is highly out of sorts and very tired…. Is there a chance I am pregnant ? Had ne period 2 weeksago so it is veryb early to tell but I know there is something up with ny body
Thanks
So ive been feeling very weird lately. ive been extremely sleepy to the point where ive dozed off in my cubicle while sitting straight up, ive been feeling queasy without actually throwing up at any random time but ever morning that i wake up to brush my teeth i feel like im about to vomit and that rarely happens, my body feels so tired until a certain time of day and then around the evening i start getting sleepy again, and ive been having random migraines and it all started about 2 weeks ago, i was feeling bloated but it went away i just feel like im dehydrated all the time and everytime i try to use the restroom it takes me such a long time or i just feel constipated, i dont know if the reason for this has to do with my new schedule at work and school that makes me tired or the fact that im about to get my period but i just feel really odd, can someone help?
can women experience menopause at the age of 36?
My obgyn recently diagnosed me with pcos. i havent started taking any meds yet since my aoot is in nov 2012. I currently feel fatigued, breast are extremely tender/ nipple area especially and lower back pain started hurting yesterday especially when sleeping and getting up. I dont get periods regularly i get them every other month. next one should be around sept 5th. could this indicate signs of pregnancy.
Ok my menstrual cycles has also been regular, but this last one was weird. It lasted only three days. Normally it last seven to ten days. As soon as I ended my breast started hurting real bad tingly, heavy, and very sore. Also stomache got very queasy, lots of nausea, fatigue, for the past ten days my temperature has been between 98.6 to 99.0 degrees. Water seems to leave a metallic after taste in my mouth. It seems like I live on the toilet to pee. And now a few days ago I started vomiting and dizziness. Severe headaches and backaches too. I really feel pregnant but my doctor told me she gave me a tubal ligation but get the feeling she may not have could I be pregnant
i had my period on 7/18-7/25. i think i ovulated on the 1st, had a sharp pain go thru stomach that lasted about 5 seconds. 2 days later i had light brown bleeding that lasted 2 days at the most. now i am extremely tired, feel nauseated at times, get light headed/dizzy at times, increased urination, change in bowel habbits, tender breasts. i went to the dr on 8/6 because i was feeling bad. they did a blood test and it can back neg. they also tested for infection that came back neg. as well. they offered me no advice on what to do and i am really confused, is it a SEVERE case of PMS or am i preggo? when should i be able to get a positive HPT.
Hi,my last period was dark brown discharge like period and just came in spots my nipples are painful,i sometime experience abdominal pain/cramps,i feel bloated,urinate alot and my discharge is alot and its white and thick.i feel nauseated. i have been trying for baby for four years now. i took clomid. i have used home pregnancy test but it came negative twice. can i be pregnant or its because of the clomid i took.
Hi I have irregular periods trying to get pregnant for 4years nw the docter says im healthy I’ve been feeling dizzy headaches nd nausea my tummy is always bloated nd big before my period what can be wrong with me
You might just be PMSing, but take a home pregnancy test if you are worried about pregnancy.
I missed my period for January. Naturally, I ran to the store and bought a pregnancy test. After 5 tests, all of them negative, I decided that I must have just been too stressed out. Well, I think I started my period today, which is the day I’m supposed to start. The problem is that I normally have a very heavy flow and what I have now can only be described as “spotting”. There isn’t even anything on my pad. Should I be worried?
take another home pregnancy. Or you could also schedule an appointent to get a blood pregnancy test.
Unfortunatley, early pregnancy sympthoms and period approaching sympthoms mimic each other. If you happen to chart your fertility anyways, then you will know if it’s one or the other. For everyone else, you will need to take a pregnancy test to be sure if you are pregnant.
Excellent info.