Even if your period hasn’t come late (whether it’s irregular or not), the only certainty that you’re pregnant is with a positive pregnancy test followed up with an ultrasound scan.
However, several common early symptoms of pregnancy can prompt you to take a pregnancy test:
- Missing or late menstrual period
- Breasts feel tender, swollen, or painful to touch
- Feeling nauseous or vomiting, especially in the morning (known as “morning sickness”)
- Experiencing extreme fatigue and tiredness
Even with these symptoms, pregnancy is not a guarantee. A pregnancy test would be required to confirm.
How Accurate is a Pregnancy Test?
Take stock of your individual symptoms and try to establish when they began. You can then follow up with a urine-based or blood pregnancy test. One can be picked up at your local pharmacy, while a blood test would have to be done in a lab.
It is estimated that as many as 26% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage. A pregnancy test can confirm if you have detectable levels of hCG, a pregnancy hormone, but this could still be detectable if you have recently miscarried.
Once you have a positive pregnancy test, we recommend scheduling a no-cost ultrasound at our center to confirm the viability of the pregnancy.
Early Pregnancy Symptoms
See below for some of the most common early pregnancy symptoms, according to the American Pregnancy Association.
A Missed Period
This can be one of the most common indicators of very early pregnancy, but this can be misleading if your menstrual cycle is irregular, so you’ll want to check for other symptoms as well.
Sore or Tender Breasts
Tender, swollen breasts are a common early sign of pregnancy, as hormonal changes cause breasts to become extremely sensitive and painful. For most women, this discomfort is temporary as the body adapts to hormonal fluctuations over the first few weeks.
Nausea/Morning Sickness
Nausea, with or without vomiting, commonly starts around one month into pregnancy due to heightened hormones such as progesterone and estrogen, although it can start earlier.
Increased Urination
Frequent urination is quite common in early pregnancy. This happens because kidneys must filter and regulate higher volumes of blood and fluids circulating to support the developing fetus, resulting in more visits to the bathroom.
When Should I Take a Pregnancy Test?
Wait at least a week after a missed period to take a pregnancy test. This gives enough time for pregnancy hormone hCG levels to build up so the test detects it if you’re pregnant. Testing too soon could give a false negative, even if you did conceive.
Schedule a Pregnancy Test & Ultrasound
At Pregnancy Options Miami, we offer free medical-grade pregnancy tests and confirmation ultrasounds.
You can also access medically accurate information about your pregnancy and resources on your options to make a fully informed choice.
Contact us today to make an appointment!