OBGYN Portland ME

OBGYN

Some women will have guessed they are pregnant even before taking any tests. Symptoms of pregnancy can appear quickly and may include extreme fatigue, tender breasts (similar to how some women’s breasts feel right before menstruation), a need to urinate more frequently and, of course, a missed menstrual period.

Some women will bleed and cramp a bit and may think their period is beginning, when it is actually just the result of the egg implanting itself into the uterus. It is rare for a woman to have a normal menstrual period when she is pregnant, but occasionally this does happen.

Other women will experience no immediate symptoms, and this is normal too.

Home pregnancy tests are very accurate and easy to use. They will usually give results as soon as you have missed the first day of your period. They work by measuring the level of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in your urine. This hormone is released by the embryo into the mother’s bloodstream. The hCG levels are most concentrated first thing in the morning, so this may be the best time to take your test.

The hCG levels can also be detected by means of a blood test that can give you an answer before the first missed menstrual period, often as early as ten days after conception.

After six weeks’ gestation, pregnancy can be confirmed by a midwife or doctor with an internal examination. Changes in the size and firmness of the uterus and cervix can be detected at that point.

Click here to read full article from Mothering.Com