Are you trying to guess if you are pregnant by reading various signs and symptoms? Don’t worry, you are not alone. Many women keep wondering “how can I know that I am pregnant?” without having to wait for a test. Sometimes, how to know pregnant or not is indeed possible without tests, but only a proper clinical test can confirm pregnancy.
Early signs of pregnancy can vary from woman to woman. It is a known fact that a woman’s body changes when she becomes pregnant. Some tell-tale signs can indicate a pregnancy even before you take a test.
A woman’s menstrual cycle is a very reliable tool to check for pregnancy. It is nothing but the body’s natural way of shedding the inner lining of the womb every month. If the egg is successfully fertilised by a sperm, it will attach to the uterine wall and will not be “shed” by your body.
If your menstrual cycle is regular and you have suddenly missed one cycle or there is a delay, it can indicate a possible pregnancy. You may want to consult your doctor. This may not be a reliable indication if you have irregular periods.
When the fertilised egg implants on the uterine wall, slight bleeding or spotting can occur. It can be just a few spots of blood around the time or sometimes even a week before your menstrual cycle should start.
It is easy to mistake these spots for the start of your next menstrual cycle. If you see a few spots and your menstrual cycle does not start as expected, then it could indicate pregnancy. You might want to consult your doctor.
Cramps are a common part of a woman’s menstrual cycle. Some women can experience cramping along with spotting when the implantation takes place. It may be very light and easily missed by some, while some women can experience severe cramping.
However, these cramps can feel a little different from the usual menstrual cycle cramps. Implantation cramps can feel like small pricks or pulls around your uterus. You may even experience a tingling sensation like never before.
Your breasts can become tender and sore as they swell with hormones. This is one of the first parts of your body to undergo a change when pregnancy occurs. They can feel very tender to touch and can sometimes even hurt. Your nipples might become darker and more sensitive too. Some women might even notice small white spots around the nipple.
Though commonly known as morning sickness, it can occur at any time during the day. A pregnant woman can feel nauseous or even vomit due to all the hormonal surges and changes. It can occur out of the blue or be triggered by certain foods or smells.
A woman’s sense of smell and taste can improve or change drastically during pregnancy. If you notice you can smell what others can’t, or certain smells or tastes trigger you, it could mean your pregnancy hormones are on the rise, thus indicating a pregnancy.
Your body is working hard to create a new life. It can result in unexplained tiredness. If you notice you want to take a nap at odd times or are unable to do your regular activities with the energy level as before, or even the sheer thought of doing something physically tires you, it could indicate pregnancy.
Some women can experience a sudden surge in their appetite, making them eat more than usual. Some women will constantly feel full and won’t be able to eat much. It might sometimes feel like indigestion but for many, they just feel full. Many women experience this change in appetite during their menstrual cycle too. If you feel the difference is more than usual or persistent, it is advisable to consult your doctor.
Hormonal changes affect our moods. Many women undergo mood swings even during their menstrual cycle. When you are pregnant, the hormonal fluctuations can be heavier, leading to more drastic mood swings. If you notice you are happy one moment and sad the next, feel angrier than usual, irritable, etc, it could indicate pregnancy.
The added pressure on the uterus during implantation and the surge in hormones in the uterus can lead to an increase in your urination frequency. You may not urinate much but you will want to keep visiting the toilet.
A woman’s body temperature can indicate a lot. It can not only tell when you are ovulating but can even indicate pregnancy. A woman’s body temperature tends to rise during ovulation, indicating her body is ready for pregnancy. If the basal temperature does not decrease even two weeks after ovulation, then it is a strong indication of pregnancy.
There are many pregnancy kits available in the market that allow you to test right at home. These tests work best if you take them a few days after a missed period. If you test for pregnancy before the missed period, it may show a false negative.
So, how long does it take to know if you are pregnant for sure? Your doctor would ideally ask you to take a blood test a couple of weeks after your missed period.
If you are asking yourself “can I be pregnant without any symptoms”, the answer is yes. All the symptoms mentioned above may or may not be experienced by women in their early pregnancy. Sometimes you may experience any of these symptoms due to a delayed menstrual cycle too. Experiencing one or more of these symptoms does not confirm pregnancy. Your doctor will confirm pregnancy only after a clinically backed test.
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