How do I know I'm pregnant?

We all know the popular movie scenes: you pee on a test strip and a few minutes later it announces the joyful news – congratulations, there are two lines! Often only visible with a lot of fantasy. Nevertheless, it’s a signal of immense joy for those who want to be: pregnant. But what’s it all about? At what point can you tell that a woman is pregnant? And can you really only know for sure with a pregnancy test or are there physical signs early on? In this article, we’ll tell you all about the signs and symptoms of pregnancy.

What are the first signs of pregnancy and how can I tell that a pregnancy has occurred? By definition, a woman is said to be pregnant when, after fertilization of the egg (meeting of sperm and egg), the zygote (fertilized egg) has implanted itself in the lining of the uterus and developed into an embryo and subsequently a fetus. Pregnancy is therefore the time frame in which a fertilized egg matures into an embryo or fetus. 

Fertilization of the egg takes place in the first upper third of the fallopian tube after the egg is released from the ovary into the fallopian tube (ovulation). The zygote then travels through the fallopian tube into the uterus, where it implants in its wall. Before the zygote implants, the fusion of the two sets of chromosomes already takes place.

After implantation in the uterine lining, further cell divisions occur and the early placenta (syncytiotrophoblast) is formed. This part of the placenta produces the human chorionic gonadotropin, hCG. This hormone is important for two reasons. It signals to the body that no more eggs are to mature in the coming cycles, and it can be detected in the urine.

Pregnancy tests that measure the hCG level, therefore, allow the early determination of pregnancy even before an embryo can be detected with ultrasound. However, pregnancy tests have certain detection limits, sensitivity, and accuracy depending on the product. Since the hCG value also increases steadily at the beginning, it is advisable to test more than once to rule out false-positive results. But can I actually notice that I am pregnant without taking a test? Are there signs of pregnancy right after fertilization? You’ll find out when you keep on reading.

There are many myths and possibilities on the internet about how the first month of pregnancy feels. But what are the actual, scientifically proven signs of pregnancy?

• Nausea
• Tiredness
• Bloating
• Tightness in the breasts
• Headaches

However, these are all signs that many women experience before and during their period. For this reason, it is still advisable to take a pregnancy test just to be certain. This is recommended from 8 days after ovulation at the earliest. Often they do not become positive until later. 

Many women or couples who want to have children look for early signs of pregnancy or symptoms of early pregnancy shortly after ovulation. The first signs include breast pain, digestive discomfort such as diarrhea, constipation, and flatulence. In addition, dizziness, hot flashes, and headaches can be early signs of early pregnancy. Many women also report increased urination & discharge. All these signs and symptoms can also indicate pregnancy. This is even on the days before a pregnancy test is possible.

The first month of pregnancy is also experienced individually. Many women enjoy their pregnancy from the very first minute. Others struggle a lot with the symptoms and signs and first have to adjust to the hormonal changes. One thing is certain, however: if you have wanted a baby for a long time, no symptom or sign can take away your joy. Because these always remind you that new life is growing inside of her. In most cases, you’ll be happy to put up with the discomfort.

After these lists, many people are probably wondering whether it is possible to start a pregnancy without noticing it. That means, to be pregnant without showing any signs. And the answer is quite clear: Yes! This is also possible because it depends very much on how your body feels and to what extent you listen to it. It also depends on whether you are currently in a stressful phase of your life where you are not able to tune in with your body as much. Of course, as with any physical change, pregnancy can be overlooked or not consciously noticed. Every woman’s perception of herself and her body is different, and being individual beings we also experience every change differently.

One of the clearest signs is the absence of your period. However, some women experience a bleed that looks very much like a period but is often misinterpreted. Usually, it is not as intense and long as previous periods, but spotting is not that rare. However, this kind of bleeding is called intermenstrual bleeding. In most cases, it only lasts 1-2 days. It can happen due to implantation or hormonal changes. This happens due to changes in your estrogen levels and can occur several times. 

A common and often very distressing sign of pregnancy is nausea. It usually occurs in the morning, especially between the 6th and 12th week of pregnancy. Most women have to throw up in the morning and that’s why it’s usually referred to as morning sickness. In very rare cases, nausea occurs throughout the entire pregnancy. This is a heavy burden for the mother to be and can also have a negative effect in terms of food intake. These women should therefore be observed and treated by a doctor. Some women also experience pregnancies without nausea. That doesn’t mean that there’s something is wrong. On the contrary, you should be happy that you are not experiencing any nausea. Pregnancy symptoms are very individual and therefore there are no signs that have to occur or that are noticed in the same way by every woman. So if you are spared and don’t feel nauseous at all, simply be grateful and enjoy your pregnancy to the fullest.