How early can u find out u pregnant

Chances are you already know you’re pregnant. Getting pregnant might have been emotionally and physically hard, and taken a long or unexpectedly short time. Everyone reacts differently.

Missed period

The first sign of pregnancy is usually missing a period, about 2 weeks after you’ve conceived. This isn't always reliable and if your periods aren’t regular you might not notice you’ve missed one.

Some women have a bit of bleeding as the egg embeds. Many women also experience tender breasts. This may be around the time they would have expected a period and can be confusing.

Home pregnancy test

A home pregnancy test is a reliable way of checking to see if you’re pregnant. You can do a test on the first day your period's due.

The test measures a hormone called human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) in your urine. For the result to be positive, your body must be making enough for the test to pick it up, usually about 2 weeks after you conceive.

You can get a free pregnancy test, support and advice at a sexual health clinic.

Find a sexual health clinic in your area

Assisted conception

If you’ve had assisted conception (such as IVF), you need to wait about 2 weeks after the transfer of an embryo before doing a pregnancy test.

When you find out you’re pregnant, you’ll have an ultrasound scan. From then on, you’ll have the same care as other pregnant women.

Dating your pregnancy

The start of your pregnancy's dated from the first day of your last actual period, although you probably conceived about 2 weeks after that. That means by the time you miss a period you could technically be 4 weeks pregnant if you have a 28-day cycle. But every woman's different.

Pregnancy usually lasts between 38 and 42 weeks. Your due date will be estimated when you attend your first ultrasound scan appointment. Most babies are born in the 2 weeks before or after this date.

When you know you're pregnant

As soon as you know you’re pregnant:

phone your GP practice and ask how to make an appointment with a midwife
stop drinking alcohol as there's no safe amount to drink
make sure you eat a healthy diet and start taking folic acid
be active every day and drink plenty of water to prevent constipation
stop smoking and don’t take drugs
you must stop dieting as you must not go on a weight-loss diet in pregnancy
tell your GP, midwife and obstetrician if you’ve had mental health issues before

Seeing your midwife early

Seeing a midwife as early in your pregnancy as possible gives you and your baby the best start. You'll be able to discuss how your lifestyle might impact on your baby and the choices you can make during pregnancy.

How you might be feeling

You might be feeling:

overjoyed and excited
have mixed emotions or not feel the way you expected

Maybe your pregnancy is a surprise and it’s taking a while to get used to the idea. Your partner can feel the same.

Talk about your feelings

Whatever your situation, it’s important to talk about how you’re feeling and make sure you’ve got support.

Your midwife's there for you, dads and partners too.

If you’ve got any worries or questions, the people involved in your care are happy to listen and help give you the support you need.

Your privacy

Sometimes young people worry about sharing their pregnancy with a professional.

Young people aged 13 and over have the same rights to medical confidentiality (privacy) as an adult and the same rights and responsibilities as all parents.

It’s important you're able to:

access the care and support you need and are entitled to
speak to an adult you trust so you can get the support you need during your pregnancy and once your baby's born

Your midwife can help you find out more about the support available from the NHS and other services.

Confidentiality

Your midwife or doctor won't tell anyone else about your pregnancy without your agreement if they believe:

you fully understand the information and decisions involved
there's no risk to your health or wellbeing

More about your right to confidentiality when using the NHS

Family Nurse Partnership

Most first-time young mums are eligible for support through the Family Nurse Partnership (FNP).

Specially trained FNP nurses:

work with and support first-time young mothers during pregnancy and their child’s first 2 years
can put you in touch with local young parent groups, where you can meet other young parents

The Scottish Government has more information about Family Nurse Partnership

Translations and alternative formats of this information are available from Public Health Scotland.

Many early signs of pregnancy can be nonspecific and easily mistaken for other causes. For this reason, it may be difficult to know when or whether to take a pregnancy test.

In this article, we list 11 early signs that can indicate a person should take a pregnancy test.

A pregnancy test will not show positive as soon as a person becomes pregnant. It takes time for the body to release enough of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) to show up on a test. This will be around 12–15 days after ovulation if a person has a 28-day cycle.

Some medical bodies suggest taking the test on the first day a period should have occurred. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notes that the results on this day may not be accurate for 10–20% of people. Instead, they suggest taking a test 1–2 weeks after missing a period. Some tests are more sensitive, however, and a person can use them earlier.

Another option is to wait at least 21 days after having sex without birth control.

Blood tests take place in a medical office, and they can show if a person is pregnant around 6–8 days after ovulation.

What are homemade pregnancy tests, and do they work?

If a person is pregnant, it is best to find out as soon as possible. Not only can they start planning the next steps, but there may also be health considerations and lifestyle changes to address.

Some people notice early signs of pregnancy, such as fatigue or breast tenderness, before they miss a period.

The early signs include:

a missed period
breast changes
light bleeding
cramps
nausea and vomiting
fatigue
headache
food aversions or cravings
changes in bathroom habits
mood changes
missed birth control

1. Missed period

Often, the earliest and most reliable sign of pregnancy is a missed period.

There are many reasons for missed periods, but if a person is sexually active, a missed period can signal pregnancy.

Most pregnancy tests are very accurate when taken after a missed period, but sometimes the hormone levels might not be high enough to trigger a positive result.

If someone misses a period and a pregnancy test is negative, they should repeat the test after a few days.

2. Breast changes

Breast changes are common in early pregnancy. These are due to hormonal changes that eventually prepare the body for lactation.

Common changes are:

breast tenderness
swollen breasts
the nipples and areolas becoming larger or slightly darker

Which breast changes are a sign of pregnancy?

3. Light bleeding

Around 25% of people experience implantation bleeding, which is light bleeding that happens when the embryo attaches to the uterine wall.

Implantation bleeding tends to be lighter and shorter than a menstrual period.

Implantation bleeding happens around 6–12 days after conception, but light spotting is not uncommon during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

4. Cramps

Cramps are common before or during a menstrual period, but some people also get cramps when implantation occurs.

If cramps occur around or before a period is due, but there is no bleeding, or the bleeding is much lighter than usual, it may be a good idea to take a pregnancy test.

How do I know if cramps are a sign of a period or pregnancy?

5. Nausea and vomiting

Morning sickness, or nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy, may start 2–8 weeks after conception.

Nausea does not just happen in the morning. It may occur at any time during the day or night.

If nausea happens for no apparent reason, especially with other possible signs of pregnancy, it may be a good idea to take a pregnancy test.

6. Fatigue

Fatigue is a common symptom of early pregnancy, and a person may feel the need to rest or nap for no apparent reason.

It is typically due to changes in the hormone progesterone.

Fatigue typically eases in the second trimester, and the person may find they have more energy again.

7. Headache

Hormonal changes may also trigger headaches in early pregnancy. They typically ease over time.

A person can take paracetamol for a short time to treat a headache, but it is best to check with a doctor or midwife first. Other pain relief drugs may not be safe to take.

From week 20 of pregnancy and after, headaches can be a sign of preeclampsia, a potentially life threatening condition that needs urgent medical attention.

What does headache mean in pregnancy, and how can I manage it?

8. Food aversions or cravings

Unusual cravings and food aversions are common in the first trimester, though they sometimes persist through the entire pregnancy.

Some people crave nonfood items, such as dirt or ice. This is known as pica. Anyone who craves things that are not food should consult a healthcare professional.

A person may also find they no longer enjoy foods they previously enjoyed or that their taste and smell become more sensitive.

Do food cravings only happen during pregnancy?

9. Changes in bathroom habits

Bowel and bladder symptoms can appear in early pregnancy. A person might experience frequent urges to urinate during the day and night. They may also have constipation, which affects 11–38% of people at some time during pregnancy, according to 2012 research.

In the early stages of pregnancy, the rise in hCG levels boosts blood flow to the pelvic area, increasing the need to urinate.

Learn more about frequent urination in pregnancy.

10. Feeling “different” and mood changes

Anecdotal evidence suggests many pregnant people report feeling “different” early in pregnancy, with some feeling an awareness that they are pregnant before taking a test. However, there is no scientific evidence to confirm this.

Physiological and hormonal changes during pregnancy may cause a person to feel different. Feeling different may also be due to mood changes, which can begin within a few weeks after conception.

Anyone who believes that they may be pregnant should take a test for confirmation.

Is it premenstrual syndrome or pregnancy?

11. Missed birth control

A person should consider taking a pregnancy test if they are sexually active and have not used birth control within the last month.

Many birth control options effectively prevent pregnancy, but a broken condom or missed birth control pill can increase the chance of conception.

Pregnancy tests work by detecting the hormone hCG, which the body starts producing after conception. According to 2014 research, hCG is detectable in the blood around 8 days after conception. As the pregnancy progresses, levels rise by around 50% a day. HGC is detectable in urine a few days later than in the blood.

Tests for home use are urine tests. A person will need to go to a healthcare facility for a blood test.

A range of pregnancy tests are available for home use, and some are more sensitive than others. This means they can detect hCG at lower levels.

Many tests claim to be 99% accurate, but experts note that not all of them undergo rigorous scientific testing. A person may also get a false-negative result if they take the test too early, do not follow the instructions precisely, or do not handle the test as the manufacturer intended.

Some medical bodies suggest taking a test on the first day of a missed period, but many people do not know when their period should arrive, for example, if they experience irregular menstruation.

When taking a test, a person should:

read the instructions carefully
ensure they handle the test as advised
try to avoid taking the test too early

The FDA notes that a positive test is usually but not always accurate. If a test is negative, they suggest avoiding alcohol and other substances that may be harmful to a fetus and repeating the test at a later date or seeking medical advice.

Why might a person get a false-positive pregnancy test result?

Some people experience menstrual irregularities, breast changes, and other pregnancy-type symptoms without being pregnant. These can happen for a variety of reasons.

Possible biological factors include hormonal changes due to another health condition. Psychological and social factors can sometimes play a role.

In rare cases, a person can have pseudocyesis, sometimes called false pregnancy, where they firmly believe themselves to be pregnant and have signs of pregnancy without being pregnant. This condition is not well understood and can happen for various reasons.

Anyone who has signs of pregnancy but is unlikely to be pregnant, for example, because of menopause, should seek medical advice. They may have a health condition that needs medical treatment.

If a pregnancy test result is positive, a person should contact a midwife or doctor. They can confirm the result with a blood test or schedule an early ultrasound.

If the person is pregnant, they should start prenatal care or discuss other options as early as possible.

If a person misses a period but is not pregnant, a healthcare professional can help diagnose any underlying cause.

The earliest sign of pregnancy is often a missed period, but breast changes, fatigue, headaches, and other changes can also appear within the first few weeks.

Anyone who has had sex without birth control and experiences early signs of pregnancy should do a test.

Anyone who has signs of pregnancy but is sure they cannot be pregnant should seek medical advice. The healthcare professional may wish to rule out other health conditions or provide treatment if required.