Some of the earliest signs of pregnancy include a missed period, tender or swollen breasts, nausea, fatigue, increased urination and constipation. But these symptoms can also occur for reasons unrelated to pregnancy, so they cannot confirm that someone is pregnant on their own.
A pregnancy test is the more reliable way to find out. Home tests detect human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG, a hormone produced during pregnancy. Tests are generally more accurate after the first day of a missed period, although the timing of ovulation and implantation can affect when hCG becomes detectable.
Common early signs
A missed period is one of the most recognizable early signs, particularly for someone with a regular menstrual cycle. However, an irregular cycle can make this sign less reliable.
Breast tenderness or swelling can occur soon after pregnancy begins as hormone levels change. Some people may also notice that their breasts feel heavier or more sensitive.
Nausea, with or without vomiting, is another common symptom. Despite being called morning sickness, it can occur at any time of day. It often begins during the first one to two months of pregnancy, although some people experience it earlier and others do not experience it at all.
Fatigue is also common in early pregnancy. Hormonal changes, including rising progesterone levels, may contribute to tiredness during the first trimester.
Some people urinate more frequently during early pregnancy. Constipation can also occur because hormonal changes can slow the digestive system.
Food cravings, food aversions and increased sensitivity to smells can occur as well. They are possible pregnancy symptoms, but they are not proof of pregnancy because symptoms vary from person to person.
Spotting can occur, but it needs context
Light spotting can occur around the time a period is expected and may happen in very early pregnancy. It is sometimes referred to as implantation bleeding.
However, vaginal bleeding during pregnancy can have several causes, including infections, miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy. It should not automatically be assumed to be implantation bleeding.
What about feeling hot, headaches and back pain?
The original account lists feeling unusually hot, headaches and backaches among the main early signs of pregnancy. These symptoms are not specific enough to establish pregnancy.
Headaches and back pain can occur during pregnancy, but they can also have many other causes. Feeling hot or sweating more is likewise not a reliable way to determine whether someone is pregnant.
Hair loss or balding should also not be presented as a typical early sign of pregnancy. The more established early symptoms include changes such as a missed period, breast tenderness, nausea, fatigue, increased urination, constipation and changes in food preferences or smell sensitivity.
Birth control does not rule out pregnancy
Pregnancy can occur while someone is using contraception because no contraceptive method is completely effective. Being on the contraceptive pill does not make ordinary pregnancy symptoms evidence of an ectopic pregnancy.
If someone using birth control thinks they may be pregnant, a pregnancy test can help determine whether pregnancy has occurred.
An ectopic pregnancy is different from a normal pregnancy because the fertilized egg implants outside the main cavity of the uterus, most often in a fallopian tube. It can initially produce the same symptoms as an ordinary pregnancy, including a missed period, breast tenderness and nausea.
When pregnancy symptoms need medical attention
Warning signs of an ectopic pregnancy can include vaginal bleeding and pain low in the abdomen or pelvis, particularly pain on one side. Shoulder-tip pain, severe dizziness or fainting can occur when internal bleeding develops and require urgent medical attention.
An ectopic pregnancy cannot develop normally and can become life-threatening if it causes a fallopian tube to rupture. Diagnosis may require pregnancy testing, blood tests and an ultrasound examination.
For someone who thinks they may be pregnant, symptoms alone are not enough to confirm it. A home pregnancy test is the appropriate first step, followed by medical care if the result is positive or if there are concerning symptoms.
