Pregnancy Symptoms: How to Know if You're Pregnant?
When do you start showing in pregnancy?
You hope, you are on the lookout for the slightest sign of a possible pregnancy. But before you rejoice, you want confirmation of your condition. Amenorrhea, fatigue, nausea, cravings... what are the first symptoms of pregnancy that you should watch out for? What are the means at your disposal to know if you are pregnant and how reliable are they? The point with the editorial staff.
You are several days late in your period, and inevitably the question arises: are you pregnant? First of all, there are some initial symptoms that you can recognize on your body, in other words clinical signs. Here are the most common ones.
The first symptom of pregnancy, amenorrhea
If you are pregnant, you should know that your belly will not grow right away . The first sign of pregnancy is actually the fact that your period does not come . This is the absence of periods, which is called amenorrhea . When you have regular periods, it is quite easy to realize it, but when your cycle is irregular, there may be doubt.
Be careful though, because many women have absences or irregularities in their periods in general. A delay is therefore not always synonymous with pregnancy. It can be due to a change in life (stress, moving, etc.), a hormonal imbalance, a thyroid disorder, etc.
It is also important to note that you can have period pain while pregnant . In fact, at the beginning of pregnancy, "slight pain, cramps or pulling may occur: talk to a health professional".
How long does it take to get pregnant after unprotected sex?
It depends on each couple. For some women, pregnancy will occur after a few weeks, for others it will take several months. Beyond a year of regular unprotected sexual intercourse without pregnancy, we speak of infertility (male or female). According to the latest figures, it takes an average of 7 months to achieve pregnancy. Out of 100 couples with average fertility, 25% achieve pregnancy in the first month. After 12 months, 97% will have achieved it.
Other symptoms to watch out for
Pregnancy symptoms vary from woman to woman and from pregnancy to pregnancy. "Some women may experience multiple symptoms while others may not show any pregnancy symptoms" .
But among the evocative signs, we frequently find:
Breasts become heavier and tighter quite quickly. Your nipple bulges as the days go by;
You may also feel very tired , you have an intense and unusual need for sleep;
It is not uncommon for some women to experience cravings and desires , sometimes disgust and sensitivity to odors;
Some women experience morning sickness from the beginning ;
You may experience irritability , emotional lability, or hyper-emotionality;
In the expectant mother, the first weeks of pregnancy can be accompanied by abdominal pain , but also a swollen and tense belly.
In some women, the appearance of small spots of light red blood can be an early sign of pregnancy. This phenomenon, called implantation bleeding, occurs when the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine wall. It does not pose any risk to the pregnant woman or the fetus.
Having symptoms does not necessarily mean you are pregnant
Be careful, because some of these symptoms are not necessarily related to pregnancy . They can be associated with hormonal imbalance, increased stress, premenstrual syndrome or the onset of menopause .
Diagnosis with urine pregnancy test
To find out if you are pregnant, the first thing to do is to go to a pharmacy or a supermarket and buy aurine pregnancy test . The pregnancy test will allow you to detect, through your urine, preferably with your morning urine, whether you have the pregnancy hormone, the HCG hormone.
These tests are quite reliable, so:
- If the test is positive, you are indeed pregnant;
- If the test is negative, either you are not pregnant, or you may be pregnant, but it may still be too early. If you have any doubts, do not hesitate to do it again a little later, wait a few days.
It is recommended to do the urine test in the first urine of the morning , when it is most concentrated. The HCG hormone will then be more easily detectable. A positive test must be confirmed by a blood test.
How long should you wait to take a pregnancy test after intercourse? When should you do it?
Testing too early may not always detect pregnancy. A urine pregnancy test can be taken from the date you are expected to get your period . If you choose an early detection test, you can take your test up to 6 days before your expected period.
If you are unable to predict the date of your period because it is irregular, take a test 3 weeks after the date of sexual intercourse which could have caused pregnancy, informs the website QuestionSexualite.fr.
The temperature curve to detect pregnancy
You are used to taking your temperature every morning to detect your ovulation period. This clue can help you know if there is a possible pregnancy.
A story of variation
The temperature drops to the lowest point of the cycle around the fourteenth day, this is the beginning of ovulation , then it increases by a few tenths of a degree (3 to 5 maximum). After the twenty-eighth day, it drops again, and this is the first day of menstruation. If this temperature remains high after the twenty-eighth day, there is a 99% chance that pregnancy is on the way.
A less secure method
Your temperature curve will allow you to indicate very precisely the first day you were pregnant. This is the first day of ovulation , the day when the temperature increased and fertilization occurred. But be careful, it is a difficult tool to interpret, which can be quickly disrupted by a small cold for example. Avoid focusing on the curve to pace your sexual intercourse.
Confirmation of a future baby with a blood test
You will first need to talk to your doctor about your suspected pregnancy. To confirm or rule out your suspicions, he or she will prescribe a blood test , which is more reliable than a pregnancy test. The blood test can be done as early as 14 days after sexual intercourse that could have caused pregnancy.
It allows to quantify very precisely the level of beta HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) present in your body. It also allows to date the pregnancy and to detect possible anomalies. The beta HCG level also serves as a check because a figure that is too high can be an alert (ectopic pregnancy, etc.).
It is important to be informed quickly about a possible pregnancy because there is monitoring to be put in place and precautions to be taken regarding tobacco, alcohol and even diet.
Blood tests are performed in a laboratory. They can be done at any time of the day, with a prescription (reimbursed) or without a prescription (not reimbursed).
