You Get Inexplicably Tired
Any of us would expect to be exhausted after a long and difficult day. This is totally normal, and, when considered by itself, is probably not a sign youâre pregnant. However, pregnancy causes women to experience fatigue, even when theyâre taking things easy and slow. The hormone responsible for making you tired goes off the charts when youâre expecting a baby, so your significantly lower energy levels may be something to look into. This intense fatigue can begin as early as one week after conception.
When To See A Doctor
If your periods suddenly become lighter and you think you may be pregnant, the only way to be sure is to take a pregnancy test. If the light bleeding is due to implantation, taking the test from 2-3 days after the start of the bleeding may show a positive result depending on the sensitivity of the urine test and the amount of hormones present in the body. But if the test is negative, it may still be too early, so wait another week and test again. Every woman is different and while for some the pregnancy test may be positive on the first day of your missed period, for others it may not be positive until up to one month after.
If you are not pregnant, having a noticeably light period from time to time normally isnt the sign of any problem. Sometimes this may be due to temporary disregulation in the menstrual cycle, such as during periods of stress. However, you should see a doctor if you have persistent irregular periods , severe lower abdominal pain, or any other unusual symptoms such as excessive hair growth or weight loss, because these could be indicative of an underlying condition.
Featured image is of menstrual pads scattered against a blue background
One of the first signs of pregnancy can be a light period, and it can be difficult to tell whether it is due to pregnancy or not as the bleed can occur at around the same time of a normal period.
Other Causes Of Light Periods
Aside from pregnancy, there are a lot of other conditions or factors which can cause light periods. For example, stress and anxiety can cause your periods to be irregular, light, or you might even miss one altogether. Once the stressful event has passed the periods should return to normal. Other symptoms that indicate stress or anxiety that might occur at the same time as your light period include palpitations, breathlessness, sweating, or tremors.
Women with an over- or under-active thyroid can also have irregular periods, as thyroid hormones form an integral part of the chain reaction that causes your menstrual cycle.4 Other symptoms you may notice include weight changes, general lethargy or hyper-activity and appetite changes. If you suspect your light period may be related to thyroid issues go and seek advice from your GP.
Taking contraceptive pills or having hormonal intra-uterine devices can lead to light periods, especially when you first start using a new type of contraception, as the body is still getting used to the hormones. Normally, after the body has adjusted, the irregular bleeding may stop.
Taking contraceptive pills or having hormonal intra-uterine devices can lead to light periods, especially when you first start using a new type of contraception.
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Can You Get Pregnant Right After Your Period
You are moving into your fertility window, so yes, you can get pregnant right after your period. On a typical cycle that occurs every 28 to 30 days, the fertility window is usually between Day 11 and Day 21. Remember, sperm can live up to 5 days. If your period lasts for 5 to 7 days, and you have sex right after that, you are approaching your fertility window.
Your Due Date Is Only An Estimate
Please remember that your due date is only an estimate. Every pregnancy is unique and your baby will come when its ready. Be sure to talk to your health care provider about your due date.
On average only 5% of births take place exactly on the estimated due date. Most are born within a week either side of the estimated due date. A normal pregnancy can last anywhere between 38 and 42 weeks.
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I Think I’m Pregnant: Now What
Do you feel like you might be pregnant? You’re not alone: hundreds of thousands of women contemplate the same question every day.
Anytime you have unprotected sex, there’s a chance of pregnancy. I’ll tell you about pregnancy symptoms, early signs of pregnancy, and everything you need to know about taking a pregnancy test.
When Does Ovulation Occur
In an average 28-day menstrual cycle, ovulation occurs about 14 days before the beginning of your next menstrual period. The exact timing varies your cycle length may be longer or shorter. You may find it helpful to track your menstrual cycle using an app on your phone or a calendar. This can help you determine when ovulation is most likely to occur. Most people will have a period 14 to 16 days after ovulation, regardless of the length of their overall cycle.
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Yes You Can Be Pregnant And Have Some Bleeding
Many women experience implantation bleeding when the fertilized egg implants. It happens because a small portion of that uterine lining might detach and shed during the process of implantation.
It can be confusing because it looks very similar to a light periodits spotting right around the time when you usually would get your period. Given this light bleeding, you might understandably think that youre not pregnant. However, one distinguishing factor that may help is that implantation bleeding should be much lighter in quantity than your normal period.
Do All Women Get Early Symptoms Of Pregnancy
Every woman is different. So are their experiences of pregnancy. Not every woman has the same symptoms or even the same symptoms from one pregnancy to the next.
Also, because the early symptoms of pregnancy often mimic the symptoms you might experience right before and during menstruation, you may not realize youâre pregnant.
What follows is a description of some of the most common early symptoms of pregnancy. You should know that these symptoms may be caused by other things besides being pregnant. So the fact that you notice some of these symptoms does not necessarily mean you are pregnant. The only way to tell for sure is with a pregnancy test.
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Get A Pregnant Result As Fast As 1 Minute From The Day You Miss Your Period
Clearblue Rapid Detection Pregnancy Test has been designed to offer you the easiest pregnancy testing experience, with the accuracy you expect from Clearblue and a result as fast as 1 minute.
A pregnant result may appear in 1 minute when testing from the day of the missed period. Wait 3 minutes to confirm a not pregnant result.
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How Do Pregnancy Tests Work
All pregnancy tests work by detecting the pregnancy hormone, hCG, in the urine or blood. This hormone is present only when a woman is pregnant. If the pregnancy test detects hCG, it will say you are pregnant.
hCG is made when a fertilized egg implants in the uterus. This usually happens about 10 days after conception .1 The amount of hCG builds up quickly in your body with each passing day you are pregnant.
So if you take a home pregnancy test too soon after implantation, your hCG level may not be high enough to detect the pregnancy. If the test says you are not pregnant, take another pregnancy test in a few days.
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Can I Get Pregnant A Couple Of Days After My Period Has Ended
Its possible, but also unlikely. Though there is always risk of pregnancy if you have sex without contraception. If you ovulate early when you have short menstrual cycles you may be able to get pregnant this time of the month. However, once youve finished your period youre moving into your fertility window, which means your chances of getting pregnant increase as you approach ovulation.
Am I Pregnant How Do You Know If Youre Pregnant
The first thing to consider when calculating your chances of getting pregnant is timing.
When was:
-Your last period-The date of intercourseIf you know, the date of ovulation is also quite useful. You can find a full guide to pinpointing ovulation here.
So, if your period is on average 28 days, ovulation is likely around the 14th day, with day 1 being the first day of period bleeding. Note I said most. Not all women ovulate mid-cycle, and ovulation does fluctuate slightly each cycle for some. You can help guess when you are ovulating by paying attention to vaginal discharge. When you are fertile, it will become more plentiful and watery. At ovulation itself, you may see egg-white-like discharge, sort of like clear snot There are also ovulation test strips you can buy if you are ttc, and basal body temping can also be a huge help.
Keep in mind that the egg is most viable in the first 12 hours, and though unlikely, may survive up to 48 hours. Sperm is most viable within 48 hours but can survive in the body for 5 or more days .
Lets consider some scenarios with that then.
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My Pregnancy Test Says I Am Pregnant What Should I Do Next
If a home pregnancy test shows that you are pregnant, you should call your doctor to schedule an appointment.
Your doctor can use a blood test to tell for sure whether you are pregnant. Seeing your doctor early in your pregnancy also means you can begin prenatal care to help you and your baby stay healthy.
A Missed Period And Light Bleeding
A missed period is probably the most well-known pregnancy symptom, and the one that most often prompts women to take a pregnancy test. If your period is late or doesnt come at all, you may be pregnant.
But newly pregnant womenone-third to be exactmay have whats called implantation bleeding, or bleeding that is lighter, shorter and spottier than a regular period. When you become pregnant, the fertilized egg latches on to the uterus lining and embeds itself, which initiates the pregnancy. The movement may cause light bleeding a few days before your period is supposed to start. And while the amount differs from woman to woman, implantation bleeding is typically pinkish or dark brown in color. It will likely occur for a few days to a few weeks.
Brown recommends that all women track their menstrual cycle, especially if they are trying to get pregnant. You can use a regular calendar, or one of many phone apps. These apps can help you see what a normal menstrual cycle looks like for you, including how long it is and how heavy your period is. They can also anticipate your period and ovulation days for the months to follow, says Brown. I think this is really helpful for patients who are trying to get pregnant. It can help them track when theyre most fertile.
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Is There A Possibility To Get Pregnant Just After My Period Has Finished
Getting pregnant right after your period is unlikely but not impossible. The chances of becoming pregnant are lower immediately following periods than a few days or a week later.
- There is no “safe” time of the month when you can have sex without contraception. However, there are times during the menstrual cycle when you are most fertile and most likely to conceive.
- The fertile days can last for up to three to five days after your period has ended. The likelihood of becoming pregnant immediately following a period is determined by the length of the menstrual cycle and the length of the period. If your period is long, you may only have a few or no days after your period ends.
- You may ovulate just days after your period if your menstrual cycle is short, such as 22 days. Sperm can survive in the fertile cervical mucus for five to seven days. You may be able to become pregnant if you ovulate a little earlier than usual.
- If your cycle is irregular, you may become pregnant right after your period.
How to use this ovulation calculator tool
Patient’s Question: Am I Pregnant Or Is My Period About To Come
The story begins like this: our patient is a 30-year-old woman who has found the right time in her life to get pregnant and goes to her gynaecologist…
PATIENT: Good morning doctor!
DOCTOR: Good morning, Maria, how are you feeling today?
P: I am a little nervous because my period is not coming and we are trying to get pregnant.
D: When was your last period?
P: I am 3 days late, so 31 days ago.
D: How are you feeling?
P: Not very well, it’s as if my period was about to come.
D: But what are you feeling? What’s going on?P: My breasts are hurting, I can t even touch them. When I brush against my bra, I see stars, I
don’t know if it’s normal. It even seems that my boobs have grown, they are swollen.
D: This breast pain, do you usually have it when you’re about to have your period or is it stronger?
P: I think it’s more painful this time, I mean I can’t even touch them.
D: And do you have any other pains?
P: Yes, I feel discomfort in the lower part of my stomach, like in my ovaries… as if I were going to have my period!
D: That painful menstrual-like sensation can also occur in the early weeks of pregnancy, Maria, so don’t worry. The most important thing is that it isn’t associated with bleeding. Have you spotted at some point?
P: No, I haven’t. The truth is I look at my knickers every time I go to the toilet, in case my period comes, but I haven’t spotted at all yet.
D: And you don’t have any other problems, do you?
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How Do I Use A Home Pregnancy Test
All home pregnancy tests come with written instructions. Depending on the brand you buy, the instructions may vary:
- You hold a stick in your urine stream.
- You pee into a cup and dip the stick into it.
- You pee into a cup and then use a dropper to put a few drops of the urine into a special container.
Different brands tell you to wait different amounts of time, although most are around 2 minutes. Depending on the brand of the test, you may see a line or a plus symbol, or the words “pregnant” or “not pregnant.” A line or plus symbol, no matter how faint, means the result is positive.
Most tests also have a “control indicator” in the result window. This control line or symbol shows whether the test is working properly. If the control line or symbol does not appear, the test is not working properly.
Look for the toll-free phone number on the package to call in case of questions about use or results.
What Are The Chances I Can Get Pregnant On My Period
The chances of getting pregnant if you have sex during your period are very low. However, if youve had unprotected sex, it is still possible to get pregnant during your period.
To understand how this can happen, you need to know how your menstrual cycle works.
- Your cycle starts on the first day of your period and lasts until the first day of your next period.
- About 10 to 16 days before the start of your next period, you will ovulate, which is when one of your ovaries releases an egg.
- Once youve ovulated, you enter the Luteal phase, when the now empty follicle develops the corpus luteum, which produces the hormone progesterone.
- The lining on your uterus thickens in preparation for a fertilized egg to implant.
- If you have not conceived, then the egg passes into the uterus, hormone levels drop, and the womb lining sheds as you begin your next period.
You are at your most fertile around the time you ovulate. Although the egg lives only for 12 to 24 hours after being released, you can get pregnant even if you have sex days before you ovulate as sperm can live up to five days in your body.
So how likely are you to get pregnant during your period? Well, it depends on a few factors like:
- whether you used contraception or not
- the length of your menstrual cycle
- the length of your period
- when you had sex
You can also conceive after having sex during your period if you have short menstrual cycles, as this means you ovulate a few days earlier, and closer to the end of your period.
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You Have An Ectopic Pregnancy
Do you have severe abdominal pain, light brown discharge and pregnancy symptoms? Then its possible you have an ectopic pregnancy.
What does ectopic pregnancy mean?
In normal pregnancies, fertilization occurs inside the Fallopian tube, which is a 10cm tube attached to the body of the uterus. After fertilization, the embryo or fertilized ovum is transported back to the uterus for implantation.
However, in ectopic pregnancies, this process fails to result in implantation outside the uterus, or in the fallopian tubes. Implantation inside the Fallopian tube will cause bleeding into the abdomen with symptoms like
- Pain especially in the right or left side of the abdomen
- Heavy vaginal bleeding, though it may be light bleeding or no bleeding at all.
- Dizziness or fainting attack
- Severe pain in the abdomen that gets worse with time
Who are at risk of an ectopic pregnancy?
- Untreated chlamydia or gonorrhea infection
- Pelvic inflammation disease
- Drugs like Clomiphene citrate used to stimulate ovulation
- Previous history of an abortion
What to do?
You should inform your doctor ASAP about your symptoms. Ectopic pregnancy is an emergency worldwide and may cause death in young women if not treated early.