I got off my period, but the following week I was cramping and had lower back pain and eating a lot of foods that I wouldn't normally eat. Could this be a sign of pregnancy?

Hi Anon,

Thank you for sharing your question with the EmpowHER community.

Back pain is not a sign of pregnancy, but a potential side effect of pregnancy.  Increased appetite with food cravings can happen, but it is not a sign that you are pregnant.  Other factors such as stress, hormones, other medical conditions, etc. can change your appetite and make your back hurt.

Signs of pregnancy include:

• Absent menstrual bleeding or light/spotting
• Tender or swollen breast
• Nausea with or without vomiting
• Fatigue
• Food aversions or cravings

But even these symptoms aren't unique to pregnancy.  The best thing to do is to take a pregnancy test to find out for sure.

I hope this helps.

Be well,

~Gillette