15 Ways to Tell If You’re Pregnant Before Taking a Test

Download Article

Natural ways to tell if you might be pregnant

Co-authored by Ali Garbacz, B.A. Medically reviewed by Lacy Windham, MD

Last Updated: June 14, 2024 Fact Checked

Download Article

Hormonal Changes

|

Other Symptoms

|

Video

|

Expert Q&A

|

Warnings

If you think you might be pregnant, it's important to take a home pregnancy test and schedule an appointment with your doctor to find out, as this is the only way you'll know for sure. But before doing that, you may be able to notice several telltale signs of pregnancy. Some of these signs begin within a week of conception, so it’s possible you may be able to tell fairly early on. We’ll walk you through the most common symptoms of pregnancy, as well as some that are less common but can still pop up regardless. Just keep in mind that everyone's body is different, and you may experience all, none, or only some of these symptoms.

Signs You Might Be Pregnant

A missed period is the most common and recognizable sign of early pregnancy. If your period is late by a week or more, you may be pregnant. Other signs include:
Sore, tender, or swollen breasts
Cramping, spotting or vaginal discharge
Frequent urination
Newly developed aversions to certain smells or foods
Nausea (with or without vomiting)
Fatigue

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Checking for Hormonal Changes

Download Article

1
Track your menstrual cycle and see if you miss your period. Pregnant people do not menstruate during the course of their pregnancies. Missing a period is usually the most obvious indicator that you’re pregnant. Nonetheless, you can miss periods for other reasons, such as stress or even overexercising. ^{[1]
X
Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- If you don't already, get in the habit of keeping track of your menstrual cycle so that you can better detect a late or missed period.
- Mark when your period starts and ends on a calendar. That way, you can see how frequent and long your cycle generally runs. There are also mobile apps that make it convenient and easy to track your cycle.
Because of the hormones released in early pregnancy, you may notice some changes in your breasts. They may swell slightly or be somewhat sore to the touch. ^{[2]
X
Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source} You may also notice that your breasts feel "fuller" or heavier. Your nipples may feel swollen, painful, or tingly. ^{[3]
X
Research source}

Advertisement
3
Look out for spotting in your underwear. You may notice spottings of blood during implantation, or when the newly fertilized egg attaches itself to the wall of the uterus. Implantation usually happens within a week to a week and a half after conceiving. This symptom can last for about 3 months. ^{[4]
X
Research source}
- Spotting is usually lighter in color than your menstrual blood.
- This type of implantation bleeding usually occurs around the time you would expect to have your period. ^{[5]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  Mayo Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  Go to source}
- Not everyone experiences spotting.
These cramps often feel like the ones you experience during your period. However, if they’re particularly intense and painful, or if you notice that they’re just on one side of your body, it can be a sign of a complication. Contact your doctor immediately if you suddenly experience severe cramps. ^{[6]
X
Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
5
Monitor if you’re feeling more fatigued than usual. Many people feel extremely tired in the early stages of pregnancy. This symptom is usually attributed to increased progesterone levels. It may also be caused by the fact that your body is producing more blood to account for the baby. You may notice this symptom as early as 1 week after conception. ^{[7]
X
Research source}
- Reader Poll: We asked 335 wikiHow readers about signs of pregnancy, and 56% of them agreed that they usually attribute feeling tired to a lack of sleep or poor sleep quality . [Take Poll]
6
Pay attention to how often you urinate. Another early sign of pregnancy is frequent urination. ^{[8]
X
Research source} When you become pregnant, your body produces more of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This hormone, which is highest in the first few weeks of pregnancy, pushes more blood to your groin area, causing you to need to head to the bathroom more often. ^{[9]
X
Research source}
- On the other hand, another possible sign of pregnancy is constipation. This can happen during any trimester of pregnancy, and it can appear as early as the second month of pregnancy.
Pregnancy hormones can do a number on your moods, just like they do when you have your period. If you’re feeling extra moody or irritable, it could be a sign you're pregnant. This symptom can appear 2 to 3 weeks after you conceive. ^{[10]
X
Research source}
Another early symptom of pregnancy is feeling dizzy or lightheaded. Mostly, this symptom is caused by hormonal changes. However, it can also be caused by a difference in how much blood your body is producing. ^{[11]
X
Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
Sometimes, a headache is just a headache. However, an increase in headaches can be an early symptom of pregnancy, due to hormonal changes in your body. ^{[12]
X
Research source}
The increase in hormones due to pregnancy can make your stomach feel bloated. You might also notice that you’re passing gas more often than usual. ^{[13]
X
Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Paying Attention to Other Symptoms

Download Article

Morning sickness can strike early in a pregnancy. Despite its name, morning sickness doesn't just happen in the morning. You may have an upset stomach any time of day and may also experience some vomiting. This symptom can strike as early as 2 weeks after conception. ^{[14]
X
Research source}
A common symptom of pregnancy is developing a change in food preferences or an overall decrease in appetite. You may start noticing you suddenly don't like certain foods or smells, even if you were totally fine with them the day before. Your aversion may be strong enough to cause you to become nauseous. ^{[15]
X
Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
Often, you will find you’re much hungrier if you’re pregnant. If you notice you’re eating more than normal and still find yourself hungry, you may be pregnant. Some people describe this symptom as a constant hunger. ^{[16]
X
Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
This symptom is especially prevalent in the early stages of pregnancy. It’s usually caused by a shift in hormones and is typically harmless—just maybe a bit unpleasant. ^{[17]
X
Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
During pregnancy, the ligaments in your body become softer in preparation for the birth, which ends up putting some strain on your back. Therefore, it’s normal to feel pain in your lower back or pelvic area when you’re pregnant, especially in the early months. ^{[18]
X
Trustworthy Source
National Health Service (UK)
Public healthcare system of the UK
Go to source}
Pregnancy makes you simultaneously avoid certain foods and crave others. Of course, everyone gets a craving for a certain food every now and then, but pregnancy cravings tend to be more intense. ^{[19]
X
Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
7
Monitor for any shortness of breath or other breathing problems. In the early stages of pregnancy, you may notice you get out of breath more quickly. Usually, this symptom is mild. However, severe chest pain or shortness of breath that doesn’t go away can be a sign of a serious medical complication. Call 911 or go to an emergency room right away if you have these symptoms. ^{[20]
X
Research source}
- To help with any shortness of breath, sit up straight, sleep propped up on a pillow, move at a slower pace, and rest when you need to catch your breath.

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

What are some common myths of signs you're pregnant?

Jennifer Butt, MD
Board Certified Obstetrician & Gynecologist
Jennifer Butt, MD, is a board certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist operating her private practice, Upper East Side OB/GYN, in New York City, New York. She is affiliated with Lenox Hill Hospital. She earned a BA in Biological Studies from Rutgers University and an MD from Rutgers – Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. She then completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. Dr. Butt is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and a member of the American Medical Association.

Jennifer Butt, MD

Board Certified Obstetrician & Gynecologist

Expert Answer

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 4 Helpful 8

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Warnings

If any of these symptoms become unbearable during your pregnancy, talk to your doctor to determine what can be done to safely alleviate them.

Thanks
Helpful 5 Not Helpful 0
Not all pregnant people experience all of these symptoms. In the very early stages of your pregnancy, it's possible that you won't experience any of these signs, so take a test to find out for sure whether or not you're pregnant.

Thanks
Helpful 8 Not Helpful 4
Many of these signs can also be symptoms of other medical conditions, so it's important to seek medical care to determine their cause. ^{[21]
X
Research source}

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1

[1]

Trustworthy Source

Go to source

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

Log in

15 Ways to Tell If You’re Pregnant Before Taking a Test

Signs You Might Be Pregnant

Steps

Checking for Hormonal Changes

Paying Attention to Other Symptoms

Expert Q&A

Video

Tips

Warnings

You Might Also Like

References

About This Article

Reader Success Stories

Did this article help you?

Quizzes

You Might Also Like

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Featured Articles

Featured Articles

Watch Articles

Trending Articles

Quizzes

Explore Categories