Period pains can i be pregnant

This is called implantation bleeding, and it typically occurs 10—14 days after fertilization. Many women do not experience implantation bleeding. Others may not notice it. It is much lighter than menstruation. PMS does not typically cause spotting, although a period can be very light on the first day. Usually, menstrual bleeding lasts for 4 or 5 days , and it causes more significant blood loss than the spotting of implantation.

Cramping is common in both PMS and early pregnancy. Early pregnancy cramps are similar to menstrual cramps, but they can occur lower down in the stomach. These cramps may persist for weeks or months during pregnancy, as the embryo implants and the uterus stretches. Hormonal changes can cause both headaches and back pain in early pregnancy and before the menstrual period. Increased appetite and food cravings are common symptoms of pregnancy, but they can also occur with PMS.

Many people with PMS experience increased appetite and cravings for sweet or fatty foods, or carbohydrate-rich meals. Changes in the hormones estrogen and progesterone likely influence cravings just before a period. Research indicates that 50—90 percent of pregnant women in the United States have cravings. Many crave specific foods and have aversions to others, finding their sight or smell deeply unpleasant. Food aversions are much less common in people with PMS. Some pregnant women crave non-food items, such as ice or dirt.

The medical term for this phenomenon is pica. Anyone with pica should speak to a doctor. Some symptoms are more likely to indicate early pregnancy than an impending period. However, a person can only be sure by taking a home pregnancy test or visiting a doctor. Missing a period is one of the most obvious signs of pregnancy.

If a period is 1 week late and pregnancy is a possibility, take a pregnancy test. Many tests are highly sensitive and can detect pregnancy hormones several days before a missed period. While mild digestive discomfort can occur just before a menstrual period, nausea and vomiting are not typical PMS symptoms. They are, however, common symptoms of early pregnancy. Nausea affects up to 80 percent of pregnant women. Nausea and vomiting usually start before the 9th week of pregnancy. Typically, these symptoms subside by the second trimester, but some women experience nausea throughout pregnancy.

Morning sickness is notoriously incorrectly named. As most pregnant women can tell you, it can happen at any time. It is also a common early sign of pregnancy before you miss your period. A few weeks after conception, your body produces more estrogen and progesterone, causing nausea or vomiting. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists ACOG , morning sickness subsides after the first trimester for some women, while others have it throughout the entire pregnancy.

However, one of the most common early signs of pregnancy is extreme fatigue or exhaustion. Activities that never phased you before may tire you out, and you might want to sleep a lot even if you have gotten hours already. The body is producing more blood to support the developing baby, which can cause fatigue and increase your need for nutrients.

These symptoms usually last through the first trimester and can be alleviated by resting, eating a nutrient-rich diet, and drinking plenty of fluids. In the first few weeks of pregnancy, your breasts may become heavy, tender, swollen, or tender. Some women experience this symptom before their period, so it can be confused with PMS.

However, one thing that happens during the early weeks of pregnancy that does not occur during a regular menstrual cycle might tip you off. If your areolas — the circles of pigmented skin surrounding the nipples — may darken or even become enlarged. Some women experience spotting as an early sign of pregnancy. Small amounts of light pink or brownish blood may appear a week or so before your period is due.

This type of spotting is called implantation bleeding. As the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine lining, it can cause irritation and light bleeding. Sometimes this is mistaken as a period, but spotting is usually much lighter than a regular period. Another sign of early pregnancy that can be confused with PMS or a regular period is cramping. Prostaglandins play a role in the regulation of body temperature, inflammation, cell growth, and smooth muscle constriction and dilation.

They also trigger the uterine muscles to contract, which helps expel the uterine lining during menstruation. Prostaglandins are also involved in inducing labor contractions and childbirth. If your levels of prostaglandins are too high, it can trigger uterine contractions that are more intense. When the uterine contractions are especially strong, oxygen is temporarily cut off to parts of the muscle, which can lead to painful period cramps.

Teens can experience worse period cramps because they naturally have higher levels of prostaglandins. As they get older and these levels decrease, the intensity of their cramps can also lessen. Some people also have easier, less painful periods after they give birth. Period cramps that are caused by the normal activity of prostaglandins are called primary dysmenorrhea. This type of painful period should not negatively impact your fertility. Period cramps that are caused or worsened by other diseases or abnormalities of the reproductive system are called secondary dysmenorrhea.

It's this type of painful period that can be associated with trouble getting pregnant. Within the context of secondary dysmenorrhea, menstrual cramps can be caused by diseases that impact fertility. Some of these diseases develop over time, meaning you might not have symptoms right away or you might develop worsening symptoms as time goes on.

There are several reproductive health conditions that can affect your periods and fertility. Endometriosis is notorious for causing painful periods and possible infertility. With this condition, a type of tissue that is similar to the endometrium the tissue that usually lines the uterus grows in places outside of the uterus where it shouldn't.

This tissue responds to monthly hormone variation and bleeds often leading to scar tissue and pain. The condition often goes undiagnosed and untreated for years, if not decades. Adenomyosis is when the endometrium grows within and into the muscle of the uterus. This is different from endometriosis, where endometrium-like tissue grows outside of the uterus. Adenomyosis can cause painful and heavy periods. Fibroids are muscular growths that can occur in or on the uterus, cervix, and even pelvic ligaments.

They are typically benign and tend to grow during the reproductive years. Many people never know they have fibroids. However, the growths occasionally can cause pain, reduced fertility, and possibly increase the risk of miscarriage. Another possible cause of bad menstrual cramps that can also impact your fertility is pelvic inflammatory disease PID.

PID is caused by an infection in the reproductive organs, often an untreated or under-treated sexually transmitted infection. PID leads to the formation of scar tissue , which often looks like webbing between the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus. PID is the most common cause of blocked fallopian tubes. Pelvic pain can also occur when you are not expecting your period. For example, some people experience ovulation pain. Pain during ovulation is not normal if it interferes with your daily life and causes painful sexual intercourse, or if it is sudden and severe.

Ovulation pain can be so severe in some women that it prevents them from having sex when they are most likely to conceive. If you're trying to get pregnant, and pain is preventing you from having sex, that can certainly lower your odds of conception.

However, some people experience painful intercourse no matter what time of the month it is. Sex should not hurt. If you have recurrent, persistent, or severe pain with sexual intercourse or during ovulation, talk to your doctor.