You may also notice other changing symptoms when you are bleeding, such as more or less pain, a shorter or longer period of bleeding, or a change in the color of your blood. All of these could mean you are pregnant.
Remember that morning sickness doesn’t necessarily happen in the morning. It could happen at any time of day.
Also look for changes in the breasts, like swelling, a change in sensitivity, heaviness, or a darkening of the areola (the area around your nipple).
Tender breasts, increased urination, bloating, cramping, and constipation can also be signs of pregnancy.
A pregnancy test may show a false positive if you experience a pregnancy loss soon after taking the test, if you take a fertility drug with HCG, or if you are experiencing menopause, an ectopic pregnancy, or problems with your ovaries. A pregnancy test may show a false negative if you take the test too early, read the results before the test is done working, or use diluted urine. For the most accurate results, take the test first thing in the morning a 2-3 days after you think you missed your period. A home pregnancy test is not as accurate after the first trimester. [7] X Research source If you have any doubt about whether you may be pregnant, see your healthcare provider. They can test for pregnancy hormones in your urine and blood. Your doctor can also determine the quantity of any pregnancy hormones that are present, which will help them evaluate the health and progress of the pregnancy.
Depending on how early they suspect you are in the pregnancy, your doctor may not recommend an ultrasound right away. While a pregnancy may be visible on an ultrasound as early as 4 ½ weeks, you could get a false negative if the test is done too early. Your doctor may also order a blood test to confirm whether or not you are pregnant. Conditions such as retroversion of the uterus, a bicornuate uterus, or scar tissue in the uterus can make it difficult to tell for sure if you are pregnant using an ultrasound.
These tests can help tell if you are experiencing an ectopic pregnancy or other serious complications.
If you have PCOS and recently lost weight and reduced your insulin levels, pregnancy is more likely. Also see a doctor if you have other conditions that affect your periods and reproductive health, like endometriosis, and you experience pregnancy symptoms.
Look for symptoms that you experienced during your recent pregnancy. If you suspect there is even the smallest chance you could be pregnant, take a test as soon as possible. Don’t rely on breastfeeding as a form of birth control after pregnancy. While it can reduce your chances of getting pregnant again, it isn’t completely reliable.
You and the fetus may be at risk for more complications if you are at the age of perimenopause. Take a pregnancy test as soon as possible so that you can talk to a doctor about steps you can take to reduce those risks.
Hormonal birth control can harm a fetus, so find out as soon as possible if you are pregnant to reduce risk of complications.
Even though it can be frightening to face the possibility of a pregnancy, it’s better to know sooner rather than later if you are pregnant so that you can prepare yourself physically and mentally and make healthy choices. Stress can also cause hormone levels to fluctuate. Confirm the result of your home pregnancy test with an ultrasound.
