If you are sexually active, your period is irregular and you do not intend on getting pregnant sometime soon, you may have had a pregnancy scare. With this in mind, it’s important to take note of the fact that many symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and early pregnancy are very similar. This makes it hard to determine whether you may or may not be pregnant before getting a positive pregnancy test. However, there are a few particular symptoms that are usually specific to pregnancy which can be helpful in indicating whether you may be pregnant or not. The only way to know for sure is to get a test and we also strongly recommend following up with a doctor.
Similarities between PMS and Early Pregnancy
Your body produces more progesterone, a hormone which helps sustain an early pregnancy, during the second half of your menstrual cycle. These hormone levels tend to peak about a week after ovulation, even if you don’t become pregnant. However, increased levels of progesterone can cause physical and emotional changes in your body. These changes result in certain symptoms that are common to both PMS and early pregnancy. These include the following:
Bloating
Food Cravings
Fatigue
Muscle Aches
Back Pain
Headaches
Constipation
Tender and swollen breasts
Increased Urination
Mood changes
These symptoms may make you feel anxious because you may be unsure why specifically (either PMS or Early Pregnancy) you are experiencing them. There are however, a few unique symptoms that are specific to pregnancy that may help reduce some anxiety if you do not intend to get pregnant.
Unique Pregnancy Symptoms Less Likely to Occur during PMS
The following are symptoms specific to pregnancy and might not show in case of a nearing period or PMS.
Darkening of the nipple: The expansion of the areola or nipples can occur as estrogen levels in the body increase. As the pregnancy progresses, it can lead to the darkening of the areola, which may remain dark, even after the delivery of a baby
Changes in cervical mucus: If a female-bodied individual has conceived, then the mucus becomes white, milky, and is thin. It could be sticky, as well.
Shortness of breath: If you are pregnant, the growing uterus will push up the abdomen which can limit the space of oxygen exchange. This can lead to shortness of breath.
Increase in basal body temperature: The basal body temperature (BBT) increases slightly between 0.5 and 1.5°F shortly after ovulation and continues to be high during pregnancy.
Implantation bleeding: If you are pregnant, you may start spotting anywhere from a few days to a week before the day you normally get your period. This is known as implantation bleeding. About 20 to 30 percent of female-bodied individuals experience it when the embryo burrows into the uterine wall. It is usually much lighter than a period, and can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Unlike a period, implantation bleeding isn’t red, it’s usually pale to medium pink or light brown in color — sometimes even pink-tinged mucus.
Peeing all the time: Pregnant kidneys have to work very hard to filter extra waste from the blood. This can result in the need to constantly pee. This can occur as early as four weeks after conception. In addition, if you are pregnant, your uterus has also begun to grow, and may be pressing on your bladder, triggering the feeling to urinate.
Smell sensitivity: Due to the increasing levels of estrogen coursing through your body during early pregnancy, it may result in a heightened sense of smell. This tends to appear in the first trimester.
It is essential to know the right reason behind your symptoms so you can plan accordingly. You can also take an online pregnancy quiz to get a better sense of why you are feeling certain symptoms. Here is a link to one. Another more accurate way to know if it is PMS or pregnancy is to purchase an at home pregnancy test. You can purchase one in various pharmacies, grocery stores, and general merchandise stores.
When Should You See A Doctor?
It is good to consult a doctor for any unusual symptoms or any concerns you may have with the symptoms.
If you get a positive result with a home pregnancy test, you should confirm with your doctor with further testing. If further testing yields a negative result for pregnancy, but your periods do not resume, then the doctor might perform additional testing to determine if there are other underlying conditions causing the irregular periods. If you are pregnant and are unsure of the next steps a, two great resources are Family Planning Center of South Central New York and Southern Tier Women’s Health Services. They also are great resources to learn more about what contraception is best for you!
Contraceptives and Safer Sex Supplies
If you don’t intend on getting pregnant but want to be sexually active, it’s important to consider contraceptives! There are many different types of different contraceptives so there can be multiple options for you. These include but are not limited to internal and external condoms, birth control implant, IUD, birth control shot, birth control vaginal ring, birth control pill, and the birth control patch. If you live on campus, you can order free safer sex supplies such as internal and external condoms, dental dams, water based lubrication here! In addition, you can also purchase Plan B from Decker Student Health Services for a discounted price.
On-Campus Resources:
REACH: Real Education About College Health
Decker Student Health Services Center | Room 119
Email: reach@binghamton.edu
Spring 2021 Office Hours:
Monday & Wednesday: 11:00am-6:00pm
Tuesday & Thursday: 12pm-2pm
Friday: CLOSED
Decker Student Health Services Center
Phone Number: 607-777-2221
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 am-3:45 pm
UCC (University Counseling Center)
Phone: (607) 777-2772
Open: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday
Off-campus Resources:
Family Planning Center of South Central New York
Phone Number: (607) 723-8306
Hours: Monday 9-6, Tuesday, Thurs-Fri 8-5, Wednesday 8-6
Addresses to buy at home pregnancy tests
Target: 3112 Vestal Pkwy E, Vestal, NY 13850
Walmart: 2405 Vestal Pkwy E, Vestal, NY 13850
CVS: 249 Main Street, 34 Court Street
Wegmans: 650 Harry L Dr, Johnson City, NY 13790
References
About the Author: Monishka Jhaveri
Monishka is a sophomore double majoring in Sociology and Philosophy, Politics, and Law. She aspires to eventually attend graduate school for a Master’s in Sustainable Communities and one day become a city planner. She joined REACH because she is passionate about promoting discussions on different health topics that relate to college students. She is on the Bollywood Dance team at Binghamton University and some of her hobbies include dancing, cooking, drawing, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family.