A missed period is often the first sign for some women that they may be pregnant, but there are earlier ones if you know what to look for for some women. These early pregnancy signs are not always the same from woman to woman, for example one pay complain of sickness whereas another may have some bloating, or a third may have both plus a tightening across the stomach.
If you have observed such signs and are about to take a pregnancy test before a missed period you need to make sure the test is one designed to do so and says it is sensitive enough to detect what will only be low levels of the pregnancy hormone, hCG. However the fact is early testing is not as accurate as testing after a missed period. The per cent rate drops from around 97 per cent to 90 per cent so you may still need to retest after a few days anyway, as it is more possible to get a false negative result.
Until then there are signs you can look for to help gauge whether or not you are pregnant. These include: Being very tired and feeling fatigued. Morning sickness (that can actually happen any time of day or night). Spotting can happen 3 to 12 days after ovulation. Bloating. Breasts becoming tender, swollen and blue veins appearing. Needing to urinate often. Craving foods.
Symptoms change from woman to woman, and in some are severe, and in others do not appear at all. Some woman start noticing signs within just a few days of being pregnant, and others may have to wait a few weeks. Every woman’s body is different and how the changing hormones and rising hCG levels affect it changes too.
If you do spot these signs, take a pregnancy test. It is easy to do, just peeing on a stick or into a cup. After 2 to 3 minutes of waiting you will have your result. Remember that not all tests are equally sensitive or display the results the same way, so read the boxes and make sure you choose one suitable for your needs. If the result is negative but you are not convinced see your doctor and they can either do another urine test or order a blood test.
All there is to know about any early pregnancy test available and pregnancy testing in general. Today’s special: when to take a pregnancy test