Think of someone who is truly determined, multiply that by 10 and you get the result: that’s a woman who wants to get pregnant! As soon as her period is over, she starts feeling every possible symptom. Sometimes these are real symptoms, sometimes it’s just a sign of the anxiety that comes with trying. But did you know that pregnancy symptoms in the first week might not be as obvious as many women report?

Usually, the first signs that appear aren’t even pregnancy symptoms! People get upset when I say this, but it’s the absolute truth. We’re convinced we’re feeling everything, absolutely everything a pregnant woman feels. The most common symptoms reported to this writer are:

Possible Symptoms

  • Heartburn
  • Nausea
  • Queasiness
  • Headaches
  • Lack or excess of appetite
  • Breast pain (pointy nipples, swollen or heavy breasts)
  • Bloated belly
  • Sharp pains in the lower abdomen
  • Frequent urination (constantly feeling like your bladder is full)

These are just the most common ones, but there’s a pretty long list of supposed pregnancy symptoms in the first or second week1. The problem is, most women who want to get pregnant take these symptoms literally. That’s why it’s so important to emphasize that these early symptoms could be (and are, in 99% of cases) due to post-ovulation, so they can’t even be confirmed as first-week pregnancy symptoms. Normally, when a woman ovulates, the body starts a different kind of hormonal activity.

IMPORTANT: Many women driven by excitement and anxiety to get pregnant may start to feel psychological symptoms. There are many cases of psychological pregnancy, where even the belly grows.

An increase in progesterone can bring all these symptoms and even more, since these are the same hormones that a pregnant woman has, only in excess2. That’s why the symptoms in the first week of pregnancy aren’t so telling and, you might even say, are dismissible. Don’t take them too seriously—don’t rush out to buy a pregnancy test! Seriously, my dear friend, it’s the reality. The trouble with clinging to symptoms is that they might not be due to pregnancy. Of course, sometimes they are, and happily, they really do mean pregnancy! But not all of them are sure signs that a baby is on the way—and that’s the catch.

Imagine getting your hopes up, relying on symptoms before your period even arrives, and suddenly being disappointed? That’s why the golden rule is to wait for the right time to check whether you’re actually pregnant, which is advice we always repeat here at TF.

The corpus luteum gets more active when fertilization occurs. Some research indicates that the blastocyst has an enzyme that influences the corpus luteum’s behavior, making it secrete even more progesterone to thicken the endometrium and help pregnancy happen. If your symptoms are very intense, maybe fertilization did occur, but there’s a long road between fertilization and actual pregnancy3. So wait to confirm that you’re truly experiencing the first week of pregnancy.

The egg can be fertilized by the sperm but not implant correctly. If that happens, your period will still come, even if your symptoms are intense. That’s why you need to wait a little longer. After so many negative tests, I learned that waiting is the best solution to avoid disappointment.

Are First-Week Symptoms All Fake?

No! Remember, a woman can feel symptoms similar to pregnancy, but they’re not necessarily pregnancy symptoms and, for that reason, just wait. If they persist or even get stronger, then take a test. A good time frame to get a reliable result is 5 days after a missed period or 25 days after intercourse. You can buy your Famivita high-sensitivity pregnancy test here in our online store.

I should also mention that after the body starts producing HCG (a hormone exclusive to pregnancy), the symptoms often increase significantly. HCG further stimulates the corpus luteum, making it increase its progesterone production to help keep the pregnancy safe.

Bleeding in the First Week

The problem arises when bleeding occurs during the first weeks. But how do you know if you’re in your first week? And this could be one of the first week pregnancy symptoms, known as implantation. But it can also be a sign that your body needs help producing hormones. In these specific cases, it’s best to see an obstetrician and, of course, know that even if the doctor requests an ultrasound, there’s still a chance of seeing nothing since the pregnancy is very recent, less than 5 weeks. The first pregnancy symptoms of the first week of gestation are not true pregnancy symptoms!

Isn’t that interesting? They’re similar, because they’re caused by the same hormone that makes these symptoms appear. My advice: have a little patience and if the symptoms persist after a late period, take a test and good luck!

Readers’ Questions:

Can ovulation inducers cause symptoms that are confused with pregnancy?

Yes, using ovulation inducers can cause some symptoms that are easily confused with pregnancy symptoms, such as Indux, which may cause abdominal bloating, a feeling of fullness, weight gain and, in more isolated cases, even nausea.

Is nipple pain a pregnancy symptom in the first week?

Nipple pain, like increased sensitivity in the whole breast, is quite normal both at the beginning of pregnancy and during PMS (premenstrual tension), so it shouldn’t be considered a main symptom as it could simply signal your period is coming. See also: Can a Pregnancy Test Be Wrong?