How to Tell If You're Pregnant When You're Taking Birth Control
Pregnancy symptoms vary from woman to woman. The same woman can even have completely different symptoms with each pregnancy. Early signs of pregnancy are frequently mistaken for other conditions and thus a woman with plenty of symptoms can still be surprised when a pregnancy test turns up positive. If it is too soon to take a pregnancy test and you are wondering if you could be pregnant, consider whether or not you have experienced some of the early signs of pregnancy.
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Instructions
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Consider whether you have had minor bleeding recently. Breakthrough bleeding when your period is not due may be implantation bleeding. Implantation bleeding occurs when a fertilized egg attaches to the uterine lining and occurs six to 12 days after conception.
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Take your basal body temperature. A basal body temperature is your temperature first thing in the morning. You will automatically have an elevated body temperature during ovulation, but if your basal body temperature remains elevated you may be pregnant.
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Check the appearance and condition of your breasts. Changes in your breasts such as the breasts being swollen and painful may occur as soon as one week into the pregnancy. In addition, the area around your nipples, known as the areola, may grow darker.
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Evaluate how much sleep you are getting. If you are getting plenty of rest yet still feel exhausted and fatigued during the day, it may be due to your body's production of the pregnancy hormone progesterone, which can make you sleepy.
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Consider whether you have experienced light cramping recently. Uterine cramps can be the result of implantation, but are experienced by many women throughout the early weeks of pregnancy.
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Weigh yourself. Any sudden and unexplained change in weight may indicate the hormonal changes of early pregnancy. Some women began gaining weight immediately while others will initially lose weight.
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Consider whether you have felt nauseated lately. Although nausea is a common pregnancy symptom throughout the first trimester, it can appear as early as two weeks after conception.
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Tips & Warnings
Most pregnancy symptoms can all be caused by other conditions. The only sure way to know if you are pregnant or not is to take a pregnancy test.
If you suspect you could be pregnant, begin taking vitamins immediately. Some debilitating conditions, such as spina bifida, can be caused by a lack of certain vitamins at a crucial point. Folic acid is particularly important.
Cease taking all prescription medications, including birth control pills, if you suspect that you may be pregnant. Certain medications can result in miscarriage or birth defects if you continue taking them. Consult your doctor to find out what is and is not safe for you to take.
See a doctor immediately if you suffer severe abdominal cramps. This could be a sign of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, which could place your life in danger.
