is it possible to feel pms symptoms such as cramping and headaches and really be pregnant? or would it feel differently?

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Comment by Susan Cody on May 1, 2009 - 12:12pm

Hi Anon

Thank you for your question and for finding EmpowHer!

You bring up a very good point - pregnancy symptoms and those of PMS are indeed very similar.

Cramping, bloating, headache, breast pain and mood swings are all symptoms of PMS and early pregnancy.

One way to have an idea is the timing :

Most women do not get pregnancy symptoms until they are about three weeks pregnant, although there are always exceptions, of course. So most pregnancy symptoms would occur after their period is due, even though they may have been pregnant for a couple of weeks already.

The symptoms of PMS usually occur in the 7 days before a woman is due to start her period.

Do you think you may be pregnant?

Where are you in your cycle right now?

Comment by Michelle King Robson on May 1, 2009 - 10:30pm

Hi Anonymous!

Thank you so much for visiting the website and for posting your question here.

This is a great question and one that I think a lot of women have wondered about. Personally, I have found in talking to women that many felt that they were having really bad PMS times when in fact they were pregnant. And some have told me that they thought they were going to get their periods any second because of the mild cramping, etc., but then it never showed up and they took a pregnancy test and boom, they were pregnant.

So I would say that based on what I've had friends tell me, yes, you can have typical PMS symptoms like headaches and cramping and actually be pregnant.

What might be different for some women is maybe an added symptom that doesn't usually accompany PMS for them. Like I have one girlfriend who told me when she was pregnant with her first child she had regular PMS symptoms at first, but what made her think she might be pregnant is that when she showered the water hitting her breasts hurt so bad it about sent her through the roof.

Do you think you might be pregnant now, based on the type of PMS you are having? Are you close to having your period?

Thank you again for visiting the site, and if there's any way that we can improve it or if you have any suggestions, please let us know. Beat in health, Michelle

Comment by Anonymous on October 18, 2009 - 5:43pm

HI,
Ive been having on and off headaches, and nausea. Sometimes i wake up in the morning and feel sick to my stomach, or when im about to eat i suddenly feel sick. Now i also stated on another chat about my light bleeding. Ive came on twice this month and thats not normal for me. I also had what looked like a pimple around my areola, which was not normal for me. Im somewhat confused. Ive been angry lately and for what i dont know...Anyone which answers or advice please comment...asap...could i be pregnant or what?? i took a test and it said negative...so what could it be?? Did i take the test too early?

Comment by Alison Beaver on October 18, 2009 - 6:05pm

It is very possible that you can take the pregnancy test too early. Most importantly (to answer your question): when are you expecting your period?

I know it is strange that a woman can have this life-altering physical transformation occurring in her body...and she can't feel it!

PMS symptoms and pregnancy symptoms are so close to being similar, because the early stages of pregnancy and PMS are both controlled by many of the same hormones. After 2-4 weeks of being pregnant (again, at the time of a missed period) is when you may be able to distinguish the pregnancy-symptoms from the PMS-symptoms. Until then...a little more acne, a little more tender breasts, a little more/less moodiness could be attributable to either PMS or pregnancy. And...please know...many women do not even have symptoms and actually feel better during early pregnancy! (Also hormone-related). A home pregnancy test, taken once you have missed your period, will be about 99% effective at detecting any "pregnancy hormone" in your body.

This is how most women find out that their symptoms were pregnancy-related or PMS-related: after-the-fact. For instance, after a missed period (ah! that's why I was nauseous and moody, I'm pregnant!) or after a period begins (ah! I guess it was the fast-food take-out that made me feel sick, and I was moody because of PMS!).

That is the long answer to your question, but we need to know when you are expecting your next period? Are you trying to become pregnant, and if so, are you having frequent unprotected intercourse?

Sick-to-stomach, headaches, nausea, raised area around areola, moodiness...these are all changes for you, and could indicate a pregnancy, could indicate PMS, could indicate many other things (stress, poor diet, hormone imbalance, poor sleep, etc).

The light bleeding is not usually a sign of pregnancy. Some women experience "implantation bleeding" (should be called "implantation spotting"), but this is a one-time occurrence, unnoticed by many women because it is literally a small amount of blood, usually just seen on toilet paper after using the bathroom or on your underwear. Nothing that would be considered "bleeding". Women may have some spotting during pregnancy, but again, bleeding is not the usual.

If you are a few weeks late for your period, have a negative home pregnancy test, then you can call your doctor and ask about your symptoms and bleeding in-between your period. Home pregnancy tests taken after a missed period are very effective at detecting any pregnancy hormone (but not 100%). Light bleeding is experienced by many women, but would need to be evaluated by your doctor (whether you are or are not pregnant).

Does this help?

Comment by Anonymous on October 18, 2009 - 6:13pm

HI Alison,
Thanks it does help alot..but see to answer your question about my next period. See i came on at the beginning of this month and about a week or a week in a half later i started to spot. and i was thinking oh i couldnt be about to come on, i just had my period like a week or two ago. And that light bleeding turned into what seemed like another period, with cramping and i stayed on for about three almost four days...so could you help me a little on that.

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