The question on the minds of 9 out of 10 women of childbearing age who want to get pregnant: how do I know if I’m pregnant? Although the symptoms are practically a cliché, sometimes they alone are not enough to determine whether or not a woman is pregnant. There are more factors beyond those already so widely mentioned and well known by so many women! So, how do I know if I’m pregnant before a missed period, what symptoms1 should I pay attention to, and when should I take a test to clear up the doubt?
Let’s start with the cycle. Some women have short cycles, others have long cycles, and some have extremely irregular cycles2. To make a quick initial calculation, first we need to know when the fertile period occurred. In cases of irregular cycles, this task may not be so easy. But it’s still possible to have a general idea of when ovulation happened. If a woman is trying to get pregnant, she will have some notion of when she had fertile mucus, or when she felt wetter. These are the two main symptoms of ovulation. Also, a woman may feel the pain during the fertile period even without seeing other signs. Normally, women ovulate in the middle of the cycle, but in some cases, there may be late ovulation, so it’s very important to stay alert.
After identifying the possible ovulation period, we can do a simple calculation. Count at least 12 days from the likely most fertile day with intercourse, and this way determine when you can take a pregnancy test. The symptoms can also help to find out if you are pregnant, but remember, not every woman has symptoms, and not every symptom is due to pregnancy!
How Do I Know If I’m Pregnant Before a Missed Period?
It is rare to get a positive result before your period is late. The symptoms may be hormonal, from the rise of progesterone after ovulation. It’s really important to keep this in mind so you don’t get your hopes up for nothing. Possible pregnancy symptoms can be:
- Sore and swollen breasts
- Morning sickness or nausea throughout the day
- Abdominal bloating in the evening
- Pains on one side below the belly button, or on both sides
- Changes in appetite (increased or decreased)
- Irritability
Are these symptoms familiar to you? Yes, they can also be PMS symptoms. That’s why it’s much better to wait for a late period and then, yes, take a test to check. How do I know if I’m pregnant just based on symptoms? Wait for your period to be late; if the symptoms continue and your period is absent for more than 5 days, then it is time to take a test!
If the test is negative with 5 days of missed period, take it again in a few days. Remember that HCG doubles every 48 hours and the sensitivity of the tests may not be enough to detect the small amount of HCG initially in the body3. It’s no wonder that almost all laboratories that do beta HCG exams include a note at the bottom of their reports:
“The clinical suggestion is to repeat the test one week after the date of this result, if there is still suspicion of pregnancy”
If you do not want to get pregnant, take medicine to prevent it, and had sexual intercourse, know that your chances of getting pregnant under these circumstances are much lower. Symptoms may still appear, but most are hormonal! How do I know if I’m pregnant even while taking birth control? Simple! Wait for the 7-day break. If your period does not come and you notice some symptoms, take the test to check. The same applies to women who don’t take birth control; if in doubt, repeat the test in a week if you still haven’t gotten your period.
To find out if you’re pregnant even without a test, pay attention to your body. Notice the signs it sends you throughout your menstrual cycle. If possible, use methods that help you reach a diagnosis sooner, such as basal temperature and also tracking your cycle with the Billings method. Any questions? Don’t be shy, leave them in the comments!
See also: Explanation For Main Pregnancy-Like Symptoms (Without Pregnancy)
