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symptoms of pregnancy

overview

you may be pregnant if you:

  • have had sexual intercourse and you have not used any method of birth control.
  • have missed one or more periods.
  • have your period, but there is a lot less bleeding than usual.
  • take birth control pills, but you missed a pill. it is especially risky to miss a pill early in the cycle or pack or to start your new pack a day or two late.
  • have other symptoms of early pregnancy. symptoms include:
    • fatigue.
    • breast tenderness or enlargement.
    • nausea or vomiting.
    • increased urination.
  • have done a home pregnancy test, and the result was positive.

if you have regular menstrual periods and are sexually active, you can become pregnant, even if you use birth control.

if you think you might be pregnant, do a home pregnancy test. if the result is positive, practice the following good health habits until you see your doctor:

  • eat a balanced diet.
  • do not smoke.
  • do not use alcohol or drugs.
  • avoid caffeine, or limit your intake to about 1 cup of coffee or tea each day.
  • do not clean a cat litter box to avoid the risk of toxoplasmosis.
  • avoid people who are ill.
  • take a vitamin that contains folic acid or a prenatal vitamin.

even if the pregnancy test is negative, if you continue to have pregnancy symptoms, it is a good idea to see your doctor to confirm the results. practice good health habits until you see your doctor.

related information

credits

current as of: july 10, 2023

author: healthwise staff
clinical review board
all healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

this information does not replace the advice of a doctor. healthwise, incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. your use of this information means that you agree to the terms of use. learn how we develop our content.

this information does not replace the advice of a doctor. healthwise, incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. your use of this information means that you agree to the terms of use and privacy policy. to learn more about healthwise, visit healthwise.org. © 1995-2022 healthwise, incorporated. healthwise, healthwise for every health decision, and the healthwise logo are trademarks of healthwise, incorporated.

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