6 Weird, Early Pregnancy Symptoms Before Your Missed Period

Kierstin is a mom to two little girls and creator of the satirical podcast Really Good Advice for New Moms.

Weird Early Symptoms of Pregnancy

Something that sticks out to me as my "ah ha!" moments of realizing I was pregnant before I'd even taken a pregnancy test is that the symptoms I first noticed were weird, not typical. Like yeah, those common pregnancy symptoms popped up for me later on, but in those two weeks before my missed period I wasn't running around barfing in planters or peeing every five seconds like you see in the movies.

Instead, being grossed out by a favorite meal and feeling suddenly so dizzy on an autumn walk that I needed to sit down tipped me off that I might just be pregnant (I was!), even before I was far enough along to get an accurate result on a home pregnancy test.

Here's 6 weird signs you might just be pregnant too...

1. You have a runny nose, sore throat or feel like you're coming down with a cold
2. You feel sick when you drink coffee
3. You're dealing with random dizziness
4. You got your period a few days early
5. You feel uncharacteristically happy for someone about to start their period
6. Your favorite foods gross you out

1. You Have a Runny Nose, Sore Throat or Feel Like You're Coming Down With a Cold

What it Feels Like

Like you're about to come down with a cold but it just never comes on fully or you're dealing with allergies that the Claritin doesn't seem to be clearing up.

Why it Might Mean You're Pregnant

Early pregnancy (annnnd, well, the whole pregnancy) can cause rhinitis of pregnancy which means you might experience:

• A stuffed up nose and sinuses
• A runny nose
• Scratchy throat

But why? Because the extra estrogen surges of your first trimester can cause an increase in congestion, and the extra blood flow (yep, pregnancy creates more blood!) also contributes to swelling in the sinuses.

Later, the drippity drop of mucous may also make morning sickness and nausea worse. Yay.

2. You Feel Sick When You Drink Coffee

What it Feels Like

Either a total aversion to coffee or feeling sick, shaky or nauseous after consuming it.

I love coffee. Not in a Gilmore Girls way where it's a lifestyle choice, but I mean, I need a cup or two to get me going each morning which is why I was horrified to find myself suddenly disgusted by coffee one winter morning after my husband had left for work. "Hmmm" I thought, "That's weird." And it was weird. A weird early sign that I was about to get my BFP.

Why it Might Mean You're Pregnant

It turns out this symptom isn't all that weird after all, in fact it's pretty common for women to voluntarily avoid caffeine (which is in coffee) during their first trimester. According to this study published in 2004,

"Consideration should be given that a decrease in caffeine consumption may be a signal for a healthy pregnancy and acting as a confounder."

3. You're Dealing with Random Dizziness

What it Feels Like

Like you just stepped off a roller-coaster after vacuuming or getting up off the couch. Some people also describe it as lightheadedness or vertigo.

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Why it Might Mean You're Pregnant

As your hormones begin to rise, blood vessels relax and widen, contributing to those freaky dizzy spells of early pregnancy.

To keep from falling over you should:

• Drink plenty of water
• Stand and sit up very slowly to keep your blood pressure even
• Don't skip meals to make sure your blood sugar stays level

4. You Got Your Period a Few Days Early

What it Feels Like

Cramping in your lower back and abdomen with light bleeding or spotting (say, showing up on toilet paper but not filling up multiple tampons or pads in one day).

Why it Might Mean You're Pregnant

If you start bleeding a few days before you're supposed to start your period you may figure it just wasn't your month. But, if your period is lighter and shorter than usual, comes earlier than you expected, and doesn't have clots or tissue, you may be experiencing implantation bleeding - a positive early sign of pregnancy.

When (and how) To Test

If you have an inkling you might be pregnant but still have a week or so to go before you're due to start your period, hold off on taking a test. I took one too early in my second pregnancy and got a negative result, even though I was already experiencing dizziness and food aversions. When I took one two days later, I had my husband grab a First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test on his way home from work and that time I did get a faint positive result (I was about three days from the day of my expected period). The test may say "6 Days Sooner" but if you can handle to wait, start testing no more than three days before your period is about to start and then only test once every 48 hours after that until you get a positive.

Did You Already Take a Test?

Here's some of the most common reasons why you feel pregnant but the test is negative.

5. You Feel Uncharacteristically Happy for Someone About to Start Their Period

What it Feels Like

Like you're not getting your usual pre-period blues. I don't know about you, but I usually feel down and lazy in the last couple of days leading up to my period but before I found out I was pregnant with both of my kids I noticed that never happened. I even felt energized!

Why it Might Mean You're Pregnant

If your AF is right around the corner but you're as happy as can be, there's a chance this could mean your usual period hormones are taking a backseat to pregnancy hormones.

6. Your Favorite Foods Gross You Out

What it Feels Like

Like everything you ever loved is suddenly the enemy. Right before I found out I was pregnant with my first daughter my mom made me one of my favorite dinners and it tasted so salty I was actually kind of worried about my mom. I pushed through eating it but it was gross. When I asked everyone else if theirs was salty they disagreed. Things that make you go "hmmmm…" am I right?

Why it Might Mean You're Pregnant

Food aversions probably stem from morning sickness - they're just the first icky part of a bigger symptom (nausea, possible vomiting) to pop up in pregnancy.

But Can You Really Have Symptoms Before You Miss Your Period?

So, here's the problem - pregnancy and period symptoms are often the same. That's because the hormones responsible for giving you early pregnancy symptoms will also give you similar symptoms to those brought on by progesterone, which rises before your period starts. If you're experiencing dizziness, nausea and fatigue, how can you tell if it's because you're pregnant or just because you're about to start your period? For me, both times I was pregnant, I experienced symptoms that I don't normally experience before that start of my period. I always have symptoms beforehand, but these ones were clearly different for me.

Can I tell you for sure if you're pregnant? No. I'm not a pregnancy test. Is it fun to fixate, obsess and wonder in the two week wait? Absolutely!

In this vid, pediatric occupational therapist and lactation counselor Nekole breaks down her own telltale early clues.

Questions About Early Pregnancy Signs

Does your pee turn dark yellow or orange when you're pregnant?

You probably just haven’t been drinking enough water. Although dehydration can be a sign of pregnancy, it can also just be a sign that you need to drink more water!

Can a metallic taste in the mouth be a sign?

Dysgeusia, a distortion of the sense of taste, is a common early symptom of pregnancy. It can affect the taste of the food you eat but may be experienced even when you're not eating.

Is cervical mucus a good way to tell if you're pregnant?

No. Everyone's different in that respect. As with the other symptoms mentioned here, if it's different from what you usually experience before your period then it's possible this is your sign of pregnancy.

Can a nosebleed mean you're pregnant?

This is another one of those things that I think is dependent on whether or not it's typical for you. The only time in my life I've ever experienced nosebleeds is during pregnancy, but if it's something you've always dealt with I wouldn't count it as a point in your "I'm pregnant" column.

Is lower back pain a sign of pregnancy or PMS?

PMS, probably. Lower back pain is more common in late pregnancy, not early on because it's the added stress and weight of the growing fetus causing that pressure, whereas before your period you're likely to experience back discomfort because of the hormones that your body produces to help get your period going. So if you're experiencing lower back pain and wondering if it's an early pregnancy sign - it's more likely that your period is on the way.

Can early pregnancy feel like a UTI?

It could definitely feel like the beginning of a UTI. Here's the similarities and differences:

UTI vs. Early Pregnancy

My mouth feels like it's full of spit all of the time lately, could that me a positive sign?

Excessive saliva can definitely fall into the "morning sickness" category of pregnancy. The medical term for it is Ptaylism and it's one of those obnoxious symptoms that can trigger vomiting early on. However, I've experienced it during PMS too. A great way to combat it is with tiny sips of water.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and does not substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, and/or dietary advice from a licensed health professional. Drugs, supplements, and natural remedies may have dangerous side effects. If pregnant or nursing, consult with a qualified provider on an individual basis. Seek immediate help if you are experiencing a medical emergency.

Questions & Answers

Question: I had sex 4 days ago. Today I just started feeling nauseous, I have a weird feeling in my stomach like I want to throw up and I don’t feel as hungry. I have been feeling lightheaded and dizzy and I’m supposed to get my period in 2 weeks. Can I be pregnant?

Answer: If you're feeling these symptoms but you're not due for your period for at least another two weeks then your symptoms are likely unrelated to pregnancy and possibly symptoms of ovulation.

During ovulation, which usually happens halfway through our monthly cycle, about two weeks after your last period and two weeks before your next period, we experience a surge in hormones that can certainly make us feel awful.

There's a possibility you had an early ovulation and became pregnant then. If that's the case and your symptoms are indeed caused by early pregnancy then you should be alright to take a pregnancy test any time after Saturday, March 10th.

Otherwise, I would say that you should begin testing after Wednesday, March 14th.

Question: I had sex on the first day of my period. My period stopped and started again, but it wasn’t as heavy as usual. Now, I have watery discharge but feel dry, and my cervix is the same consistency as the tip of my nose. This is the eighth day since my period stopped and I feel really weird. Am I pregnant?

Answer: I'm going to say that based on the info you gave me, it's pretty unlikely that you're pregnant.

In order for you to have conceived, and based on the timing of your sex, you would have had to have been ovulating during your period, or shortly after your period ended. This isn't usual. Most women ovulate around two weeks after the start of their period.

That's not to say this can't vary. In your case, I'd bet that you just have a light period. The reason you're feeling weird is that you're probably about to start ovulating, which can cause some unpleasant symptoms. It is just as PMS and our actual periods can, since we experience a rise in hormones during ovulating. (Honestly, when ARE WE NOT prone to feeling weird with all of these hormonal shifts?)

So here's the scenario where you could be pregnant - and keep in mind it's unlikely but still possible.

It's possible that your "light period" was implantation bleeding, if you had unprotected sex a couple of weeks ago as well.

If you didn't, I would just keep on keeping on, and only take a pregnancy test if your period is late.

However, if there's a possibility that you conceived before your last "period," then now would be a good time to take a pregnancy test.

Question: My period is a week late with clear discharge, mild cramps, soreness on the sides of my stomach and the lower side. My breasts are swollen, and I have white and sometimes clear with white discharge coming out of my right nipple. I also have lower back pain. I've taken two dollar store brand pregnancy tests, and both were negative. Could I still be pregnant?

Answer: This is tricky. Those all sound like promising pregnancy symptoms, but the negative tests certainly confuse things. If you can, I would grab a First Response brand and test with one of those. I had a friend who could get a positive pregnancy test until she was technically six weeks pregnant (and two weeks late for her period).

This is not medical, it's completely anecdotal, but I've noticed that the later my period gets, the weirder my symptoms will get, even though I'm not actually pregnant! If this continues to be an issue for you and you continue to experience nipple discharge, you should talk to your doctor because these can be signs of a very treatable thyroid condition. (However, if you've breastfed within the last three years, it's also possible that your body is just still randomly lactating - so fun - and something to let your doctor know about).

Question: I'm five days late for my period, and experiencing headaches and stomach cramps all night. I am also experiencing white discharge, tender breasts and fatigue. I also feel like I have a fever. Could I be pregnant?

Answer: Stomach cramps, as in, the kind you might get when you have a stomach bug are not indicative of pregnancy, and neither is a fever. However, being warmer than is usual for you and experiencing period-like cramps is normal for early pregnancy.

It's possible that you have a late period because you're dealing with a virus which could be the cause of your fever and stomach cramps while your other symptoms could be attributed to PMS.

To be sure, you should take an at-home-pregnancy test. If the test is negative and you do have a fever you should call your doctor. If it's positive, you should call your doctor anyway.

Question: I had sex one day before ovulation. I'm now four DPO (days past ovulation), and I'm experiencing mild cramping. Could I be pregnant?

Answer: In a word: no. Not yet, anyway. If you're sure of when you ovulated, then you most likely wouldn't be experiencing pregnancy symptoms yet. That's because if a sperm does fertilize your egg during ovulation, it still takes seven to twelve days after that for the fertilized egg to implant in the wall of your uterus. Once that happens then your body starts responding to the pregnancy.

All of that being said, I do believe that there are women who experience symptoms right away after fertilization. However, it's debated by medical professionals.

It's most likely that the cramps you're experiencing are post ovulation cramps - a normal response to ovulation.

In six days, at ten DPO, you should be able to start testing for pregnancy with a fair amount of accuracy.

Question: I had unprotected sex and two weeks later have sore breasts, serious back pains and a severe pain at my left lower abdomen. I'm not nauseated. I took a test but it was negative. Should I wait for more weeks?

Answer: If it's been two weeks since you had unprotected sex and the pregnancy test is coming up negative, I would attribute your symptoms to the likelihood that you're about to start your menstrual cycle.

You're probably anxious to know for certain though, so I would wait two more days, and if you still don't have your period, take another test. You can continue testing every 48 hours until you either get a positive test or you begin your menstrual cycle.

The reason to test every 48 hours is that on the slight chance you are pregnant, the pregnancy hormone will double every two days (48 hours).

The reason I think your negative test is probably accurate is that if you had sex two weeks ago, you likely would have experienced implantation within the last two weeks and would have enough hormone by now to get a positive on a pregnancy test. However, since you don't know for certain when (or if) you ovulated there is still a possibility you could be pregnant and it's just too early to get a positive test.

Keep in mind that sore breasts, back pain and abdominal cramps are not uncommon before you start your period.

Question: I had pink/brown spotting 11 days before my period. It only lasted for two days and was very light, kind of like mucus. I'm experiencing excess thirst, upset stomach, nausea, very mild cramping, and a bit of fatigue. Could I possibly be pregnant?

Answer: If your period came on time, after the spotting, then I would say it was just a little random mid-cycle spotting.

However, if you're saying that you had some spotting 11 days before your period was due and now you're having pregnancy symptoms, then it's possible that the spotting was implantation bleeding. Having implantation bleeding 11 days before your period is due isn't common since implantation usually happens a couple of days before your period is due. But, periods, ovulation, and conception can be weird, and there's always the possibility that your dates are a bit off.

Once your period is only two or three days away, I would say it's okay to start testing. If the tests come back and you get your period, then just keep an eye on anymore mid-cycle spotting. If it happens again, let your doctor know.

Question: My period is three days late now, and I did a home pregnancy test, but it is negative. What could be happening? I also have discharge.

Answer: That's really frustrating. I'm sorry that you're dealing with a late period and a negative pregnancy test.

There are a lot of things that can lead to a late period, even if you're not pregnant. Some of the most common reasons for this are that you didn't ovulate this month or you ovulated late, that you were recently sick which can delay ovulation, or that you're stressed out which can delay ovulation.

Question: I'm two days late for my period and experiencing extremely sore breasts, constant headaches, slight cramping, lower back pain, and feeling sick to my stomach sometimes. My boyfriend and I started trying to conceive but stopped; however, we did have sex on my most fertile days last month. Could I be pregnant?

Answer: Yes, there's a pretty good chance that you're pregnant. I'd say that if you still haven't gotten your period it's time to take a pregnancy test right now.

Question: I had sex three days ago. Since then, I've been nauseous but I managed to eat something today. I'm also experiencing gas, constipation, slight dizziness, and lightheadedness. I also have swollen breasts, especially the left one, thrush, and I just woke up with sharp pains on my left side by and above my ovaries all the way to the middle of my stomach. It felt like PMS pains. I'm not due for another 14 days. Are these pregnancy symptoms or something else?

Answer: Since you still have 14 days until your next cycle starts, that means you're probably halfway through your cycle right now, and the symptoms you're experiencing are almost for sure ovulation pains. Ovulation causes a rise in hormones that can also make you feel sick.

However, I'd definitely keep an eye on things and take a pregnancy test in 12-14 days since it sounds like there was a possibility of conception.

Question: I'm craving weird things. Could I be pregnant?

Answer: That depends on if you normally crave weird things before your period or not. Personally, I always crave weird food before my period - give me all of the cheese, salt and chocolate around. Pickles and peanut butter? Heck yeah! In contrast, when I'm about to find out I'm pregnant I prefer healthier foods and experience food aversions instead or food cravings. Typically, food aversion is thought to be a clearer sign of pregnancy than cravings, since morning sickness puts you off from particular foods and smells.

However, if you don't normally crave crazy food combinations before your period then this could very well be a sign of pregnancy for you!

Question: I had sex about a week and a half ago and have had many pregnancy symptoms but took a test a couple of days ago and came out negative. I am a couple days late for my period but I take birth control pills AND use condoms with my husband. Could I still be pregnant somehow? I feel so off...

Answer: I'm sorry you're feeling so off. I've been there and I can promise a lot of other women reading this article have too!

First, it could have been too early to test. That's because often, implantation (which is when the fertilized egg adheres to the wall of the uterus) takes longer to occur than most of us think. It typically happens between six and twelve days after ovulation. What that means is that implantation can happen as late as just a couple of days before your period is due. After implantation happens, it then takes around two days for a pregnancy test to turn positive. Which is really confusing! You would think that when "conception" happens, you would be able to get a positive test right away but you have to wait until that fertilized egg is attached and ready to send out the hormones needed to get a positive pregnancy test.

Now, since you're using two forms of birth control I'm going to take an educated guess and say your symptoms are not pregnancy related at all, but related to an extra-miserable premenstrual week or side effects of your hormonal birth control.

If your symptoms continue and you are still getting negative pregnancy tests I'd put a call into your OB or GP to see if your birth control is the culprit.

Question: My period is five days late. My period is pretty regular, but I am afraid to take a pregnancy test. Should I wait a few more days to take a test?

Answer: I think that if your period is regular and you're already five days late, then you're at a good place to take a test.

That being said, if you're scared, whether it be because you're hoping it will be positive or hoping it'll be negative, then waiting a few more days might just stress you out more! Take the test now and if the result isn't what you want it to be then that gives you more time to decide how you want to move forward.

Question: I had unprotected sex during the end of my period. Could I get pregnant from this?

Answer: Yes, you could. A common misconception is that if you have intercourse during your menstrual cycle, you are less likely to get pregnant. However, since sperm live up to five days, if you were to ovulate shortly after your period ended, there's a possibility that you could become pregnant.

Question: I had sex twice on the day of my ovulation, and I’ve been having all the pregnancy symptoms. I haven’t seen my period yet, but I’m supposed to see it tomorrow. Is it possible that I may be pregnant?

Answer: Yes, it's very possible that you're pregnant if you had unprotected sex while you were ovulating. If you haven't taken a pregnancy test already, then you could take one right now and get pretty accurate results.

Question: What does your stomach feel like in early pregnancy?

Answer: For me, it felt like it was heavy and bloated - like I was going to start my period. My stomach felt crampy and achey. To the touch, it didn't feel any different than it normally would. Your stomach doesn't start feeling hard on the outside until well into the pregnancy. For me, that was around 16 weeks.

Question: Can you take a pregnancy test if you haven’t missed your period?

Answer: Yes, you can take a pregnancy test even if you haven’t missed your period yet. First though, you need to make sure you’re close enough to your period to get an accurate result. If you take a home pregnancy test (sometimes called an HPT) an entire week before you’re expecting your period to start, you could end up getting a test that says you’re not pregnant when you actually are. That’s because it takes time for pregnancy hormones to build up enough in your body to produce a positive result on the test.

If you’re anxious to find out, pick up a test that can detect pregnancy early. My favorite is First Response Early Response (not the digital). Read the directions on the box, but personally I’ve been able to get a positive result with these as early as five days before I’m supposed to get my period. They’re pretty sensitive!

Question: My period is two weeks late and my last cycle started in January. I was sexually active during and after my period and I'm now experiencing back pain, dry mouth, runny nose and fatigue. Can I take a test now or should I wait?

Answer: You should definitely take a pregnancy test if your period is two weeks late, especially considering you haven't had a period since January. If your test comes back negative and you're still feeling sick please call your doctor.

Question: One week before my period, I had light spotting and a few on and off clots. My period was supposed to start today, but it still hasn't happened. I also have mild cramping, painful breasts, nausea, and a horrible taste in my mouth. What could be happening?

Answer: The most likely reason is that you're gearing up to start your period. However, if you've recently had unprotected sex, then the next best possibility is early pregnancy symptoms! If you haven't started your cycle yet, then I would take a pregnancy test because today would be your official "late" day.

Question: Can a negative pregnancy test have a faint second line?

Answer: The answer isn’t a simple yes or no, even though it should be. According to most home pregnancy test kits, any second line, no matter how faint it may look to you, means the test is positive. The problem with this explanation is that it’s only true if the line appeared within the test limit (that means, for most tests, the line needs to appear within five to ten minutes of exposing it to urine). That’s because sometimes, something called an “evaporation line” can occur when a used pregnancy test begins to dry. This line is simply the indent where the test line would have showed a positive result, it doesn’t mean you’re pregnant, it just means that your urine soaking into the test has made the indent visible.

If your test looks negative and you trash it and then pull it back out hours later to look at it again and find that it has a faint second line, it could very well be an evaporation line, not a true positive result. An easy way to tell the difference between a true faint positive line and an evaporation line is whether or not the line has color. If you’re taking a pink dye test, this faint line can still be considered positive within the testing limit (those first five to ten minutes) if it looks pink and not gray. Likewise, with a blue dye test, this second line, no matter how faint, needs to have a blue color to it in order for it to be considered positive. These blue dye tests can be tricky to interpret as gray can sometimes look blueish and vice versa.

So, simply put, if the second line is faint but still shows up within 5-10 minutes of taking the test and has obvious color to it, yes it’s positive!

Question: My period is sixteen days late, and I am having all of the early symptoms; from being sensitive to smells all the way to my straight hair becoming wavy. I keep getting negative tests, but is there still a good chance of me being pregnant?

Answer: It's possible, and I've heard stories from friends who didn't get a positive test until a couple of weeks later. However, at this point, I would stop into your doctor for a simple blood test to confirm. If their test comes back negative, then at least they'll also know that your period is delayed and can help you get it back on track if it doesn't take care of itself.

Question: I got my period two days early. During the evening, I went pee and experienced light pink spotting. It started turning bright red, yet there was not just a little bit of it coming out. It was enough as if it was a really light period. What does this mean? Am I pregnant?

Answer: You're probably wondering if this is implantation spotting and it very well could be, especially since the bleeding started earlier than your normal cycle. A good way to tell the difference between implantation and the start of your period is if there's a flow. Do you have to change pads or tampons? If you are, then I would say this is just an early period.

Either way, just to reassure yourself, take a test on the day your period was supposed to start. If you really are pregnant, you should be able to get at least a faint positive at that point.

Question: My period was supposed to start eleven days ago. I have a doctor's appointment at noon to get a pregnancy test done. Is there a good possibility that I’m pregnant?

Answer: I've certainly heard of women not getting a positive result for two weeks after their missed period - one of my good friends is one of those women. She found out with her first that she was pregnant when she was already six weeks along!

If you've been taking at home tests, though, and they're negative, then the chance that you're pregnant isn't super high (but it's not out of the realm of possibility either).

You're doing the best thing by going to the doctor for confirmation. If their test comes back negative, then they can help you troubleshoot why your period hasn't started. That's almost always an easy fix, and it isn't usually a big concern.

I hope you get the answer you want!

Question: I had sex during my cycle and took Plan B seventy hours later. Now I have breast tenderness and nausea. Could I be pregnant?

Answer: Since you took the Plan B within 72 hours of the unprotected sex, then according to Plan B's website, you have an "up to 89%" chance of NOT conceiving.

Also according to their site, it's not uncommon for women to experience, among other symptoms mentioned, breast tenderness and nausea caused by the Plan B.

If I were you, I would take a deep breath and know that you took the steps to prevent pregnancy, and just try to relax in that. Any time any of us have sex, even if we're using the most effective form of birth control, there's ALWAYS a chance of conceiving.

But right now, the odds are very much so in your favor, and there's only a slim chance you'll get pregnant from this.

Question: My period is four days late, and I am generally pretty consistent. I have been having mild cramping and lower back pain. I've also been feeling very tired and spaced-out. I took a test yesterday that was negative, though I took it at the end of the day. Could it be a false negative? Is it too early to test?

Answer: In my experience, once you're late for your period, you can usually take a pregnancy test at any point in the day, and you'll get an accurate result. However, I do know a couple of people this wasn't true for! If your period continues to be late, then I would take another pregnancy test, but take it in the morning with your first urine of the day and trust that result.

I too get really exhausted right before and during the first day of my period. It's not fun, but it's not that uncommon. If it continues to be a problem for you, you can talk to your doctor. Extreme fatigue around your menstrual cycle can also be a sign of a treatable condition (like low iron, or a simple thyroid issue).

Question: I'm experiencing cramps, extreme back pain, and pain on my side. I've been eating a lot and I feel nauseous. I'm also dealing with indigestion, shortness of breath and a late period. Could I be pregnant?

Answer: If you still have not gotten your usual period then, by all means, yes, you could be pregnant, and you need to take a pregnancy test.

If you did get your period, then, unfortunately, these symptoms can also be attributed to premenstrual symptoms. Oh, the fun of being born female!

As a side note, if you're still experiencing a lot of severe pain (that makes it difficult to walk), you should call your doctor.

Question: My period was late this month. I usually get it on time and for five days. What could be the issue?

Answer: If you're saying that your period has been late and now you are suddenly bleeding, then it's possible that your period was just delayed. That's not uncommon, especially if you've recently dealt with stress, illness or a change in your sleep schedule. If you're suspicious that you may be pregnant go ahead and take a pregnancy test. At this stage, it should be accurate.

Question: How early can I take a home pregnancy test ?

Answer: This is going to depend on the test you take. Generally, if you pick up an early detection pregnancy test (like a First Response Early Response), then you can take the test five days before the day your period is due to start.

Remember that the closer you get to the day your period is due, the more accurate your result will be (meaning that, if you take a test too early you may get a negative result when you're actually pregnant. I did that with my second daughter!)

Question: I had sex about three weeks ago. I've taken four pregnancy tests, and they were all negative. I don't understand because I'm two weeks late for my period. I can't stand the smell of cigarettes, I get random dizziness and nausea, my right nipple is swollen and sore, and I'm either really hungry one day or have no appetite the next. The last negative HPT was four days ago. When do you think I should test again?

Answer: Missing your period and then feeling sick and getting negative pregnancy tests is seriously the most frustrating thing ever. I've personally been there, and I know how infuriating and confusing it feels. It's like your body is playing tricks on you and then the anxiety of worrying if something else is wrong makes everything feel worse.

My best advice is first, you need to take a deep breath.

If you missed your period two weeks ago and you're still getting negative pregnancy tests then, except for the slim chance that you ovulated very late and it's still too early to get a positive pregnancy test, it doesn't sound like you're pregnant.

It sounds more like you have a delayed or missed period and your body is either getting ready to ovulate, getting ready to start that period (finally) or like you're dealing with a virus which could also be the cause of your missed period.

Going way, way back to our ancestors, our menstrual cycles revolved around conception. Back in the day when there were limited resources, our bodies would delay ovulation if an illness was coming on because we couldn't have sustained a pregnancy and an illness back then - there were no grocery stores, walk-in clinics or Gatorade.

That means that if you've been sick or stressed it's possible that this is the reason your period is so late, not pregnancy.

If you can, I think you should contact your doctor and let them know your symptoms and about your late period. They can give you a simple blood test to confirm whether or not you're pregnant.

In the meantime, hang in there - you're not the first, and you certainly won't be the last woman to feel sick with a late period and negative HPTs! This almost never indicates a serious issue.

Question: I had sex from the start of my ovulation, continuing for four more days, each day being a part of my fertile period. I'm seven DPO (days past ovulation) and having weird signs. Could it be that I'm pregnant?

Answer: Many women undoubtedly experience pregnancy symptoms as early as around seven days past ovulation and around seven days before their missed period.

Most at home pregnancy tests are not going to give you an accurate result this early on though, so you'll need to sit tight (I know it's so hard when you're trying to conceive!) until it's the right time to test.

If you use an early result brand like First Response (their early results products), you can usually start testing around five days before your period is due to start, though the odds that the result will be accurate goes up drastically the closer you get to the start of your menstrual cycle. Personally, I have never had an accurate result earlier than four days before my expected period.

Question: When do pregnancy symptoms usually start?

Answer: Between four and six weeks, but they get progressively more noticeable as time goes on.

Something to keep in mind about pregnancy symptoms is that though you may have unprotected sex during ovulation and an egg may be fertilized, most women won’t notice this part and any symptoms felt during this time are actually symptoms of ovulation, NOT pregnancy since you’re technically not pregnant yet.

Fertilization (which again, is when a single sperm meets the eggs that have been released during ovulation) usually happens around two weeks before your period is due to start.

After that happens, it can take over a week for that fertilized egg to implant into the uterus. At this point, you’re just days away from the due date of your period, but this is when many women report they began to feel early signs of being pregnant.

Does that mean you can’t feel symptoms before implantation? No. You could, since a fertilized egg creates a change in your body that can affect your hormones. However, the symptoms will get stronger once the fertilized egg has implanted into the uterus and begun to send out signals to your body (the same signals that turn urine and blood pregnancy tests positive) to say “Hey, we’re definitely having a baby over here!”

Question: I am one day late for my period, and my breasts are sore, but only on the sides. I just feel different than what can be considered typical for this time of the month. Should I wait to take a test, or should I take one now?

Answer: Sore breasts can undoubtedly be a sign that your period is coming but they can also be a sign of early pregnancy, especially if the sides and underarms are sore as well. Since your period is late, now is a great time to take a pregnancy test. You could opt for a less expensive and less sensitive test at this point in your cycle, too.

Question: I had unprotected sex two days after my period. Five days after, I had sore breasts, general lower abdominal pain, and lower back pain. Three weeks later I still have sore breasts and pressure in my bladder and some lower back pain. My period is due on April 21st. Four days ago I had a negative pregnancy test. I was checked for a urine infection and had an ultrasound done to check my ovaries, and all are clear. I'm so confused. What do you think?

Answer: I think that you probably tested too early to get an accurate result either way. It's good that you checked for a UTI, that's really smart, and something that more women need to be aware of; sometimes what seems like pregnancy symptoms are indeed symptoms of a urinary tract infection. I'm glad that in your case they're not.

I think that it's likely you're actually experiencing symptoms of ovulation. Ovulation symptoms CAN cause some weird, unpleasant stuff like sore breasts and pain in pressure in the lower abdomen/pelvic region. Actually, I always get a lot of pain there during and following ovulation. My OB/GYN explained to me that that's because some women are extra sensitive to ovulation as small cysts form and burst during the release of the egg.

Since your period is due on Saturday, April 21st, you should hold off on taking another pregnancy test until Tuesday, April 18th at the earliest and from there take one every two days until you either get your period or a positive pregnancy test.

Question: I’m 13 days late for my period as of today. I have been dizzy for the last three days. I took a pregnancy test seven days ago, but it was negative. I haven’t tested myself since then. Could I be pregnant?

Answer: If, when you wrote this, you were 13 days late then the last time you tested was when you were only six days late. Since it's possible that you ovulated later than you expected it's also possible that you weren't as late as you thought you were when you first took the test.

You should take another pregnancy test, there's a possibility you're still pregnant. If, at the two-week mark, you're still getting negative tests and no period you should call your doctor and let them know what's going on. They may want to do a blood test to confirm whether or not you're pregnant.

Question: How late should your period be before you take a pregnancy test?

Answer: For the most reliable result, your period should be one day late when you take a pregnancy test. But seriously, if you’re antsy to find out if you’re pregnant or not, then it’s way too hard to wait that long!

For most HPTs, you shouldn’t test any earlier than four days before the day your period is due, which is five days before your missed period.

If your period is due to start on Friday then with most tests you need to hold off on taking one until at least the Monday before. The reason is that pregnancy tests test for the hormone Human Chorionic Gonadotropin or, hCG for short. All women actually have a really tiny amount of this floating around in them already, no matter if they’re pregnant or not. What a pregnancy test does is measure that level through your urine. If the level is at a normal range for a woman who is not pregnant, the test will come back negative. But if the range is at a higher-than-normal level, implantation has occurred. This is when a fertilized egg attaches to the uterus, and thus, pregnancy occurs. The thing is though, implantation MUST occur for your body to start creating enough hCG for a pregnancy test to turn positive, and implantation doesn’t typically occur until right around when your period is due.

For this reason, you may have conceived during ovulation which happens a full two weeks before your missed period, but until the fertilized egg gets itself cozy in your uterus, your body can’t tell a test that it’s pregnant yet.

Thus, the closer you are to that missed period, the better chance you have of having an accurate result.

In my own experience, with my first daughter, I didn’t take a pregnancy test until I was a day late for my expected period. The test turned positive before I was done taking it.

With my second daughter, I was so eager to find out if I was pregnant or not that I took the test about six full days before my period was due. It was negative, but I just felt really strongly that I was pregnant and had taken the test too early because I was already starting to feel the symptoms I remembered from my first pregnancy. I was right! Two days later I took another pregnancy test, and it came back with a clear positive result. My body needed those two days to create enough hCG to tell the test that indeed, there was a little blastocyst in there.

Question: I had sex five days ago. Now I am bloated, nauseous (with throwing up), mild cramps and dizziness. My period is supposed to come next week but none of this is common for me. Could I be pregnant?

Answer: Based on your timing, I don't think your symptoms are pregnancy related. That's because typically, pregnancy symptoms like vomiting usually don't start until after you have implantation and implantation is most common seven to ten days after you ovulate. So even if you did conceive, it's unlikely that implantation has happened yet. The more likely cause of your symptoms is a stomach virus, since it's the season for those.

That being said, any time you have sex there's a possibility of becoming pregnant. I would hold off on taking a pregnancy test until you're about four days away from starting your period. At that point, if your symptoms are pregnancy related, then the test will probably be able to turn positive by then. If it comes back negative and your symptoms don't clear up, let your doctor know just to rule out an infection.

Question: I starting spotting and it lasted for about four days. I’ve been starting to feel really nauseous, and I’ve been getting upset at the littlest things. I'm tired a lot of the time, I’ve had headaches and I feel bloated too. could I be pregnant?

Answer: All of those symptoms are certainly common in early pregnancy, but they're also common before the start of your period too.

The thing that makes me think you need to take a pregnancy test though, is the four days of spotting. If this was truly spotting, which would only be enough to need a pantyliner and not a tampon or pad, then it could be implantation bleeding.

Take a test and if it's negative wait a couple of more days and try again. If it's still negative, then it's possible you had a very light period which isn't necessarily a big deal. If your cycles continue to be light though you should let your doctor know because it can be a sign of a treatable disorder (like a thyroid disorder).

If the test comes back positive then, of course, you should still call your doctor.

Question: I've been spotting brown since a week after my period ended. It's now two days before my next period is due, and I'm still experiencing brown spotting. Why would this happen?

Answer: Since the blood is brown, this would indicate that it's old blood rather than fresh blood. Why it would go on for nearly a month though I'm really not sure. I could take a few guesses that include an infection, an irritation to your cervix or a reaction to birth control.

I don't think it would have to do with pregnancy, but if you want to take a pregnancy test, it won't hurt. After that, contact your doctor and make an appointment to be seen. They can give you a pap smear to rule out more serious conditions, and then from there troubleshoot the cause, so you don't have to deal with the brown spotting long term.

Question: My period is eight days late. I am experiencing headaches and lower back pain, as well as swollen breasts and stretch marks on my breasts and stomach. Am I pregnant?

Answer: Swollen breasts are a very common indicator of pregnancy, especially after your missed period. If you haven't already, you need to take a pregnancy test, and if it comes back, negative put a call into your doctor about your headaches and lower back pain which could be a sign of a simple infection, especially if you also have a fever. As for stretch marks on your breasts and stomach, if these are new, this would indicate quick weight gain, which doesn't usually happen in early pregnancy but could be a sign that you're dealing with a thyroid issue. This is all the more reason to call your doctor.

Question: Can an online pregnancy test be accurate?

Answer: No. As tempting (and fun!) as online pregnancy tests and surveys can be, they're not really able to tell you much other than if it's a good time for you to take a test. They ask you questions like when you last had unprotected sex when your last period was, and if you're experiencing any of the most common early pregnancy symptoms (like sore breasts and increased urination).

All this survey does is determine if there's even a chance you could have become pregnant. Think of them as a point of reference to decide if it's worth it to run out for a pregnancy test but remember that nothing except a urine or blood test that uses your body's hormones can tell you for sure if you're pregnant.

Question: I'm five days late and still haven’t gotten my period. I have all sorts of pregnancy symptoms, but negative test results. What could it be?

Answer: If it's not a false negative pregnancy test and you truly aren't pregnant, then the reason for the late period and pregnancy-like symptoms could just be prolonged PMS. Anecdotally, my PMS symptoms always worsen the later I get.

You could also be dealing with a hormonal imbalance or a thyroid condition, both of which are pretty treatable with a doctor's care.

For now, I'd stop taking pregnancy tests and give it a few days. If your period becomes two weeks late, call your doctor and let them know. I have a friend who couldn't get a positive on her pregnancy test until she was two weeks late!

Question: I had unprotected sex three days after my cycle ended. I got my cycle again the following week. Can I be pregnant?

Answer: It's definitely not typical to get your period and then get it again the next week. I would say that more than likely, this second "cycle" was not a period, because you would have needed to ovulate between those periods. Hold off on taking a pregnancy test unless your period is late.

If you get your next period at the regular time that you're expecting it but then experience another mid-cycle bleed, you should talk to your doctor.

Question: I had really bad cramps four days before my period. I was a day late, and it was lighter and shorter than usual. Now I have a lot of back pain, nausea, headaches, mood swings, some cramps, and dizziness, and I feel as if I have a high temperature every time I wake up. Could I be pregnant?

Answer: Yes, these symptoms can be indicative of pregnancy. The first thing you should do is take a pregnancy test. If it comes back negative, you'll want to call your doctor and let them know what's going on. These symptoms can also be as a result of a treatable thyroid condition.

Question: I threw up five days after I had sex. Now, my breasts and nipples are sore and dark and I have strong blue veins popping out my chest and arms. I have lots of back pain and feel very emotional and moody. Am I pregnant?

Answer: There's a possibility, especially with your symptoms. I think that throwing up five days after sex might be a little too early to attribute to pregnancy but it's possible that if you were ovulating at the time your body is already reacting to the hormones.

Since you're having lots of symptoms already, I'd go ahead and take a pregnancy test. If it comes back negative, hold off and take another one if your period ends up being late.

Question: I had sex a week ago, and the next day I came down with a cold that has continued ever since. Today, I started to experience heavy bloating and lower abdominal pain and sometimes pain on my lower right side. Am I pregnant?

Answer: It's really hard for me to guess if these are signs of pregnancy since I don't know when you ovulated. However, you probably wouldn't have symptoms one day after sex so that I would discount the cold as a sign of pregnancy.

As for the bloating and abdominal pain, these could be early pregnancy symptoms, but they're also common things to experience before your period. Since there's a chance you could have conceived, then you should start testing four days before your period is due and if the test is negative, hold off and test two days later (you can do this until your period either arrives, or you get a positive pregnancy test).

Question: Is two weeks before a missed period too early to take a test?

Answer: Yes, two weeks before your missed period is too early to take a test. That's because it's possible that you haven't ovulated yet and you must ovulate to conceive.

Ovulation usually happens around two weeks after your period has started at two weeks before your next period is due to start.

The ideal time to take a pregnancy test is the day your period is due, but if you use an early detection test, then you can take it a few days before and still get reasonably accurate results. Just make sure to read the instructions on the test's box first to make sure you're not taking it too early.

Question: What’s the fastest way to find out if you’re pregnant?

Answer: The fastest way to find out you’re pregnant, from test to answer, is just with a home pregnancy test. While blood pregnancy tests can detect pregnancy earlier than a urine test, you still have to wait on the lab for the results whereas an at-home test only takes about 1-3 minutes for a result.

So, if you're already late for your period or close to it just do an at-home test.

Question: I had sex about a week ago, and now I have a stuffy nose, a little blood when I wipe after using the bathroom, and a dry mouth even though I drink a lot of water. Tonight, I just got a sharp pain in my left side. My period starts in 4 or 5 days. Does this mean I'm pregnant?

Answer: I would normally think these are all pretty indicative of your period being on the horizon, but the spotting makes me wonder if you were actually experiencing implantation bleeding. Some women have it, others don't.

If you haven't already started your period, you could go ahead and take a pregnancy test at this point since you're right around the time your cycle should be starting (or not starting, if you're pregnant).

Question: I spotted a week before my period was due. It was due March 23rd. Two days later, on March 25th, I still haven't started my period, and the pregnancy test I took was negative.

Could I still be pregnant?

Answer: There's definitely a chance that you could still be pregnant, but since the test is negative and your period is late, I would say the chances are slim.

Let's say that spotting was implantation bleeding, and it occurred, according to the dates you're giving me, around March 16th. You should have been able to get an accurate pregnancy test around March 18th or 19th at the earliest, but by March 25th you should have almost certainly had a positive test IF the spotting was implantation.

Now, maybe it wasn't. Maybe it was something else and you had implantation later on, then it's possible that your body still hasn't sent out the pregnancy hormone required for an HPT to turn positive.

My best advice is to test again on the 27th. Test again every other day or until your period shows up. If you end up more than two weeks late call your doctor and ask for a blood pregnancy test. If that comes back negative then you and your doctor can talk about other things that could be causing your period to be late.

Almost always, a late period is not severe, and easy to troubleshoot.

Question: I had sex two days after my period on March 10th.

My cycle isn't always the same length so I'm not always sure when I'm ovulating but my calendar said I was ovulating on March 16th.

We used the withdrawal method as our form of birth control. Just after my suspected ovulation, my breasts were hurting, and itching and I experienced twinges in my abdomen. I've never before had symptoms after ovulation.

Is there a chance I'm pregnant?

Answer: According to Planned Parenthood, when practiced correctly, the withdrawal (or pull out) method is effective in preventing pregnancy 96% of the time. That means 4 out of every 100 women who use this method correctly will still end up pregnant. So yes, there's a chance you could be pregnant, but the odds of not being pregnant are certainly still in your favor.

Since you're not sure when you ovulated, and since you have irregular cycles, I would start testing for pregnancy no earlier than April 3rd and then if that test is negative test every OTHER day until the arrival of your period or until you get a positive test.

Since you don't know when you ovulated it's entirely possible that those symptoms right after "ovulation" were actually ovulation symptoms, which many women (including me) experience.

The chances are good that you're not pregnant but if you are, then there are lots of resources available to help you find the best path for you going forward.

And if (most likely) you're not pregnant check out Bedsider(dot)org which is a really awesome website that breaks down each method of birth control so you can make sure that you're using the one that gives you the most confidence!

© 2013 Kierstin Gunsberg

Comments

Else on August 12, 2020:

My period is 14 days late , one the first week and a week before my period I was feeling a stabbing pain on my left abdomen and then I started feeling a stabbing pain near my belly button , had lower back pains for about 2 weeks and now all those symptoms are gone , had 2 miscarriages in 2016 and decided to try again this year , my period is regular so I was expecting it but nothing has come so far , I’ve been to the doctors a week before my period & a few days after my expected period but got a negative test now I have the flu and still no period

Pretty on July 24, 2020:

I had sex on ovulation day and after, bt now I'm having headache, temprature, my palms are hotter than usual, feeling like smthing is moving in my stomach.

7days past ovulation.

Sandra on July 22, 2020:

I have a 28 day cycle and I had unprotected sex on the 29th of June now I'm 9 days late with negative hot what could be the cause? Been feeling fatigued, headache, back ache and a dull pain on the centre lower obdomen. I have a history of etcopic so I'm scared it might be it again, what are the chances?

Adriana Lara on July 19, 2020:

Okay I had my period July 1st and stopped on July 5th and then about 3 days later I spotted for about 3 to 4 days and it looked like dark drownish blackish discharge and then I already ovulate about 4 days ago but I still have a thin clear white milky discharge and I've been cramping and just feel different not like my usual self. What could this mean?

Bam1999 on July 15, 2020:

I had sex 2 days before highest point of ovulation im due on in 5 days i feel sick dizzy and gone off food when i drink coffee i get extremely shaky can anyone help me out

Bam on July 15, 2020:

I had sex 2 days before highest point of ovulation im due on in 5 days i feel sick dizzy and gone off food can anyone help me out

THN on July 10, 2020:

Hi I am worried that i might be pregnant. I had protected sex on july 3 which was the first day of my period. My period ended on july 8 and on july 9 I vomited water and have been feeling nauseous. Today (july 10) I have still been feeling nauseous. My last period ended on May 31st and my next period is due for August 6. I’m very paranoid I might be pregnant and would consider getting and abortion if I am.

EmmA on June 29, 2020:

Can you help me please

Had a cycle the 29th of may they had ovulation I’m assuming and then day after had spotting for to days and cramp for of feeling in side.done pregnancy test day before cycle due negative still haven’t had cycle been feeling very tired today and having on and off pulling still no cycle what to do? I also have two other children haven’t had this problem before.

LayLay on June 29, 2020:

I Had Sex The 18th Of June He Said He Came In Me but I Was Previously on Depo Three Months Ago , My Stomach Cramps Off And On Even After I Eat Sometimes I Feel Nausea It Is now the 29th of March.

Tara on June 04, 2020:

Hello, I'm wondering if I could be pregnant. I had spotting on day 27- day 28 of my cycle. And I normally start bleeding until day 31. On day 29 I bled pretty normally but then only had light bleeding day 30. Then no bleeding after. Only brown discharge on day 31. My breast have been hurting since day 27 and haven't stopped hurting. I'm now on day 34. I'm not sure if that was just a weird short period of if I could be pregnant. Especially because my breast are still hurting. ??

Cait on June 01, 2020:

Hello, I'd like a little advice.

My period is due in about 4 days but my last period only lasted about 2 days, wasn't heavy and I had a few spots about 2 days later, since then my breasts have been really sore to the touch, going up into my armpits, nipples have been sensitive and perky, been feeling nauseous but not all the time and get alot of lower back pain, also been extremely moody, with my husband more especially, could I be expecting?

Teeh on May 29, 2020:

Hi I had my period twice this month, first one on 02/05/2020 and 27/05/2020! I usually have 4-5 day period and 2 days before I would have sore boobs and abdominal cramps but nothing like that happened on the second one and I’m now 11dpo , I have headache like migraine, lower back pain my appetite increased. What could be the reason??

Etuhole on May 24, 2020:

I feel like my tummy is bloated and have a one right sided back pain. Am I pregnant?

Random. on May 20, 2020:

10 days before my period I had unprotected sex. Two days after that I have experienced brownish discharge. I am now 6 days away from my period but still have brown discharge. Should I be concerned?

Diamond on May 14, 2020:

Sooo I’ve been puking my brains out. I keep throwing up I don’t know why I do but any moment I’ll throw up. I felt like I’ve been had a sore throat but I haven’t been saying anything. And I’ve been like sleepy alll day. Normal stuff like walking around the house makes me sick. Standing up too long makes me sick. Idk what’s wrong with meee.

Nile on May 13, 2020:

Hello... I had my last periods on 20th of March ,not having regular cycle for past two years . But this time its toooo late .the major thing is that last week i saw pinkish mucus once just after intercourse ,i thought periods started .but no clot or blood was seen except that pinkish fluid .now again yesterday i saw pinkish sticky substance again in my vigina , no clot. I am not actually feeling anything but from past 4 days i have totally lost my sense of smell and have no taste in my mouth . What should I do , to wait or what ?

Charity on May 13, 2020:

I had sex a day before my ovulation and again when i was ovulating I have stomach cramps and i tested positive whats going on

Tesh on May 11, 2020:

I had unprotected sex on my ovulation day 04/13/19 I started bleeding brown Mild cramping and breast tender mild headache on 04/27-04/28 it lasted for 2 days then it stopped completely. took a digital pregnancy test on 04/29 it was positive.Took another test on 04/30 it was negative. Went to my doctor’s appointment on 05/04 took a blood test. The blood test came back negative . I feel pregnant I’m bloated frequently going to the bathroom always hungry, fatigue, nausea I can feel baby flutters. I had 4 pregnancy’s so I know what pregnancy feels like. I have early pregnancy symptoms I’m starting to linea nigra on my stomach

Cas. on April 28, 2020:

So i been feeling off. My period app notified me that I am late. So I took a pregnancy test. Came out negative. But I am having weird symptoms. Like feeling sick when I see food. My favorite protein cookies are disgusting, I am spotting randomly every other day when I wipe after I pee, weird headaches, fatigue, and I getting night sweats and hot flashes. Could I be pregnant? just took the test too early?

Anonymous on April 25, 2020:

Last month my period was late four days. The fifth day it started but it was a light flow and it was pink and brown. This month I am now two days late going on three. I’ve been tired, nauseous. I’ve had back pain and dizziness. Is this normal?

Crystal on April 20, 2020:

I started getting nausea a day after my period started I am also dizzy with headache normally my back hurts severe but not at all this time with unusually light flow could I be or what could be the cause

Amber on March 09, 2020:

My partner and i had very slow unprotected sex for not even 5 minutes (he hardly moved his penis in and out) It was in a salt water pool with chlorine in it, he didnt cum at all, and he pee’d just before we did it. Im feeling off and weird in my stomach, as my period is due around the 13th - 15th march. I am worried that i might be pregnant, please help me with advice.

Lizza on March 06, 2020:

So me and Long time boyfriend had intercourse on feb 18 I started ovulating on feb 17 and had light pink bleeding on feb 27 with slight cramping like I was on my period and brown on feb 28 while feeling really irritated and felt like crying at the slightest thing and my breast are sore to the touch my period doesn’t start for two days but I don’t have any pms symptoms Could I Be Pregnant

Isha on February 21, 2020:

Hey i took a pregrancy around 9am it showed one linee couple mintues later i wentvthrow it i saw a faint pink line. I took one yestefay early morging said neagtive but i have. Sore yhroat tirefd more then usual whats going

Keeley on January 29, 2020:

I have been feeling sick for at least a week and a half, two weeks ago i have been getting period cramps but no blood. I cant remember when the last time i had my period. Some foods or snacks i love i cant seem to eat it. I havent been eating all three meals everyday since two weeks ago, i force myself to eat once a day everyday. I just want to sleep. I drink more water than i usually do and dont really want to drink anything else. Walking around in the house or anywhere, a smell makes me feel sick. I dont vomit but i feel like it. Im not as energetic and myself. I dont want to talk to anyone or even get out of bed. Am i really pregnant?

Britt on December 22, 2019:

My cycle is usually 27 days and now I am on day 31 and no period. My period is pretty regular. My breast are very sore, my lower back hurts, this morning I had small cramps on the left side and I did puke last week in the middle of my workout. My boyfriend and I did have intercourse on my “most fertile” day according to my period tracker app. However, I am battling a cold at this point. Should I wait to see if my period will come on after the cold is over?

Kam on December 02, 2019:

My period came a week early, it’s wasn’t as heavy as it usually is. I been having lower back pain cramping on the left side now I have a stopped up nose runny as well itchy throat headache. Could I be pregnant

Renee on September 12, 2019:

I am in birth control and me and my partner do not use condoms but use the pull out method. I am 5 days late with my period and had one day of spotting on day 4 of being late. I took 2 home pregnancy tests and they came up negative. I have also have nausea and only one craving so to say. I have also have cramping and lower back pain. Day six of being late I started to feel a sore throat and sneezing. Could this be pregnancy related,

Jada pinkston on August 07, 2019:

I conceived with my boyfriend around July 9, my periods are random June was my last period. My stomach hurts and is swollen, runny nose, clogged nose, I started spotting this morning and last time I went pee I had a big spot of blood on the toilet paper, I been needing to pee a lot more than normal, and about a week ago my nipples where hurting. Could this be pregnancy?

beentrying41 on August 04, 2019:

positive pregnancy test, 1 day later I was spotting when I wiped it was light pink. 5 days later I went to the restroom and noticed 1 blood clot. Could I be experiencing a mc

Bria on June 26, 2019:

I had a very very vivid dream that I was pregnant. Big huge belly and everything. So I woke up and took a pregnancy test. I got a faint test that morning. I did miscarry but that’s how I knew I was pregnant. I was very early too.

angela on May 30, 2019:

what causes dryness in the vagina and how can menstrual cycle be calculated because it changes

Minyera on May 22, 2019:

So my husband and I had sex throughout the entire ovulation time and that was last week. For 2-3 days my nipples have had this feeling like they are hard and cold except they aren’t. They constantly stay like this and it’s sore in my upper breasts also. I’ve been nauseous and eating foods I hate...like pizza and I really don’t like pizza. Could I be pregnant?

Laney on May 21, 2019:

A week ago I had unprotected sex and I had got a cold after it and I had sore throat and runny nose. I had slight cramping on this tummy I haven’t had my period but don’t know what this could be isn’t it normal?

Maya on May 16, 2019:

This is going to be my second pregnancy. The first pregnancy was easy for me with only a few symptoms such as cramping from the very early start of the pregnancy until the second trimester. Today I am supposed to be 3 weeks pregnant and that means I have 1 week until my missed period. But, from the 3 dpo I feel cramping that lasts 24 hours and today is my 6 dpo (days past ovulation) and I still feel it. So, I am 99% sure I am pregnant, but still there is 1 % that tells me maybe it is a cold, maybe you wasn't wearing warm clothes the past month and your ovaries are little bit sick now. You know what I mean. But I think that the test will be positive after 1 week and few days. I don't have other symptoms now. In my first pregnancy it was the same. I got symptoms of lack of appetite in the first trimester and also I love coffee in any form and taste but in my pregnancy before I could not stand it. Those 2 symptoms lasted 9 months. Until birth. No nausea, no throw up, no crying, no big emotions, no pain, no dizzines, no cravings, no swelling, no extra weight, no acne. Actually my skin is so sensitive and I have acne in my normal life, but during pregnancy it was all clear. And my hair was shiny. I have a daughter so I don't know if it is because of the gender of the baby, but that was how it was. Just wonderful!

Evelyn on May 11, 2019:

I have an IUD... but i feel pregnant. I surely do. Im gaining weight, my stomach is always sick more often, i get very hungry but later fhings dont taste very good... i get weird cravings and am easily exhausted running back and fourth. My joints are in a lot of pain... and I dont really get much of a period, so its hard to tell if im pregnant or not. I took a home pregnancy test, it was negative but i still feel pregnant.

Coolitgirl on April 25, 2019:

Hi, i am 6 dpo, since ovulation date i had sore throat and flu, i took difflam lozenges its an nsaid, i read in an article it hinders ovulation, but we BD before and during ovulation , can i still be pregnant??

Jennifer Love on March 31, 2019:

I had unprotected sex on the 4th day of my period and 1 week later I feel really strange ,my back aches ,tiredness contractions ,my appetite for food decreased ,am I pregnant?

Sarah Graham on March 30, 2019:

I am 4days late for my period,i have headache for a week with cold and flu,light pain at the left side of my abdomen, hard pain in both nipple and white discharge

Smith on March 27, 2019:

I’ve been having sex probably about 2 times a week. But my period is 2 days late. For the past 3 days I’ve been having brown spotting on and off so light that I don’t have to wear anything because it doesn’t get on my underwear. It will stop and then start. I’m having very light cramps in my right sides down low. I took a pregnancy test today and it said negative? What do you think?

Deena Richards on March 26, 2019:

Hello,

So I am on birth control (28 day regiment) and I missed more than two pills in my last pack and more than two in my new one. My next period is due next week, and I had unprotected sex last Tuesday’s around the time my ovulation window opened and he did release his sperm in me. I’ve been feeling pretty sick all last week, and yesterday I had some light spotting and I also spotted some more today but I know that implantation bleeding wouldn’t be due until next week when my period come if I was to be pregnant. But is there a possibility that I can be pregnant? I’ve been feeling nausea, dizzy.... and just waiting for the two week wait but don’t want to get my hopes up to high. The spotting I had today kind of have me doubting.

Maria on March 25, 2019:

Hi,

My husband and I have been trying to get pregnant for awhile now. I had an anovulation month in December and got put on progesterone to jump me back on my cycle. The last couple months my periods have been a day shorter and lighter than normal. According to my app, I ovulated last week and we had sex most days that week. However, the last few days everything I eat makes me sick to my stomach (haven't puked yet) and this morning I rolled out of bed and was really dizzy. My boobs are tender but I'm not sure if it's because my period is to be here next week. I know I need to wait and take a test or see if my period comes but I'd appreciate any advise or if someone else experienced this.

Sabrina on March 12, 2019:

Hello, pleaseeeeee help!

I’ve ovulated around 23rd to the 1st of March ( according to my app).

I’ve had breast pain soon after my ovulation.

3 days ago I woke up to some brown Discharge after wiping but it was very little.

Yesterday I’ve had really bad cramps with again small brown discharge which I thought was my period as I’m due. But it stopped after small amount.

Then today I’ve gotten some pink discharge with cramps and now it has stopped.

I’ve only had the cramps, the spotting and breast pain. Could this mean I’m pregnant?

Sierra on February 27, 2019:

I still haven’t taken a test but I think I may be having implantation bleeding. My first sign that something was up was my sense of smell!! I could smell everything! I could smell the chicken salad my husband was making... while I was in the shower!! (The bathroom door was open but still... the bathroom is down the hall!) I could just smell everything around it, it’s like having a super power haha

Sarah on February 15, 2019:

I had sex the day my period ended and three days later i feel butterflies in my womb, nauseous and dizzy. Does that indicate i might be pregnent

Abby Centes on January 11, 2019:

December 29 when me and my boyfriend sex. And The due date of my meanstration was on January 8-9 but then the day passed by 3 days after my due date my period still no coming. Then suddenly I felt dizziness and i felt my breast is becoming bigger and fuller? Is am I pregnant?

Marian kale on December 27, 2018:

I ovulated on 25 th this month as at now im 4DPO i feel backache and fatigue i also feel slight cramps on my right lower abdomen on and off could this be Pms symptoms

Ximena on December 22, 2018:

I had unprotected sex during my fertile days last week Wednesday (yes he cummed) and i started feeling lightdeaded and having anxiety attacks that Saturday this Wednesday i had unprotected sex again and i started feeling nauseous and lightheaded sharp pain in my left breast and my stomach just feels funny all the time like i want to vomit holding it in hurts even more i noticed how my moods are acting up i cry and get frustrated easily at the smallest things, is it normal? Oh wait! My periods are due on the 1st of Jan.

Deziraye on December 09, 2018:

I've known I was pregnant each time because I suddenly start smelling chemicals in EVERYTHING. It usually starts in the shower. What I've always thought smells great, my shampoos, conditioners and body wash, suddenly smells like harsh chemicals trying to be covered up with air freshener. You know how a pool smells when someone's added too much chlorine. It's awful. Then it spreads to my taste. Even bottled water starts tasting like harsh metals, like I'm chewing on aluminum foil or licking my fingers after counting change. Yuck. But that's usually how I know. After that I swell up. I know your ankles aren't supposed to swell until then end of pregnancy but mine swell up immediately. Before I even get a positive on a pee test. It subsides during the 2nd trimester then comes back again at the very end.

Mira on December 07, 2018:

Okay I'm starting to have signs of getting my menstrual early like big red pimples and I know I might be getting my menstrual early last month I only got it for 5 days and me and my fiance had sex we're trying to get pregnant could there be a possibility that I might be getting my menstrual early that maybe I could be ovulating at this time because I'm having symptoms of getting the minstrel early

https://marashh.com

Brittany on June 17, 2018:

I been having cramping under my stomach for the past 2 days what does this mean

Kate on May 25, 2018:

I knew I was pregnant when I went to get in the shower and saw what used to be my wonderful pink nipples were BROWN! Haha

Did a test and i was 1-2weeks pregnant.

Exciting!

Deborah Delva on May 07, 2018:

My period start on the 4/19 completely end nothing there by 4/27, had sex on the 4/29, period tracker say I ovulate on the 5/2, sex again 5/4, now my breast are tender and heavy, I feel out breath when I walk my job stairs, hot flashy feeling, a bit congested followed by headache , it is too soon for symptoms

zeena on May 06, 2018:

hi am having left pelvic pain and back pain when i lay down on my back after ovulation sometimes back hurt alot when am sleeping and its been 2 days i have pelvic pain

Shae on April 25, 2018:

Hello my OD was on the 23rd had UPS on the 18th,19th,21st & 22nd

It’s now the 26th & I’m having lower back ache , slight headache & feeling really gassy

Could this be a sign of pregnancy?

I’m still 12 days out from AF

Kierstin Gunsberg (author) from Traverse City, Michigan on April 21, 2018:

Hi, Ebony. Since your cycle was off I would try taking a pregnancy test. If it comes back negative and your cycles continue to be short or different from normal talk to your doctor. It may be a sign of perimenopause which can cause lighter or shorter cycles than normal.

Ebony on April 20, 2018:

Hi I’m 41 n I came on my (p) 4days before my expected (p) mind me I only stay on for 2day when my cycle is usually 5-7 days. Could I be pregnant? Please help

Kierstin Gunsberg (author) from Traverse City, Michigan on April 19, 2018:

Hi, Nadia - I think if you're on cycle day 27 you should be okay to take a pregnancy test. If it's negative, I would still call your doctor and let them know you have a fever and pain because that can be a sign of infection.

Also, your doctor will be able to give you a pregnancy test if the one you take at home is inconclusive.

Kierstin Gunsberg (author) from Traverse City, Michigan on April 16, 2018:

Rice, I agree, if you have a typical 28 day cycle then it's unlikely you conceived. However, if on some off chance you ovulated a few days early this month then there's a possibility for conception.

Feeling cold, bloated, etc. before your period is not uncommon (at all) and sometimes the indicator of pregnancy will be less symptoms ahead of your period, since your body isn't getting ready to start it's cycle.

The only thing that kind of concerns me in regards to pregnancy is the spotting on the 29th. But some women do randomly experience spotting. I'd hold off and only take a pregnancy test if you period doesn't come on the day you expect it. If you continue to experience mid-cycle spotting, talk to your doctor.

Rica on April 16, 2018:

March 22-26 is my period days ,march 28 we had a sex ,then march 29 i have spotting,and now 6 days before my expected period i feel so cold .my body is hot but no fever.sometimes i feel bloated and gassy also feeling heavy full at my lower abdomen ,i think march 28 is my safe period..do u think im pregnant?

Kierstin Gunsberg (author) from Traverse City, Michigan on April 15, 2018:

Hi, Lima Lou! Thank you for the compliment but I'm sorry I freaked you out!

How far out from your period are you? It's completely possible that your symptoms have to do with PMS and even ovulation not pregnancy and that you're just now noticing them because you're nervous that you might be pregnant.

When it's four days from when you expect your period, I'd start testing just because I know you're going nuts wondering. Testing four days early is tricky, you can get a false negative but you can also get a positive (I did with my second daughter).

Keep testing every other day until the day your period is due and if it's still negative then then I would say more than likely, you're in the clear!

If it does turn out you're pregnant, if it brings you any comfort, I was 23 when I found out I (very unexpectedly) was pregnant with my first baby and 24 when I had her. A year later I had our second daughter. They're 4 and almost 3 now and even though becoming a mom at that stage wasn't what I had initially planned, we're doing really well. I know that everyone says this but it's true, I couldn't imagine life without them now!

And I'm also in college. Since you're a senior, it would be REALLY easy for you to finish up before (this hypothetical) baby arrives, or at least shortly after.

You've got this, either way!!

P.S. If you're not pregnant, check out Bedsider(dot)org for info on birth control options. They go through ALL of them and the pros and cons of each so that you don't have to deal with "scares" :)

Kierstin Gunsberg (author) from Traverse City, Michigan on April 13, 2018:

Hey, Loveness! If you're already experience intense symptoms and you're four days out from the start of your period then it would be okay to take a pregnancy test right now. If the hormones that are causing your symptoms are pregnancy related then you should get a positive test now. If the hormones that are causing your symptoms are related to your menstrual cycle, then the test will be negative.

If you get a negative test and your period ends up late, then should take another at that point.

Kierstin Gunsberg (author) from Traverse City, Michigan on April 12, 2018:

Hi Anu,

Those are all typical PMS symptoms for sure. If you've recently had unprotected sex though, it's not a bad idea to grab a pregnancy test and take it, especially if your period ends up being late.

Anu on April 12, 2018:

Hi my PM's date is tomorrow.unprotected and feeling Brest pain soreness and lower abdomen pain from 5 days and eating too much does it mean pregnancy r pms

Kierstin Gunsberg (author) from Traverse City, Michigan on April 04, 2018:

Hi, Blossomsmv!

So, first, I love period apps for tracking my period but when it comes to TTC, I don't think they're very helpful, especially if you have PCOS which can cause irregular periods. Your tracking app won't be able to take your irregular cycles into account accurately. So, even though I know your app is telling you that you're late, it's possible that you haven't ovulated yet or ovulated late and that would mean that technically, your period may not be late at all.

All of that being said, since you are actively trying to conceive I would take a pregnancy test just to gauge where you're at. I know that's probably a really scary and intimidating thought right now but if you can do it with a friend or your partner nearby for moral support, that would be ideal.

If it comes back positive - yay! Dizzy spells can definitely be a symptom of early pregnancy, however dryness is not as common.

But if it comes back negative then the symptoms you're experiencing could be ovulation or PMS symptoms.

If you haven't already, I would look into the charting and temping method for conceiving. This would involve taking your temperature with a Basal Body Temperature thermometer first thing in the morning and charting the results to define when you are about to ovulate. There's a lot of resources online to learn how to do this, BabyCenter has some good groups and Toni Weschler's book Taking Charge of Your Fertility also has information on the BBT charting method.

Blossomsmv on April 04, 2018:

Hi. According to my period app, im 7days late. I have pcos and have had 2 failed ivfs last year.

I had an early miscarriage in December 2017. I am 28yrs old

Still ttc naturally..

My cycles are irregular and since im 7days late (as per my period tracking app) im not sure if im pregnant. I have had dizzy spells recently, vagina was very dry and am having sharp pains in my left buttock region (pelvic area) today. Could these be early pregnancy signs? Pls answer asap :)

Kierstin Gunsberg (author) from Traverse City, Michigan on April 01, 2018:

Hi Kirsten,

You should call your doctor and let them know about your symptoms. It's a germy time of year and I feel safe saying most people are feeling a bit under the weather right now so your symptoms could range from a virus to pregnancy to another condition that only a doctor can diagnose.

Before you call your doctor, go ahead and take a pregnancy test at home, that way you have more information to share with your doctor.

Kirsten on March 31, 2018:

Hey guys ive never been pregnant before. I had sex last actually about a month ago. I haven't done a test yet didnt want too. Im feeling very weird i mean by that is i have been having a very dry mouth almost like im dehydrated but im not very very sleepy to where im at work dragging horribly. No nausea or puking but also been having dizzy spells when i squat at work and get back up. Bad lower back pain lots of bloating where i look pregnant. Just all around a weird feeling. Someone tell me plz whats happening.

Kierstin Gunsberg (author) from Traverse City, Michigan on March 31, 2018:

Elizabeth, you are TOTALLY freaking yourself out. I answered your question in the Q&A section, but I'm pretty certain you're not pregnant.

Elizabeth on March 30, 2018:

I "messed around" but did not have penetrative sex 2 days before my expected period. My period arrived on the day it was expected but was unusually short and light and I didn't cramp very much which is unusual. I am also on birth control. Is there any way I could be pregnant since I am on birth control and there was no penetration? I feel like i have had some pregnancy symptoms but might just be freaking myself out. Thanks!

Donise on March 28, 2018:

On December 14 2017was my last period a month a half later I found out I was pregnant on February 12 2018 I had a miscarriage bleed that whole one week after the bleeding stop me and my husband had sex and haven’t yet received my period plus I been taking over the counter prenatal vitamins and took about 6 pregnancy test out of the first two were negative than the other 4 were positive with the faint line and now it’s the end of March so do this mean that i’am pregnant.

Chole on March 27, 2018:

I’ve been on my birth control pill for a year and like four months now this previous week I missed my pills I had a lot going on and forgot to take them for 5 Sydney straight I regularated myself back to normal but I’ve been really hungry lately and when I woke up this morning my nipples were really sensitive and when I w