What is the difference between periods and pregnancy symptoms

You could also have pica , in which you compulsively eat items that have no nutritional value, such as ice, dirt, dried paint flakes, or pieces of metal. If you have cravings for nonfood items, talk to your doctor right away. PMS: If you have PMS, you may experience dysmenorrhea , which are cramps that happen 24 to 48 hours before your period.

The pain will probably decrease during your period and eventually go away by the end of your flow. Menstrual cramps will often decrease after your first pregnancy or as you age. Some women will experience more cramping as they start to go into menopause. Pregnancy: Early in pregnancy, you may experience mild or light cramping. The best way to tell the difference between symptoms of PMS and early pregnancy is to take a pregnancy test.

If you have questions or concerns about any of your symptoms, be sure to see your doctor. Read this article in Spanish. At week 4 of pregnancy, you may not have many symptoms yet and the ones do have may be confused with premenstrual syndrome. Learn more. What are the telltale early symptoms of pregnancy? Every person is different, but here are a few top signs. Now that your baby is the size of a blueberry, find out what else you should know.

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Many women claim to still get their period during early pregnancy, but is this possible? Hormonal changes are a common cause of constipation in women. The fluctuations can slow down bowel movements. Research suggests that constipation affects up to 38 percent of women during pregnancy, but it also affects many women just before their periods. Pregnant women are most likely to have constipation in the first two trimesters, while women with PMS-related bowel problems typically experience relief after their periods begin.

However, in people with PMS, breast-related symptoms are usually most significant just before a menstrual period, and they typically get better during the period or just after it ends. In early pregnancy, the breasts may feel particularly tender to the touch, and they often get heavier. The area around the nipple may sting or feel sore.

Some women also develop more noticeable blue veins near the surface of the breasts. Breast symptoms during pregnancy begin 1 or 2 weeks after conception and may persist until childbirth. The hormone progesterone contributes to tiredness and fatigue before a period. Fatigue typically goes away once the period begins. For women with heavy periods, excessive tiredness can last throughout the period. It may also be a sign of iron-deficiency anemia. Fatigue is also a common symptom of early pregnancy.

It often persists throughout the first trimester, and some women feel tired for the full 9 months. Difficulty sleeping and frequent nighttime urination can make pregnancy fatigue worse. Light spotting or bleeding can occur in early pregnancy. This is called implantation bleeding, and it typically occurs 10—14 days after fertilization. Many women do not experience implantation bleeding. Others may not notice it. It is much lighter than menstruation. PMS does not typically cause spotting, although a period can be very light on the first day.

Usually, menstrual bleeding lasts for 4 or 5 days , and it causes more significant blood loss than the spotting of implantation. Cramping is common in both PMS and early pregnancy. Early pregnancy cramps are similar to menstrual cramps, but they can occur lower down in the stomach.

These cramps may persist for weeks or months during pregnancy, as the embryo implants and the uterus stretches. Hormonal changes can cause both headaches and back pain in early pregnancy and before the menstrual period. Increased appetite and food cravings are common symptoms of pregnancy, but they can also occur with PMS.

Many people with PMS experience increased appetite and cravings for sweet or fatty foods, or carbohydrate-rich meals.

Nausea is also a symptom that can accompany pregnancy and is often not experienced with PMS. Some of the most common things to cause a change in the usual pattern can be fluctuations in your weight, hyper- or hypothyroidism , extreme stress and extreme exercise. Some hormonal methods of contraception can also affect your periods. There is a medical condition called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome , or PCOS, where women often stop getting their periods or have irregular cycles.

There are many treatment options to prevent this from happening. If your test is negative, your doctor can help further investigate the cause for your symptoms.

If your test is positive, make an appointment with your health care provider to confirm your pregnancy. Fetal development begins even before you may know you are pregnant. By Regan Olsson , Contributing Writer. Jun 16, Teach Me.