Early pregnancy symptoms before a missed period vary among individuals. They are often similar to the symptoms of other conditions and changes, including premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Show The hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) causes many of the first symptoms of pregnancy. However, in the days following implantation before a woman misses her period, levels of this hormone are low. As a result, although some women report early pregnancy symptoms at this time, others experience none at all. Read on to learn about the earliest symptoms of pregnancy before a missed period and other causes of a missed period. Pregnancy begins with implantation, which happens when the fertilized egg embeds in the lining of the uterus. Implantation stimulates the production of hCG, a hormone that the body produces in progressively larger amounts in early pregnancy. The hCG then stimulates the production of another hormone, progesterone. Together, the two hormones cause early pregnancy symptoms. Implantation usually occurs a few days before a missed period. Therefore, hCG levels are still low by the time a woman expects her period. Due to these low levels, some women notice no symptoms at all or only experience very subtle symptoms, which they may attribute to something else. Among the most common early pregnancy symptoms are nausea and vomiting. Many pregnant women report that nausea and vomiting are worse when they are hungry or have low blood sugar. Therefore, women who notice symptoms of nausea between meals or when they wake up hungry may be pregnant. Some other common early pregnancy symptoms include:
The intensity of these symptoms often increases during the first trimester, as hCG levels rise. Toward the end of the first trimester, many women notice that symptoms improve. In early pregnancy, hormonal shifts, not the growing fetus, cause pregnancy symptoms. As pregnancy continues, other symptoms may appear. Pregnancy can cause a wide range of symptoms between conception and delivery, including:
In very early pregnancy, symptoms are usually mild. Due to this, it is easy to mistake pregnancy symptoms for normal aches and pains. Hormonal shifts that happen as a woman’s period approaches may cause symptoms that also appear in pregnancy — for example, breast tenderness and swelling. Some women with PMS can experience these symptoms ahead of every period. Learn about the differences between PMS and pregnancy symptoms here. In some cases, a woman may still experience the symptoms of early pregnancy despite not being pregnant. Possible reasons for this include:
A missed period can occur for many reasons, including:
Learn more about the causes of a missed period here. A positive pregnancy test is only possible if:
False negatives are common, especially if people perform the test too early. If a woman has noticed signs and symptoms of pregnancy and her period still does not come, she should wait a few days and then test again. Learn more about pregnancy tests here, including how and when to take them. It is important to see a doctor for:
Some early symptoms of pregnancy before a missed period include nausea, breast tenderness, and fatigue. However, these are also common signs of other problems, such as hormonal changes. If women have pregnancy symptoms, they should take a pregnancy test. If the result is negative and their period does not come, they should speak to a doctor for an assessment and diagnosis. For women who receive a positive result with no period shortly after, a doctor can confirm the pregnancy. Taking a pregnancy test is the best way to determine whether a woman is pregnant. As early pregnancy symptoms are so similar to signs of other issues, they are not a reliable basis for diagnosing pregnancy. How can I know am pregnant before my period?There's no way to know for certain if you're pregnant before missing your period other than taking a home pregnancy test. Some women do experience symptoms such as fatigue and nausea. These could be PMS symptoms, however. If you still aren't sure you're pregnant after taking a home test, see a doctor.
Can you get early pregnancy symptoms before missed period?Yes, you can feel pregnant before you miss your period. Some people say they've felt pregnancy symptoms within a week of conception (about one week before a missed period).
How can I tell if Im pregnant after 1 week?Pregnancy symptoms in week 1. nausea with or without vomiting.. breast changes including tenderness, swelling, or tingling feeling, or noticeable blue veins.. frequent urination.. headache.. raised basal body temperature.. bloating in the belly or gas.. mild pelvic cramping or discomfort without bleeding.. tiredness or fatigue.. |