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Most women do not experience discernable pregnancy symptoms at week 1, since many early pregnancy symptoms are similar to premenstrual symptoms
Since many early symptoms of pregnancy overlap with a normal menstrual cycle, it can be difficult to tell the difference between pregnancy symptoms and premenstrual symptoms, such as abdominal cramping, fatigue, breast tenderness, and spotting.
As these symptoms are so similar, most women do not experience discernable pregnancy symptoms at week 1. If conception is considered week 1 of pregnancy, even symptoms such as implantation bleeding or nausea may be so mild that they are easily missed or mistaken for premenstrual symptoms.
- Ovulation: 14 days after the start of the menstrual cycle
- Conception (egg fertilized by a sperm): 1-2 days after ovulation
- Implantation of the fertilized ovum: 6-7 days after fertilization
- Early signs of pregnancy: 1-2 weeks after implantation
Some women are confused when their doctor records the first day of their last menstrual period as the first day of pregnancy, but this is a common medical convention that makes it easier for doctors to keep notes of clinical examinations as well as plan sonographies this way.
What are early symptoms of pregnancy?
Every pregnancy is different, and not every woman will experience all the same symptoms. However, common early pregnancy symptoms include:
- Missed period
- Frequent trips to the bathroom
- Fatigue
- Morning sickness (nausea and vomiting)
- Sore (and enlarged) breasts
Less common early signs of pregnancy include:
- Food cravings or aversions
- Metallic taste in the mouth
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Cramping
- Mood swings
When should you take a urine pregnancy test?
While it may be tempting to take an over-the-counter urine pregnancy test (UPT) as soon as you miss a period, taking a test so early may give you false-negative results.
For more accurate results, it is best to wait at least 1 week after a missed period to take a urine pregnancy test.
Can a urine pregnancy confirm pregnancy?
With certain medical conditions that cause raised human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels, such as ectopic pregnancy or cancer, a urine pregnancy test may provide a false-positive test result.
Therefore, the best way to confirm pregnancy is to undergo a pelvic ultrasound at weeks 5-6 of pregnancy.
