Period FAQs

am i on my period or pregnant

by Barrett Hamill MD Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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What are the symptoms or signs of pregnancy?

  • Breast pain and tenderness. The breasts are lumpier, more sensitive, and sometimes they even hurt when they touch the bra. This can also be PMS.
  • Abdominal pain. Increased gas may accentuate the abdominal discomfort of pregnancy. The patient may confuse this with colicky pain from her period. ...
  • Irritability and sleepiness. These two symptoms can also occur in PMS, but are usually not as marked.

Pregnancy-specific symptoms
“The key difference between the two, however, is that with pregnancy, your period doesn't occur.” Nausea is also a symptom that can accompany pregnancy and is often not experienced with PMS. “The nausea in early pregnancy often resolves after the 12th week of gestation, “Giles said.
Jun 16, 2021

Full Answer

How to tell the difference between PMS and pregnancy symptoms?

Symptoms unique to pregnancy

  • A missed period. Missing a period is one of the most obvious signs of pregnancy. ...
  • Nausea. Nausea and vomiting are common in early pregnancy. ...
  • Nipple changes. Although breast changes can occur during both PMS and pregnancy, changes to the nipples rarely happen before a period.

What are the first signs of being pregnant?

What are the Most Common Early Signs of Pregnancy?

  • Missed period. If you’re in your childbearing years and a week or more has passed without the start of an expected menstrual cycle, you might be pregnant. ...
  • Tender, swollen breasts. Early in pregnancy hormonal changes might make your breasts sensitive and sore. ...
  • Nausea with or without vomiting. ...
  • Increased urination. ...
  • Fatigue. ...

What is the early sign of pregnancy?

To begin with, a pregnant woman may have no symptoms. But from as early as four weeks after your last period, you may experience signs such as a metallic taste in your mouth, and a heightened sense of smell. At this stage, pregnant women may also experience nausea, new food likes and dislikes and bloating.

Are night sweats an early sign of pregnancy?

This is probably why, women experiencing night sweats in early pregnancy, is not uncommono In fact, there are several health experts who regard night sweats as a sign of pregnancyc Therefore, it is quite safe to say that night sweats during pregnancy first trimester is nothing more than the body’s natural reaction to the hormonal changes that take place within the bodyd

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Is it really my period or am I pregnant?

When you have your period, the flow is noticeably heavier and can last up to a week. Pregnancy: For some, one of the first signs of pregnancy is light vaginal bleeding or spotting that's usually pink or dark brown. This typically happens 10 to 14 days after conception and is usually not enough to fill pads or tampons.

Can early pregnancy feel like a period?

Cramping is common in both PMS and early pregnancy. Early pregnancy cramps are similar to menstrual cramps, but they can occur lower down in the stomach. These cramps may persist for weeks or months during pregnancy, as the embryo implants and the uterus stretches.

What are the weirdest early signs of pregnancy?

Some weird early signs of pregnancy include:Stronger sense of smell. ... Strange taste in the mouth. ... Discharge. ... Cravings and aversions. ... Fatigue. ... Shortness of breath. ... Congestion. ... Constipation. Hormonal changes may cause some women to become constipated during pregnancy.More items...•

What should you not do before pregnancy test?

Don't drink too much water, or any liquid, before taking a pregnancy test. Excess fluids can impact the accuracy of the test results, so if your urine is diluted or pale yellow, hold off on taking a test. Diluted urine tends to also have diluted hCG levels which can skew the test results.

Why do I feel like Im getting my period but not?

The most common reasons for getting period symptoms include pregnancy, stress, indigestion, lactose intolerance, and IBS. It's very common to miss your period, due to reasons such as stress, and still experience the symptoms that usually come with the bleeding.

Why do I feel like I'm on my period but I'm not bleeding?

Experiencing period symptoms but no blood can happen when your hormones become imbalanced. This imbalance can be due to a poor diet, excessive caffeine consumption, or heavy drinking. Gaining weight or losing weight can be attributed to a lack of proper nutrition, which can also affect your menstrual cycle.

How does your stomach feel in early pregnancy?

In early pregnancy, a bigger belly or feeling of tightness is probably due to digestive changes. As your uterus takes up more room in your pelvis, it's pushing your intestines upward. In addition, hormonal changes are slowing your digestion, leading to increased gas and constipation.

What symptoms do you have at 1 week pregnant?

Pregnancy symptoms in week 1nausea 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.More items...•

Period Or Pregnancy Introduction

One of the most frequent questions in parenting forum is about the differences between signs of pregnancy and period. It is in fact very difficult...

Similar Symptoms of Period and Pregnancy

Before your period is coming, you may have tender or swollen breasts, you may experience headache, fatigue, constipation, acne. All these signs hap...

Backache - Symptom of Period

Many will experience backache before or during period. Backache is not an EARLY sign of pregnancy. Pregnant women will only experience backache in...

Missed Period Or Spotting - Symptom of Pregnancy

If you have regular menstrual cycles in the past and do not experience any major change in the regular life routine such as sudden increase in your...

Increased Urination - Symptom of Pregnancy

During pregnancy, there is a considerable increase in blood volume so a lot of fluid is processed through kidney which is eventually sent to the bl...

What is the difference between period and pregnancy?

The main difference between period and pregnancy symptoms is the hormones that cause them . While period symptoms are caused by fluctuating levels of progesterone and estrogen, pregnancy symptoms are caused by the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). HCG hormone stimulates the ovaries to continue producing estrogen and progesterone, ...

What are the symptoms of a missed period?

Early pregnancy symptoms before missed period flows include: Implantation bleeding (spotting) and cramps. These symptoms occur as the zygote attaches to the uterine wall. When implantation occurs, blood vessels in the uterine wall are often ruptured, causing the bleeding.

How long does it take for a zygote to become a blastocyst?

This is referred to as implantation and marks the beginning of a pregnancy – this typically occurs 6 – 12 days after ovulation. After implantation, the zygote is referred to as a blastocyst.

Why are early pregnancy symptoms easy to miss?

Early Pregnancy Symptoms. Many early pregnancy symptoms are easy to miss because they mimic period symptoms rather closely. For this reason, it is important to note that experiencing some of these symptoms does not necessarily indicate a pregnancy.

How does HCG affect pregnancy?

HCG hormone stimulates the ovaries to continue producing estrogen and progesterone, and prevents the release of any additional eggs. It first begins to show in a woman’s blood and urine a few days after implantation. A woman will not have a positive pregnancy test before this hormone is present in high enough levels.

How long does it take for a woman to feel tender after conception?

Progesterone helps maintain the pregnancy, and contributes to the growth of the breast’s milk-producing glands. These symptoms can be noticed as early as one week after conception. Breast tenderness. Similar to period symptoms, the hormonal changes associated with pregnancy can make the breasts tender and painful.

What happens when an egg is released from the ovaries?

Each time a woman ovulates, the most mature egg is released. This egg travels down one of the fallopian tubes toward the uterus. Before the egg reaches the uterus, the uterine lining (also known as the endometrium) thickens with blood and spongy tissue in order to prepare for the potential attachment of a fertilized egg.

Are Home Pregnancy Tests A Foolproof Indicator Of Pregnancy

My period started 2 weeks ago when I started birth control. I’m still bleeding. Am I pregnant?

How Long Should You Wait To Take A Home Pregnancy Test

Early pregnancy symptoms show up weeks before your period, but an average waiting period of two weeks is recommended from the date of ovulation, to take a home pregnancy test. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin is a placenta-produced hormone that enters the urine, once an embryo is implanted in the uterus.

What Is The 2

The “2-week wait” is a term that has been used to describe the time interval between ovulation and implantation, or the approximate point at which a pregnancy test will yield a definitive answer. Many tests available on the market today are able to determine if you are pregnant, even before the date of the expected menstrual period.

Similar Symptoms Of Period And Pregnancy

Before your period is coming, you may have tender or swollen breasts, you may experience headache, fatigue, constipation, acne. All these signs happen to be same or similar to those early pregnancy symptoms.

Sore Tender And Heavy Breasts

Sore, tender, heavy breasts or darker areolas are noticeable pregnancy symptoms, a week before missed period. With rising oestrogen levels after conception, women feel sore, full, and experience acute pain in the breasts. Nipples begin to look darker and feel itchy, tingly or prickly.

Come For A Pregnancy Test

If you would rather not wait anylonger to find out if you are pregnant, makean appointment to come see us atPregnancy Care Clinic for a no-cost pregnancy test.

When Should I Test

Home pregnancy tests can be very accurate , especially if you wait to test until after your period is officially late. Some tests claim to accurately detect pregnancy up to a week before your missed period, so if you’re experiencing some pregnancy symptoms and are champing at the bit, go for it.

How do you know if you're pregnant and you're getting your period?

Signs that indicate the arrival of the period include abdominal or pelvic pain or cramp. Some pregnant women will also experience cramping in early pregnancy which may then need medical attention.

How to confirm pregnancy when period is due?

Hence, the best way to confirm is to carry out a pregnancy test when your period is due. Try to do it in the morning after you wake up and do not take any fluid before that to ensure accuracy.

What are the symptoms of a period?

In summary, similar symptoms of pregnancy and period are tender breast, headache, bloating, constipation, fatigue, morning sickness or cramp. Different signs include backache which is a sign of period. Spotting and frequent urination are symptoms of pregnancy.

What to do if pregnant woman sees spotting?

If pregnant women see spotting and is confirmed pregnant through home pregnant test, they should call the doctors immediately for help.

Why do pregnant women urinate?

During pregnancy, there is a considerable increase in blood volume so a lot of fluid is processed through kidney which is eventually sent to the bladder. This may cause pregnant women to urinate more than often. In the early pregnancy, this symptom may not be obvious to many pregnant women.

Why is my period delayed?

Answer: Other than stress, other things also can delay your period such as sudden weight gain or loss, travel and over-exercising. Your stress may just cause the period to be delayed by a few days although it is possible that you may be pregnant.

Can you test for pregnancy at home?

Many people notice the pregnancy symptom such as light cramp, spotting when their periods are supposed to come, but the only way to confirm pregnancy at home is do a pregnancy test when period is due. At the moment, there is nothing you can do other than waiting for a pregnancy test. Meanwhile, try to relax as much as possible so as to not cause period to delay further.

How long after a missed period can you feel pregnant?

As stated above, some women can sense that they're pregnant before a missed period due to some early symptoms, usually 1-2 weeks following the missed period (or 5-6 weeks gestational age.) Those symptoms are usually pregnancy fatigue, constipation, increase in breast size and sensitivity, and frequent urination.

How Do I Know if I Am Pregnant?

The only way to know for sure if you are pregnant would be to get a positive pregnancy test, whether it be a home pregnancy test or a blood test. Symptoms may show up prior to taking a test, but they could be a sign of impending menstruation, so it's best to wait and see if you miss your period.

When Do Pregnancy Symptoms Start?

"Usually 1-2 weeks following the missed period," says Dr. Trolice. "This is 5-6 weeks estimated gestational age."

How Much Are Pregnancy Tests?

There are tests at the dollar stores for (you guessed it) a dollar, or you could buy one test at a superstore or grocery store for $3-$4. Some tests come in packs of twos or threes and can range from $10-$15.

How to tell if you have PMS?

Here are some early pregnancy symptoms that are different from signs of PMS: 1 Menstrual bleeding is heavier than pregnancy-related spotting. 2 Fatigue from PMS usually goes away, for the most part, once the bleeding starts. 3 Nausea is a common pregnancy symptom, but not so much with PMS. 4 Food cravings or aversions are more intense with pregnancy. 5 Cramps can be intense before menstruation but are milder in the early stages of pregnancy.

What to do if you get a positive pregnancy test?

If you get a positive result on the test (s), you're pregnant! Your next step is to contact your healthcare provider and set up your first prenatal appointment. It's so important to make sure that you and your baby get the best possible care during this pregnancy.

When is the best time to take a pregnancy test?

The absolute best time to take any pregnancy test is a few days after a missed period. This is when the hormone hCG, the pregnancy hormone produced by the growing balls of cells if there is indeed a pregnancy, is most easily detected by home pregnancy tests.

How often does a woman have her period?

Your period occurs every month or so in lieu of an egg becoming fertilized. Eggs are released once a month from the ovary. When they aren’t fertilized, the egg travels out of the uterus and sheds through the vagina.

What are the symptoms of pregnancy?

irritability. lower back pain. The difference is that these symptoms are related to your body’s natural preparation methods for pregnancy. If any of the above symptoms are severe or don’t go away, you’re in the second or third trimester of pregnancy, or both apply, seek immediate care.

What causes a woman's stomach to hurt during pregnancy?

This occurs most commonly during the last few months of pregnancy. The placenta detaches from the uterus, usually causing heavy bleeding and possibly severe stomach pain and cramping. Certain health conditions, such as high blood pressure, can increase the risk of placental abruption.

What to do if you bleed during the second trimester?

Regardless of whether bleeding during the second and third trimester is light or heavy, with or without any other symptoms, you need to call your doctor for an emergency visit.

What is a ruptured uterus?

A uterine rupture means that the muscle of the uterus separates or tears. This can cause uncontrolled bleeding. It occurs most commonly in those who have delivered via cesarean delivery in the past. Though rare, this type of tear happens on old scar lines along the uterus.

What color is spotting during pregnancy?

Rather, you might experience “spotting” during early pregnancy, which is usually light pink or dark brown in color.

When does a pregnant woman bleed?

This type of bleeding occurs when the fertilized egg implants into the uterus, usually around the time your period would be expected.

Is there a chance you may be pregnant?

You got: There's a chance you may be pregnant. We're not saying that your chances are either good or bad. There is definitely something going on, and many of the symptoms you're experiencing are suggestive of a pregnancy. Still, there's also a chance that may be caused by something else.

Can you tell if you are pregnant early?

While it's not entirely certain, you definitely have many of the signs of an early pregnancy. Sure, there's a chance it's a false alarm, but the likelihood is better than not that a pregnancy has occurred. The only way to know for sure, of course, is to take a pregnancy test. If you're not quite ready to find out yet, ...

Can you get pregnant based on your test score?

From what you've told us, there is a very good chance that you are pregnant. Not only do you have many of the symptoms, you have had the opportunity to get pregnant based on your score. The first place to start is to take a pregnancy test and to meet with your doctor to confirm the results and ensure everything is on track.

Is it possible to get pregnant with birth control?

If you consistently use a birth control pill, for example, there is only a one percent chance of getting pregnant .

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