If you're trying to conceive, you may be wondering how early the first pregnancy symptoms show. We consulted experts to discover more.
Whether you've been trying to conceive, had a contraceptive failure, or are simply curious, you might be wondering how soon you can feel pregnant symptoms. Some people have wondered if pregnancy symptoms can appear as early as 72 hours after having sex, especially if they are feeling a little sick to their stomach or have breast soreness.
However, pregnancy symptoms rarely appear during the first 72 hours of intercourse or conception, according to Dr Elsa De Menezes OB-GYN "In the earliest stages of pregnancy, the fertilized egg needs some time to implant itself into the uterus lining before the body begins producing the hormones associated with pregnancy."
According to Dr. Elsa De Menezes, this operation usually takes six to twelve days after fertilisation. "The pregnancy symptoms occur after a few weeks of conception."
Dr. Elsa De Menezes feels that missing your period is the first and most reliable sign of a potential pregnancy. "Some people may have mild cramping and bloating, similar to premenstrual symptoms. Breast tenderness or swelling can potentially be an early warning sign of pregnancy.
Other early signs of pregnancy include feeling unusually tired and having more frequent bathroom visits, she adds. "Nausea, with or without vomiting, is another common pregnancy symptom that may appear around the sixth week of pregnancy."
Even if you do not have pregnancy symptoms 72 hours after conception, a blood test called quantitative beta HCG can reveal positive results as early as one week following ovulation. However, symptoms do not appear immediately.
According to Dr. Elsa De Menezes, the most effective conceptions take place during a person's mid-cycle. "You normally ovulate and conceive approximately 14 days before your next period. You should anticipate obtaining a positive pregnancy test about 10 days following conception, but you will not normally have any symptoms at this time."
Research suggests that symptoms typically appear around week five or six of your pregnancy. One study of pregnant people revealed that 72% discovered their pregnancy by the sixth week after their last.
However, about 10 to 14 days after conception, you may have implant bleeding, which could be the first indicator of pregnancy, according to Dr. Demosthenes. "But remember that not all [women ] have implantation bleeding."
If you suspect you're pregnant, Dr. Elsa De Menezes recommends waiting until you've missed your period before taking a home pregnancy test. "Testing too soon before the hCG levels are acceptable can lead to a false negative."As a result, taking a pregnancy test near your expected period yields more reliable findings."
Also, be sure to carefully follow the instructions and don't be hesitant to contact a health care practitioner if you have any questions. If you get a negative result but still think you're pregnant, wait a few days and retest, or talk to your doctor.
Dr. Elsa De Menezes recommends keeping your test at room temperature and testing your pee first thing in the morning when it is most concentrated with hCG hormone. Also, avoid drinking large amounts of fluids before taking your test. This can dilute your urine and make it difficult for the test to detect hCG, she explains.
According to Dr. Elsa De Menezes, most home pregnancy tests will show a positive result between seven and ten days following conception, which could be before you miss a menstrual cycle. "These tests are quite accurate—97% to 99% [of the time]—and false positives are uncommon." However, if you are receiving injections for fertility treatment, they may give a false positive.
Most experts recommend that you wait until you have missed your period before taking a pregnancy test. This is because a variety of factors can bias the results.
"If you took the pregnancy test too soon, it could show negative results," "Furthermore, some pregnancy tests are so sensitive that they can generate false positive results with very thin lines, so testing early may raise your hopes even if it does not result in an actual pregnancy."
Testing too soon can also increase stress, especially if you get a negative test when you expect a positive outcome. Furthermore, if you test before your missing period and the results are negative, you must repeat within 72 hours, according to Dr. Elsa De Menezes. " You can take a pregnancy test every day, but this will be expensive."
She also warns that if you test too early, the test may detect a chemical pregnancy, which is a very early miscarriage. "If you take a pregnancy test early and it's positive, but then you test a few days later and it's abruptly negative, you may have had a chemical pregnancy, which means the implanted embryo started releasing hCG but then stopped."
Most experts urge that you consult with a health care physician before attempting to conceive. However, unexpected pregnancies do occur, so consult a doctor as soon as you receive a positive pregnancy test result.
Beckley also recommends seeing a doctor if you have significant bleeding or severe abdominal pain. "If you are trying to conceive and unable to conceive within 6 months, it is worth calling a healthcare provider to get basic fertility testing done or doing a home fertility test," she went on to say. As usual, if you have any concerns or questions about attempting to conceive or potential unintended pregnancies, please contact an OB-GYN or health care practitioner for further information.
