How to Determine Pregnancy Without a Pregnancy Test

If you think you might be pregnant, you should take a home pregnancy test and schedule an appointment with your doctor to confirm – this is the only way to be sure. Before you do those things, though, there are some warning signs you can pay attention to. Some symptoms start within a week of conception, so you can tell when you’re pregnant fairly early. Every woman’s body is different, you may have all, or none, or just a few of these signs. See your doctor to confirm if you are pregnant.

Table of Contents

Check for Changes in Hormones

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Pay attention to your menstrual cycle. Pregnant women will not menstruate during pregnancy. If you miss your period, this is often the clearest indicator that you are pregnant. However, you can also miss your period for other reasons, like stress or even extreme exercise. ^{[1] X Cleveland Clinic Trusted Source Go to Source}

If you haven’t already, get in the habit of tracking your period so you can better detect when your period is late or missed.
All you need is to mark the first and last days of your period on the calendar. This way, you can see how often your period comes. There are also a number of mobile apps that make tracking your cycle more convenient and easier.

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Feeling of swelling or pain in the chest. Because hormones are released during the first trimester of pregnancy, you may notice some changes in your breasts. The breasts may be slightly swollen or painful to the touch. ^{[2] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

You may also notice that your breasts feel “fuller” or heavier. Nipples may feel slightly swollen, painful, or itchy. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

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Watch for bleeding or vaginal discharge. You may see some blood as the newly fertilized egg attaches to the wall of the uterus. Implantation usually takes place within a week or a week and a half after fertilization. This phenomenon can last for about three months. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

The bleeding at this time will usually be lighter in color than normal menstrual blood.

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Notice if there is any cramping. You may also notice cramping in the early stages. Most of the time, these pains are the same as when you have your period. However, if the pain gets worse or if you notice pain coming from only one side of your body, it could be a sign of a complication. Call your doctor right away if you suddenly have severe cramping pain. ^{[5] X Cleveland Clinic Trusted Source Go to Source}

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Pay attention to unusual tiredness. Many women feel extremely tired in the early stages of pregnancy. This symptom is usually caused by increased progesterone levels. It could also be because your body is making more blood to give to your baby. You may find yourself with early symptoms within about 1 week of conceiving. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

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Pay attention to how you go to the bathroom. Another early sign of pregnancy is frequent urination. ^{[7] X Source of Research} When you are pregnant, your body produces more of the hormone HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), which is a hormone. This hormone will be at its highest during the first weeks of pregnancy, pushing more blood to the groin area. Therefore, you will have to go to the toilet more. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

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Monitor your moody mood. Hormones can affect your mood a lot, just like when you’re menstruating. If you feel extremely moody, it could be a sign that you are pregnant. This symptom may appear 2 to 3 weeks after you conceive. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Watch out for Other Symptoms

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Pay attention to morning sickness. Morning sickness can come early in pregnancy. Despite the name, morning sickness doesn’t just happen in the morning. You may feel an upset stomach at any time of the day. You may also experience vomiting. This symptom can come as early as 2 weeks after conception. ^{[12] X Research Source}^{[13] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

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Notice if there are any smells or foods that make you feel uncomfortable. You may notice that you suddenly dislike certain foods or smells. It will come unexpectedly, and you will still feel fine before with those foods and smells. In fact, these foods and smells can make you nauseous. ^{[14] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

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Notice how hungry you are. Often, you will feel more hungry during pregnancy. If you notice you’re eating more than usual and still feel hungry, you may be pregnant. Some women describe this symptom as feeling hungry all the time. ^{[15] X Cleveland Clinic Trusted Source Go to Source}

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See if you can feel the metallic taste. Sometimes, women will experience a metallic taste in their mouth. This symptom is especially common in the early stages of pregnancy. ^{[16] X Cleveland Clinic Trusted Source Go to Source}

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See if you have any cravings. Like foods you don’t like, you may start to crave certain foods. Of course, everyone craves a certain type of food at one time or another. However, cravings during pregnancy will be stronger. ^{[17] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

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Check for breathing problems. At times, you may find yourself breathing harder than usual in the early stages of pregnancy. Usually, this symptom is very mild. However, if you notice you have this symptom, this is a sign that you need to see a doctor. ^{[18] X Research Sources}

Warning

If any of these symptoms turn intolerable during your pregnancy, you should consult your doctor to determine if there are safe ways to relieve them.
Many of these signs can also be symptoms of other health conditions, so you need medical attention to determine the cause. ^{[19] X Research Source}
Not all pregnant women experience these symptoms. In the early stages of pregnancy, you probably won’t have any symptoms, so get tested to make sure you’re pregnant.

Steps

Check for Changes in Hormones

Watch out for Other Symptoms

Warning

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