Pregnancy

Any time you have sex, there is always a chance for pregnancy. At certain times of the month, the chance can increase or decrease, but because sperm can live in a woman’s body for a couple of days, it’s impossible to know what your chances are at any given time.

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Many women assume that if they use contraception, they cannot become pregnant. Contraception, however, is not 100 percent effective and the chance for pregnancy is never eliminated if you’ve had sex.

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If you have had a positive home pregnancy test or are experiencing common symptoms of pregnancy, you may be asking, “Am I pregnant?”

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Do any of these sound familiar?
 

• I’ve missed a period

• I feel like throwing up sometimes

• My breasts feel tender

• I have to pee more often

• I’m more tired than usual

• I’m having mood swings
   

Although not everyone experiences these signs, the symptoms above are commonly associated with early pregnancy. 

 

Signs and symptoms of pregnancy include:

• Missed period. If a week or more has passed without the start of an expected menstrual cycle, you might be pregnant. However, this symptom can be misleading if you have an irregular menstrual cycle.

• Tender, swollen breasts. Early in pregnancy hormonal changes might make your breasts sensitive and sore. 

• Nausea with or without vomiting.

• Increased urination. You might find yourself urinating more often than usual. The amount of blood in your body increases during pregnancy, causing your kidneys to process extra fluid that ends up in your bladder.

• Fatigue. 

• Moodiness. The flood of hormones in your body in early pregnancy can make you unusually emotional and weepy. Mood swings also are common.

• Bloating. Hormonal changes during early pregnancy can cause you to feel bloated, similar to how you might feel at the start of a menstrual period.

• Light spotting. Light spotting might be one of the first signs of pregnancy. Known as implantation bleeding, it happens when the fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus — about 10 to 14 days after conception. Implantation bleeding occurs around the time you would expect to have a menstrual period. However, not all women have it.

• Cramping. Some women experience mild uterine cramping early in pregnancy.

• Constipation. Hormonal changes cause your digestive system to slow down, which can lead to constipation.
   

Since every woman is different, every pregnancy is going to be different too. Some women don’t have any symptoms while others experience them all. Some realize they’re pregnant immediately while other women don’t know for some time.

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