So your fertile window has barely passed and the pregnancy symptoms before a missed period appear… Is it possible? How can you tell the difference between post-ovulation symptoms and real pregnancy symptoms? Well, symptoms before a missed period are quite common and can indeed confuse women right after the fertile window. Usually, symptoms can start as early as the second day after ovulation, and this is all due to hormones.

Ovulation is triggered by two specific hormones: estrogen and LH. When these two are in high amounts, they promote cervical mucus and a feeling of abdominal discomfort due to ovarian stimulation. However, the hormone that can cause a stronger feeling of pregnancy is progesterone1. It rises immediately after ovulation to help preserve the endometrium for implantation.

IMPORTANT: Many women, driven by anxiety to get a positive result, may experience psychological symptoms. So, don’t start celebrating a pregnancy without being absolutely sure!

Progesterone can be recognized by the woman through that whitish discharge with a milky, creamy, or ointment-like appearance that shows up right after ovulation. This increase in progesterone is responsible for the symptoms that are common among pregnant women, but it does not always mean you are actually pregnant.

Is it possible to feel pregnancy symptoms before a missed period?

Pregnancy symptoms before a missed period can indeed appear2. But a certain degree of delay should be considered when detecting a pregnancy. There’s no use in confusing it with PMS and experiencing the dreaded false negative with the pregnancy test, only to remain uncertain. Reader Gessiane, 28 years old, went through this. She had pregnancy symptoms before her missed period and took tests from the 7th day after sexual intercourse, always relying on the symptoms. See what happened:

“I was sure I was pregnant because of the symptoms I started to feel. I noticed some things as soon as the 17th day of my cycle. Since my cycle is short — about 22 or 23 days — I thought I could get a positive shortly after. I thought a week would be enough. But I was wrong, I was duped! lol I had been trying to get pregnant for over a year and had this certainty I don’t know where it came from. So I waited another week and I kept getting negative tests, I did one every day and the hormone didn’t show up. I decided to wait and let go, and I realized I was 8 days late and with the same symptoms I’d had before, but even more intense. It was on February 23, 2012, that I decided to take one last test that cycle, and what do you know? It was positive! Amanda is almost 2 years old now and is my life.”

Which pregnancy symptoms before a missed period should I consider?

The symptoms are the same as those commonly observed during pregnancy:

  • Nausea
  • Increased appetite
  • Sleepiness
  • Mood swings
  • Frequent urination
  • Bloating (a heavy feeling in the lower abdomen and a larger belly)

That’s why it’s so important to know how your cycle is going and to track your fertile days. You can follow the changes in your cycle and confirm ovulation with a mobile app or even a basal thermometer to check temperature. However, the most effective way to confirm ovulation is through an ovulation test, which provides reliable results by letting you know if ovulation is approaching or currently happening. This result is not an estimate, but is based on your urine collected that day. Famivita ovulation tests are a good option and can be found here. If you want to get pregnant, you should learn to understand your body right after ovulation3. Also, remember that not every symptom is pregnancy, and not every pregnancy has symptoms. It’s also very important to say this: some women actually have no symptoms at all and don’t have the slightest hint of pregnancy besides a missed period. By knowing your own body well, the phrase “Could I be pregnant?” will only come up when there are real signs to look out for.

How can I know if I’m pregnant before my period is late?

Is it possible to find out you are pregnant before a missed period? Maybe, but symptoms aren’t common before your period is late. The trick is knowing when to take the pregnancy test so you don’t end up disappointed like Gessiane. Of course, it’s not impossible to detect HCG on a test before a missed period and have your symptoms truly be due to pregnancy. But there are a few points to consider if you want to test before your period is late, such as:

  • The length of your cycle (if your cycle is short, chances are you ovulated early and may get a positive before your cycle ends)
  • The sensitivity of the blood test (quantitative beta tests are accurate and can detect tiny amounts in the blood)
  • Elevated basal temperature

Warning before a missed period

The first pregnancy symptoms before a missed period can really be misleading. So, be careful about getting your hopes up too early and being disappointed later. It’s very important to know that the pregnancy test should be taken at least after your period is late. If you’re too anxious, it’s worth remembering that false negatives can frustrate you and take away hope in a cycle where you may have finally achieved your long-awaited positive.

To sum up: if it really is pregnancy, the symptoms may get stronger after a few days of delay. It’s always best to let your period be late first, because if what you’re feeling is just due to ovulation, your period will show up in a few days. In other cases, if it really is pregnancy, nausea, sleepiness, and swollen and sore breasts may only get stronger. If in doubt, trust your sixth sense, consult a good doctor, and take a pregnancy test to confirm!

See also: First Pregnancy Symptoms