What causes diarrhea before menstruation. How can loose motions be prevented before periods. Is diarrhea a sign of early pregnancy. When should you see a doctor for premenstrual diarrhea. What lifestyle changes can help manage premenstrual digestive issues.

Understanding Premenstrual Diarrhea: Causes and Symptoms

Many women experience a range of premenstrual symptoms, including mood swings, cramps, gas, and bloating. However, one lesser-discussed symptom is diarrhea or loose motions that occur in the week leading up to menstruation. While most women can manage these symptoms, for 2-4% of women, severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS) can significantly impact their professional and social lives.

Several factors contribute to premenstrual diarrhea:

• Cyclic hormonal changes
• Chemical fluctuations in the brain
• Release of prostaglandins
• Underlying depression or anxiety

Hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle can make some women more sensitive to digestive issues. Additionally, changes in neurotransmitters like serotonin and GABA may trigger gastrointestinal symptoms. Prostaglandins, released just before menstruation, cause contractions in the intestines, potentially leading to diarrhea.

Preventing and Managing Premenstrual Loose Motions

While premenstrual diarrhea can be uncomfortable, there are several ways to prevent and manage this symptom:

Diet Modifications

• Eat smaller, more frequent meals to reduce bloating
• Limit salt intake to minimize fluid retention
• Choose complex carbohydrates like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
• Consume calcium-rich foods or supplements
• Avoid caffeine and alcohol

Regular Exercise

Engaging in moderate-intensity exercise for 30 minutes most days of the week can help alleviate premenstrual symptoms. Activities like brisk walking or swimming are excellent options.

Stress Management

• Maintain a healthy sleep routine
• Practice meditation or yoga
• Join support groups to connect with others experiencing similar issues

Immediate Relief for Premenstrual Diarrhea

If you’re experiencing loose motions before your period, try these tips for immediate relief:

• Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration
• Consume fiber-rich foods like bananas, apples, and oats
• Incorporate natural probiotics such as yogurt and curd into your diet
• Avoid spicy and oily foods temporarily

Do these remedies always work for premenstrual diarrhea? While these tips can provide relief for many women, it’s important to note that individual responses may vary. If symptoms persist or worsen, consulting a healthcare professional is advisable.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Premenstrual Digestive Issues

If lifestyle modifications don’t improve your symptoms and your quality of life is significantly affected, it’s crucial to consult a doctor. Severe or persistent premenstrual diarrhea could be indicative of an underlying gastrointestinal condition that worsens during menstruation.

Medical professionals may recommend treatments such as:

• Oral contraceptive pills
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Ibuprofen
• Antidepressants in some cases

Always consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new medication regimen.

Diarrhea as a Potential Sign of Early Pregnancy

Interestingly, diarrhea can also be an early sign of pregnancy, often occurring before a missed period. This symptom can be confusing, as it’s easily mistaken for premenstrual digestive issues or general stomach upset.

Why does diarrhea occur in early pregnancy? Hormonal changes, particularly the increase in progesterone, can affect the digestive system. Progesterone can slow down digestion, leading to constipation in some women, while others may experience the opposite effect – diarrhea.

Other Early Pregnancy Symptoms

While diarrhea alone isn’t a definitive sign of pregnancy, it may be accompanied by other early pregnancy symptoms such as:

• Nausea or morning sickness
• Fatigue
• Breast tenderness
• Frequent urination
• Mood swings
• Mild cramping

Can early pregnancy symptoms appear just days after conception? Yes, some women report experiencing early signs of pregnancy within a few days of ovulation. However, these symptoms can vary greatly among individuals and pregnancies.

Distinguishing Between Premenstrual and Early Pregnancy Diarrhea

Differentiating between premenstrual diarrhea and early pregnancy diarrhea can be challenging, as the symptoms can be similar. Here are some key factors to consider:

• Timing: Premenstrual diarrhea typically occurs 1-2 weeks before menstruation, while pregnancy-related diarrhea can happen at any time after conception.
• Duration: Premenstrual symptoms usually resolve once menstruation begins, while pregnancy symptoms may persist.
• Associated symptoms: Pregnancy-related diarrhea is often accompanied by other early pregnancy signs.
• Missed period: If your period is late and you’re experiencing diarrhea, it could be a sign of pregnancy.

Should you take a pregnancy test if you’re experiencing unusual digestive symptoms? If you’re sexually active and your period is late, taking a pregnancy test is advisable, regardless of the specific symptoms you’re experiencing.

The Impact of Hormones on Digestive Health

Hormonal fluctuations play a significant role in both premenstrual and early pregnancy digestive symptoms. Understanding this connection can help women better manage their health and recognize potential signs of pregnancy.

Estrogen and Progesterone

These two primary female sex hormones have a profound impact on the digestive system:

• Estrogen: Can increase gut motility, potentially leading to diarrhea
• Progesterone: Often slows digestion, which can cause constipation in some women but diarrhea in others

During the menstrual cycle and early pregnancy, levels of these hormones fluctuate, leading to various digestive symptoms.

Prostaglandins

These hormone-like substances are released before menstruation and during early pregnancy. They can cause uterine contractions and affect the smooth muscles of the intestines, potentially leading to diarrhea.

How do prostaglandins contribute to premenstrual and early pregnancy symptoms? Prostaglandins stimulate the muscles in the uterus and intestines to contract. This can result in cramps and increased bowel movements, sometimes leading to diarrhea.

Maintaining Digestive Health Throughout the Menstrual Cycle and Early Pregnancy

Whether you’re dealing with premenstrual symptoms or potentially early pregnancy, maintaining good digestive health is crucial. Here are some strategies to support your digestive system:

1. Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to support healthy digestion and prevent dehydration from diarrhea.
2. Eat a balanced diet: Focus on whole foods, including fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains.
3. Incorporate probiotics: Consuming probiotic-rich foods or supplements can help maintain a healthy gut microbiome.
4. Manage stress: Practice stress-reduction techniques like meditation, deep breathing, or gentle yoga.
5. Exercise regularly: Moderate physical activity can help regulate bowel movements and reduce stress.
6. Get enough sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night to support overall health, including digestive function.
7. Avoid trigger foods: If certain foods consistently cause digestive upset, consider eliminating them from your diet.

Can dietary changes significantly improve premenstrual and early pregnancy digestive symptoms? Many women find that making targeted dietary adjustments can help alleviate digestive discomfort. However, it’s important to remember that individual responses may vary, and what works for one person may not work for another.

The Importance of Tracking Symptoms and Menstrual Cycles

Keeping a record of your symptoms and menstrual cycles can be invaluable in understanding your body and identifying potential health issues or pregnancy. Here’s why tracking is important:

• Identifies patterns: Regular tracking helps you recognize consistent premenstrual symptoms.
• Aids diagnosis: A symptom diary can help healthcare providers diagnose conditions like PMS or PMDD.
• Detects irregularities: Tracking can help you notice changes in your cycle that might indicate pregnancy or other health concerns.
• Improves self-awareness: Understanding your body’s patterns can help you better prepare for and manage symptoms.
• Supports fertility awareness: For those trying to conceive, tracking can help identify fertile windows.

How can you effectively track your menstrual and digestive symptoms? Consider using a smartphone app or a physical journal to record the following information:

• Start and end dates of menstruation
• Physical symptoms (including digestive issues)
• Emotional symptoms
• Diet and exercise habits
• Sleep patterns
• Stress levels

Consistent tracking over several months can provide valuable insights into your body’s patterns and help you make informed decisions about your health.

Seeking Professional Help: When to Consult a Healthcare Provider

While some level of premenstrual discomfort is common, severe or persistent symptoms warrant medical attention. Here are some situations where you should consider consulting a healthcare provider:

• Severe diarrhea that interferes with daily life
• Symptoms that don’t improve with lifestyle changes
• Digestive issues accompanied by severe pain or bleeding
• Significant changes in your menstrual cycle
• Persistent digestive symptoms outside of your premenstrual phase
• Suspected pregnancy with ongoing digestive issues

What can you expect during a medical consultation for premenstrual or early pregnancy digestive issues? Your healthcare provider may:

1. Review your medical history and symptom diary
2. Perform a physical examination
3. Order blood tests to check hormone levels
4. Recommend further diagnostic tests if necessary
5. Discuss treatment options, which may include lifestyle changes, dietary adjustments, or medications
6. Perform a pregnancy test if pregnancy is suspected

Remember, open communication with your healthcare provider is key to receiving appropriate care and support for your digestive health concerns.

Conclusion: Understanding and Managing Digestive Health Throughout Your Cycle

Premenstrual diarrhea and digestive issues related to early pregnancy are common experiences for many women. By understanding the underlying causes, implementing lifestyle changes, and seeking appropriate medical care when necessary, you can effectively manage these symptoms and maintain your overall well-being.

Key takeaways include:

• Hormonal fluctuations play a significant role in digestive symptoms
• Lifestyle modifications can often provide relief
• Tracking symptoms and menstrual cycles is valuable for self-awareness and diagnosis
• Diarrhea can be a sign of both premenstrual syndrome and early pregnancy
• Seeking professional help is important for severe or persistent symptoms

By staying informed and proactive about your digestive health, you can navigate the challenges of premenstrual symptoms and potential early pregnancy with greater confidence and comfort. Remember, every woman’s experience is unique, and what works best for you may require some trial and error. Don’t hesitate to reach out to healthcare professionals for personalized advice and support in managing your digestive health throughout your menstrual cycle and beyond.

Do you get loose motions before periods? Here’s why

Mood swings and cramps are common premenstrual symptoms, as are gas and bloating. But have you also experienced loose motions before periods?

Most women suffer from PMS, but get on with their lives as they are not long-lasting and subside in a few days. But for 2-4 in 100 women, the quality of professional and social life starts to get affected because of the severe nature of the symptoms. Keeping a record of the symptoms in a diary can help the doctor to understand if you have PMS, as there are other conditions that can mimic the diagnosis. That includes irritable bowel syndrome or a thyroid disease.

What are the causes of loose motions during periods?

The exact cause is yet to be established, but several factors may contribute to the condition:

1. Cyclic changes in hormones:

The levels of hormones change during menstrual cycle and some women are more sensitive to these hormonal changes, which can lead to the symptoms.

2.Chemical changes in the brain:

Fluctuations in the levels of a variety of chemical substances in your blood called neurotransmitters such as serotonin and GABA, are also thought to trigger these symptoms.

3. Prostaglandins

These are the chemical substances which are released in the blood just before the periods. They cause contractions in the intestines which can cause a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms including diarrhea.

4. Depression and anxiety

Women who have depression or anxiety disorder suffer these symptoms more frequently, though the exact cause behind this is not known.

You may end up pooping more before your periods arrive! Image courtesy: Shutterstock

How can it be prevented?

Incorporate lifestyle changes:

1. Diet modification

* Eat smaller, more frequent meals to reduce bloating and the sensation of fullness
* Limit salt and salty foods to reduce fluid retention
* Choose complex carbohydrates like fruits, vegetables and whole grains
* Eat calcium-rich foods. Calcium supplements can be taken if dairy products can’t be tolerated
* Avoid caffeine and alcohol

2. Regular exercise

Try to do 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise like brisk walking, swimming on most days of the week

3. Stress busters

* Healthy sleep routine goes a long way in reducing the symptoms related to hormonal imbalance
* Meditation and yoga depending on personal preferences
* Talk to others who have been facing the similar problems (support groups)

Lifestyle changes are key to improving poop problems! Image courtesy: Shutterstock

A few tips to deal with loose motions before periods

* Drink plenty of fluids to make up for the fluid loss from diarrhoea.
* Consume food items rich in fibre such as banana, apples and oats
* Consume natural probiotics like yoghurt, curd
* Stay away from spicy and oily food for few days

If the symptoms are severe and the quality of life is being affected even after lifestyle modifications, see your doctor as these could be due to underlying gastrointestinal condition that worsens during periods.

Take medications only when suggested by the doctor. Oral contraceptive pills, NSAIDS which include Ibuprofen, antidepressants are the few medications which might help relieve the symptoms.

Although symptoms like bloating, gas and loose motions are common before periods, they should not be ignored. These can masquerade as other problems at times which needs to be addressed effectively.

Treatment, information and support are available to enable you to manage your symptoms and move forward with your life.

Is Diarrhea A Sign Of Early Pregnancy?

You might be surprised to know diarrhea can be a common sign of early pregnancy.

You could be trying for a baby, or perhaps you’re nervous about being pregnant.

Either way, you’re probably spending a lot of time looking for clues that suggest you’ve conceived.

Whenever you notice anything unusual or out of the ordinary, you’ll probably chalk it up immediately as a possible symptom of pregnancy.

Pregnancy symptoms can start as early as a few days after ovulation.

You can read more in Pregnancy Symptoms Before Missed Period.

It’s possible you’ll experience early signs and symptoms before a pregnancy test can confirm what you’ve been suspecting lately.

Some pregnant women experience common early signs of pregnancy, such as nausea, fatigue, sleepiness and sore breasts. Others wonder whether they have some tummy trouble when they experience diarrhea.

Read on for more information, and to find out whether diarrhea is a sign of early pregnancy.

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Diarrhea during early pregnancy

Food digestion starts in the mouth. As you chew your food, it mixes with saliva, is swallowed, and moves down the esophagus to reach the stomach.

When it reaches the stomach, acids are added and a full metabolic process occurs to ensure nutrients and water can be absorbed when the food moves into the intestine.

Through the intestinal walls, useful nutrients are filtered into the blood while waste products move on down the bowel until they’re finally excreted.

Diarrhea is when you pass loose stools. This is due to the transit of food in the intestinal tract happening much faster than normal.

When you experience diarrhea, it means the digestive tract isn’t functioning properly and the food processing cycle is sped up so the absorption of nutrients and water doesn’t happen properly.

Diarrhea can be caused by various digestive problems.

If you have underlying conditions, such as Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome or celiac disease, you will have baseline knowledge, and you can tell if an episode of diarrhea feels any different from what you’ve experienced before.

Food poisoning or viral infections such as gastroenteritis (stomach flu) can also be the cause of loose bowel movements. Diarrhea with these illnesses tends to be accompanied by cramps and abdominal pain. When you get one of these conditions you’re generally quite unwell; you have a temperature, and aren’t able to carry on with life as usual for a couple of days.

What causes diarrhea in early pregnancy?

Pregnancy hormones, especially progesterone and hCG, tend to alter the digestive system’s regular functioning. This is usually why some women might experience diarrhea in early pregnancy.

It’s not pleasant, but it’s not particularly dangerous unless it’s frequent and you’re also dehydrated. In this case, you should see your midwife or doctor for advice.

If you’re currently suffering from diarrhea, you might wonder whether this could be an early sign of pregnancy.

Unfortunately, it’s hard to say. A pregnancy test is really the only way you can know for certain whether or not you’re pregnant.

Some women complain of diarrhea during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a pregnancy symptom.

Some people believe these bouts of diarrhea are simply coincidental and have nothing to do with the pregnancy.

Is diarrhea a sign of early pregnancy?

If you have doubts you might be pregnant, a change in your bowel movements routine, especially if you experience diarrhea might trigger your alerts as a sign of pregnancy.

Many women experience diarrhea in early pregnancy as an adaptation of all the hormonal changes the body goes through.

A lot of things happen during the first few days following conception. Once the egg has been fertilized by the sperm, the embryo travels to the uterus for implantation.

The embryo has everything it needs for the following days and the digestive system tends to be the first to experience this hormonal shift. Pregnancy hormones will affect your bowel movements. As a consequence, you might experience diarrhea, constipation or both.

You could be pregnant if:

• You’ve suddenly gone off your favorite foods
• You hold your breath when you walk past a smoker or garbage tuck
• You turn into a screaming banshee if your other half so much as brushes your breast.

It’s frustrating, but some early pregnancy signs are also symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.

This isn’t particularly helpful if you’re desperate to know whether or not you’re pregnant.

Diarrhea is a sign of early pregnancy that isn’t commonly talked about.

It is something some women experience during early pregnancy.

It’s quite possible women simply don’t talk about this symptom because it doesn’t make for polite conversation.

Admitting you puked in a bin on the way to work is difficult enough, not to mention telling everyone you’re struggling from the squirts.

Unfortunately, it isn’t possible to say about of diarrhea is always a hint you might be pregnant.

You’ll have to wait until you can take a pregnancy test to find out for sure.

If you can’t wait that long, take a look at the 16 Most Reliable Pregnancy Symptoms and see how many you can tick off.

Is diarrhea a sign of pregnancy implantation?

Implantation occurs a few days after ovulation takes place – around week 3 of pregnancy.

Most of the hormonal changes that happen after this week can cause various digestive symptoms, such as nausea, morning sickness, bloating, heartburn, constipation, or even diarrhea.

Diarrhea, however, is not a reliable indicator that implantation has happened.

Is diarrhea a sign of miscarriage?

You can rest assured having diarrhea during early pregnancy is hardly ever about your baby’s wellbeing or a sign of anything going wrong with your pregnancy.

It’s usually completely unrelated to you being pregnant. It might be an upset stomach due to a virus or food poisoning. Or it could be a case of your pregnancy hormones just doing their job properly.

If you have diarrhea around the time you miscarry, it doesn’t mean diarrhea has made you lose your pregnancy.

When diarrhea happens at the time of a miscarriage it’s usually because progesterone production has stopped and your uterus and digestive tract are adapting to this change.

When your body is actively miscarrying you might experience diarrhea at the latest stages. If you have diarrhea with no other pregnancy-related symptoms, a miscarriage is highly unlikely.

Is diarrhea a sign of period?

Some women complain of diarrhea just before their period arrives. This is thought to be related to the prostaglandins – the hormones that cause the contractions in your uterus to shed its lining. Prostaglandins can also affect your intestines, causing contractions that result in diarrhea. Your intestine’s absorption rate can also be slowed, making food pass through your digestive tract faster.

However, some women experience the opposite, and feel quite bloated, retaining fluids and even being constipated before their period is due.

If diarrhea announces your period to you on a regular basis, make sure you check in with your healthcare provider; some investigations might be needed to determine the cause of this.

What is diarrhea a sign of during early pregnancy?

It’s possible hormone changes in early pregnancy are wreaking havoc on your digestive system.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone that tells your body to prepare for pregnancy.

This is the hormone pregnancy tests look for.

HCG levels rise rapidly during early pregnancy. You can read more in hCG Levels – What Should They Be Each Week?

Women with higher levels of hCG often suffer from increased levels of morning sickness. So hCG might play a part in causing pregnancy nausea. It could potentially cause digestive problems such as diarrhea.

Progesterone levels also increase during the first trimester. Progesterone stops muscular contractions to make sure the pregnancy continues to full term. Due to this hormone, gastro-intestinal motility is also reduced.

Rising progesterone levels are thought to be responsible for pregnancy symptoms such as nausea, heartburn, and constipation.

They could also be responsible for early bouts of diarrhea.

If you have recently changed your diet in preparation for conceiving, this could be causing your digestive problems.

If you’ve recently cut out all the rubbish in your diet and switched to fresh vegetables, greens, and fruits, your body might simply be adapting to the additional fiber.

Don’t worry. It’s temporary. Your body will soon adjust to your new healthy, balanced diet.

If you’re taking fertility or prenatal vitamins, these too could be to blame for your diarrhea.

Check the ingredients and speak to your pharmacist to find out whether the vitamins you are taking could be the root of the problem.

Alternatively, you might simply have a stomach virus that is entirely unrelated to the pregnancy.

Will diarrhea during pregnancy harm the baby?

Generally speaking, a stomach bug is very unlikely to cause harm to your baby.

Even if you’re unable to keep anything down for 24 hours, your baby will almost certainly be fine.

Dehydration is usually the biggest concern when you have a sickness bug, so make sure you drink plenty of fluids when treating diarrhea. Dehydration will affect pregnant women much earlier than it will affect the baby.

If you have a sickness bug, it’s important to:

• Rest as much as possible
• Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. If you’re struggling to keep water down, try electrolyte icy-poles
• Try to eat. If you can keep food down, try to eat bland foods throughout the day whenever you feel hungry. Foods that are low in fiber and gentle on the stomach include apples, toast, crackers, and broth
• Wash your hands well before and after going to the bathroom; this will limit the spread of the virus.

Speak to your healthcare provider immediately if:

• The sickness bug lasts for more than 48 hours
• You’re unable to keep any fluids down
• There is blood in your stools
• You have abdominal pain
• You have a fever
• Your urine is very dark.

Severe dehydration can lead to pregnancy complications, so seek immediate emergency care.

How to treat diarrhea in pregnancy?

If diarrhea occurring during early pregnancy isn’t the result of an illness or health condition, there’s really not much you can do other than ride it out until your body adjusts to the hormone shifts.

Try to avoid changing your diet drastically; make gradual changes. Keep a diary of any potential food sensitivities and avoid those foods if they make diarrhea worse. Avoid taking prenatal vitamins on an empty stomach as well.

If you’re experiencing diarrhea due to a health condition such as Crohn’s disease, speak to your health care specialist about ways to manage this situation.

Don’t take over-the-counter medication to treat diarrhea for food poisoning or gastro without checking with your healthcare provider to make sure it is safe for use during pregnancy. Not all medications are considered safe for pregnant women.

Which signs of pregnancy can be trusted and which can’t?

You can listen to the short version of the article. If it’s more convenient for you, turn on the podcast.

The most reliable signs of pregnancy are a positive blood test for hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) and an ultrasound confirming the fact of conception. But sometimes you want to clarify the situation before going to the doctor or pharmacy. And this can really be done with high accuracy if you know which symptoms and in what period to pay attention.

At what time do the first signs of pregnancy appear

Let’s say right away: stories like “I realized that I was pregnant the very next morning after a night of love!” or “we slept together, and after three days morning sickness appeared and everything became obvious” – this is something like an urban legend. They have nothing to do with science.

The earliest signs of pregnancy appear at best 6 days after conception. And it’s not for all women.

The reason is physiology. For a pregnancy to occur, the egg must meet with the sperm in the fallopian tube. This should happen within one or two days after ovulation – the maturation of the egg in the ovary. The fertilized egg then travels to the uterus to attach to it.

This process takes at least a few days – on average, from 6 to 10. Moreover, until the egg begins to fix itself in the endometrium lining the uterus, no changes in well-being can be noticed. Simply because they are not and cannot be.

Actually, it is the implantation (introduction) of the embryo into the wall of the uterus that doctors consider the beginning of pregnancy. And this is logical. If a woman is taking oral contraceptives or has an intrauterine device, implantation will not occur. Accordingly, pregnancy will not occur and will not be able to make itself felt with any symptoms.

Conclusion: it is useless to look for signs of pregnancy earlier than 6 days after unprotected intercourse. But after this period, you can already begin to listen to yourself.

Which Early Signs of Pregnancy You Can Trust

There are traditional signs of pregnancy related to well-being: morning sickness with or without vomiting, painful breasts, changes in taste… And most of them are really worthy of attention.

Patricia A. Yost

OB/GYN, MD

Even if you feel a little different than usual, it’s enough to suggest pregnancy.

But at the same time, these symptoms may have other causes. The real signs of pregnancy manifest themselves in strictly defined terms – this is due to the physiology, which we talked about above.

Therefore, if any change in your health seems suspicious to you, be sure to check how much time has passed since the alleged conception (or the first day of the last menstruation – the so-called obstetric period is counted from it).

Here are the most common and reliable symptoms that you are pregnant. Not all of them may be present specifically for you. But the more of them, the higher the likelihood that you are in a position.

1. Mild cramps in the lower abdomen

• Onset : 6-12 days after conception (4-5 weeks from last period).

When a fertilized egg implants in the wall of the uterus, some women experience mild cramping pain in the lower abdomen. It can last 1-2 days until the implantation process is completed. These sensations are also enhanced by increased blood flow to the uterus.

However, pain in the lower abdomen often occurs before menstruation, when the uterus is preparing to reject the thickened endometrium that is not needed this time. If you are not pregnant, after a couple of days these cramps will end with menstruation. But if the stomach hurt and stopped and menstruation did not come, you should be wary.

2. Spotting spotting

• When appears: 6-12 days after the expected conception, that is, on the days of the expected menstruation (4-5th week from the beginning of the last menstruation).

The process of egg implantation in the uterine wall can be accompanied not only by pain, but also by the so-called implantation bleeding. It is small and usually consists of small, light red or brownish discharge that stops within a couple of days.

Sometimes women overlook this symptom, thinking it is simply too weak menstruation. But menstruation cannot be “too weak”, this is important. If the monthly bleeding of your usual volumes did not come after the spotting discharge, you are most likely pregnant.

3. Heavy, painful breasts

• When appears: 6-12 days after conception (4-5 weeks from the beginning of the last menstruation).

This is how the mammary glands react to hormonal changes in the body that begin after the implantation of the egg. This is a fairly common and characteristic symptom. According to a survey conducted by the American Pregnancy Association, for 17% of women, swollen breasts were the first sign of their new condition.

At the same time, breast enlargement and soreness can also be associated with approaching menstruation – the so-called premenstrual syndrome.

4. Unmotivated weakness, fatigue

• When appears: 6–12 days after the expected conception (4–5 weeks from the beginning of the last menstruation).

During and after the implantation of the egg, the body begins to produce progesterone, a hormone that helps maintain the pregnancy. A side effect of its increased level is sudden weakness, drowsiness, laziness, unwillingness to do anything. Later, when the female body adapts to the changed hormonal background, vigor will return. But at the very start of pregnancy, weakness is most noticeable.

However, concluding that you are pregnant just because you suddenly want to crawl under the covers and do nothing is not worth it. Unmotivated fatigue can have dozens of different reasons – from banal overwork or ordinary SARS to much more dangerous diseases. Keep monitoring your condition.

5. Delayed period

• When appears: about 14 days after conception (5-6 weeks from the beginning of the last menstruation) with a normal 28-day cycle.

Absence of menstruation is the key and most understandable symptom of pregnancy. Nearly 30% of women surveyed by the American Pregnancy Association said it was what made them take the test.

Nevertheless, the delay in menstruation is still not an unambiguous sign. It can be related to a host of other factors besides pregnancy: stress, weight loss, exercising too intensely, jet lag, certain medications.

6. Nausea (early toxicosis)

• When appears: about 14 days after conception (weeks 5-6 from last period).

They like to show this sign in films so that the viewer understands that the heroine is pregnant. But nausea appears no earlier than 2 weeks after conception. Scientists do not fully understand what this process is connected with, however, they suggest that this is the body’s reaction to a changed hormonal background.

If you feel sick 3-7 days after sexual intercourse, it is more likely to be digestive problems, rather than early toxicosis, because at this time the level of hormones does not change significantly.

7. Sensitivity to smells

• When appears: about 14 days after conception (5-6 weeks from the beginning of the last menstruation).

This symptom is caused by the same hormonal changes as nausea. Sometimes it appears even before the delay of menstruation. For example, you become unbearable smell from smoking colleagues. Or he begins to feel sick from the aroma of his favorite flowers, perfumes, dishes. This is a good reason to at least buy a pregnancy test.

8. Bloating and constipation

• When appears: 6-12 days after conception (4-5 weeks from the start of the last period).

Progesterone causes some muscle relaxation. This also applies to the muscles of the intestines. For this reason, the digestive process slows down, feces remain in the intestines longer. Which often causes a bursting sensation in the abdomen and constipation.

However, be aware that bloating and constipation can have dozens of other causes besides pregnancy. Therefore, it makes sense to consider this symptom only in combination with others.

9. Frequent urination

• When appears: 14-21 days after conception (5-6th week from the beginning of the last menstruation).

In the first weeks of pregnancy, the body actively produces the hormone hCG. It increases blood flow to the pelvis, causing women to run to the toilet more often.

10. Increased basal temperature

• When appears: 14-21 days after conception (5-6th week from the beginning of the last menstruation).

Basal body temperature is measured in the mouth, rectum or vagina. It rises during ovulation – that is, during the period when the egg leaves the ovary into the fallopian tube. During pregnancy, basal temperature can also increase. But this happens not earlier than the sixth obstetric week.

11. Mood swings

• When appears: 7-10 days after the start of the delay of menstruation (from the 6th week from the beginning of the last menstruation).

Mood swings are caused by hormonal changes that a pregnant woman goes through. However, these changes increase gradually and become significant after a delay in menstruation.

If irritability, anxiety, tearfulness occur much earlier, most likely, it is not about pregnancy, but about banal PMS or stress.

12. Dizziness

• When appears: from 14-21 days after conception (from 5-6 weeks from the beginning of the last menstruation).

In the early stages of pregnancy, blood pressure often drops. This is due to the fact that the uterus requires more blood supply, the blood vessels dilate to provide the necessary blood flow, and the heart is not yet ready to pump the required volumes. The pressure decreases, this process is accompanied by dizziness.

However, dizziness can have other causes, including dangerous ones. If you begin to regularly “sickness”, consult a general practitioner or (if pregnancy has already been established) a gynecologist.

13. Accelerated pulse

• When appears: from the 8th to 10th week from the beginning of the last menstruation.

During pregnancy, the heart has to pump more blood to keep the growing uterus and fetus healthy. Therefore, it begins to work more actively. An increased heart rate is a common symptom in pregnant women, but it occurs already at those times when pregnancy is in most cases obvious.

But again, keep in mind that an accelerated heartbeat (tachycardia) can also occur for other reasons – for example, with cardiovascular diseases. In any case, such conditions, if they began to manifest themselves regularly, require consultation with a general practitioner, gynecologist or cardiologist.

14. Pimples

• When appears: as a rule, not earlier than the 11th week from the beginning of the last menstruation.

Increased blood volume and increased hormone levels increase blood flow. This leads to the fact that the sebaceous glands of the body begin to work more actively than usual. Acne is often a side effect of this activity.

However, acne has many other causes, so do not rush to write off pimples for pregnancy. You may be able to quickly get rid of them if you make small changes in your lifestyle.

Signs of pregnancy to avoid

1. Diarrhea

Liquid, watery stools are also sometimes considered a sign of pregnancy. But it’s not. On the contrary, you are more likely to become constipated in the early stages of pregnancy. Exclusively for hormonal reasons, which we wrote about above.

If you do develop diarrhea, it is likely caused by other factors: you may have eaten something that was not right, or you may have contracted a rotavirus infection.

2. Abrupt changes in taste preferences

There are legends about the love of pregnant women for peaches with herring or strawberries with soy sauce. But there is little convincing scientific evidence that women experience cravings for unusual flavor combinations during pregnancy.

Rather, we are talking about some changes in appetite associated with early toxicosis and sensitivity to smells. So, you may want to give up your usual coffee or fried foods – simply because their pungent smell will become disgusting.

However, there is still a craving for non-standard dishes. As a rule, it is associated with the fact that the body of a pregnant woman is deficient in certain essential vitamins and minerals. And he tries to cover their shortage by making the hostess want chalk (this may be a sign of iron deficiency) or, for example, pickles (deficiency of some salts) with raspberry jam (vitamin C deficiency). But such food perversions occur at solid terms of pregnancy, when it is already obvious.

3. Dreams about fish and other signs

But these options have nothing to do with evidence-based medicine at all, no matter at what moment they appear. Also, do not try to detect pregnancy with the help of fortune-telling and waving a ring on a string.

How to establish pregnancy for sure

To begin with, listen to yourself, but don’t go crazy. If you have a couple of reliable signs, invest in a quality pharmacy test. With its help, you can determine pregnancy as early as 10–12 days after fertilization.

If you want to clarify earlier, take a blood test for hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin). It can be done in any certified medical laboratory, and the results will be ready within a few hours.

Lia Moss

Nurse Midwife at Northwestern University School of Medicine

An hCG blood test can detect pregnancy as early as 7 to 10 days after conception. But be aware: too early testing can give a false positive result.

If the test is positive, go to the gynecologist. The doctor will conduct an examination and prescribe a follow-up ultrasound to confirm your new position.

If the tests are negative, but the symptoms of pregnancy seem obvious to you, repeat the test in 1-2 days. And if necessary – again after the same period of time.

By the way, a negative result in this case will also be a result. If the signs of pregnancy persist or increase, and the test claims that there is no embryo in your body, this is a serious reason to see a gynecologist again. There are hormonal diseases that give symptoms similar to pregnancy. And it’s important not to miss them.

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diarrhea is a sign of pregnancy before a delay – 25 recommendations on Babyblog.ru

The first signs of pregnancy appear within 5-10 days after conception.

Many women feel the onset of pregnancy intuitively, even before the appearance of any noticeable manifestations of it. However, you should not rely entirely on your own intuition. And so we have prepared for you a description of the most common signs of conception, which, as a rule, make themselves felt even before the delay in menstruation.

Toxicosis (nausea, vomiting).

Hormonal changes in the body primarily affect the digestive system. Because of this, the first signs of toxicosis may appear as early as 5-7 days after conception. In rare cases, toxicosis begins within 2-3 days, however, due to the absence of any pronounced symptoms, it is often confused with ordinary food poisoning.

Indigestion.

Often occurs simultaneously with toxicosis, which may cause some discomfort. May be accompanied by severe diarrhea, heartburn, bloating, flatulence. Far from the most obvious sign of pregnancy. It appears less frequently than toxicosis.

Dizziness, sudden drop in blood pressure.

Clinical cases are known when this symptom appeared 1-2 days after conception. The reason also lies in hormonal changes. Women with low blood pressure may even pass out! Sudden attacks of dizziness (especially if you have not suffered from them before) – one of the surest signs of pregnancy .

Change in rectal temperature .

In the first days after conception, the pituitary gland produces a large amount of hormones that cause a noticeable jump in body temperature. The disadvantage of this sign is that it is possible to determine the increase in rectal temperature only if you regularly monitor it.

General weakness, malaise .

Paradoxically, a fertilized egg is actually a foreign object in a woman’s body. And for the first time after fertilization, the body reacts to it, as to a normal virus – that is, starts producing antibodies. It is in the first week after conception that general weakness, malaise, and a slight increase in body temperature are observed.

Increased sensitivity of the breast, enlarged nipples, increased temperature .

One of the most obvious signs of early pregnancy, also associated with increased levels of hormones in the blood. Often the sensitivity of the breast increases up to pain at the slightest touch. Sign of pregnancy, characteristic of almost all women at 2-3 weeks after conception

. Swelling of extremities .

Usually develops towards the end of the first month of pregnancy. It occurs due to metabolic disorders due to hormonal failure. The consumed fluid is practically not excreted from the body, lingering in the tissues. Puffiness can cause rapid weight gain. If you have this symptom, you should immediately visit a doctor, as there is a real danger to your health.

Pain in joints, back. The result of changes in the skeleton.

During the period of bearing a child, the pelvic bones are modified, which can cause severe pain already in the first weeks of pregnancy.

Implantation bleeding. Intermenstrual bleeding (depending on individual characteristics, it can be both abundant and meager).

Appears 7-10 days after conception, when the fertilized egg attaches to the wall of the uterus.

Fatigue, nervousness, aggressiveness.

Hormonal surge provokes unmotivated aggression and nervousness. Against the background of increased fatigue, this sign of early pregnancy is often confused with PMS, which is not surprising, since the manifestations are very similar.

However, if the described symptoms occur during a missed period, then you are most likely still pregnant. As we can see, the hormonal restructuring of the body begins immediately after the fertilization of the egg, and its results appear already within a few days after conception

. And although some of the signs we have described are quite specific, many determine the onset of pregnancy only with a significant (usually more than 2 weeks) delay in menstruation. In this case, we recommend not only listening to your body, but also using much more informative and accurate medical methods.