What are the differences between discharge before menstruation and during pregnancy?

Every girl faces puberty. After this, “adult” processes begin in the child’s body. For example, your period comes. This is a clear sign that the girl has become a girl and is ready for pregnancy. In any case, fertilization of the egg becomes possible.

PMS or pregnancy - how to distinguish these two states of the body? How are they different from each other? How are they characterized? We will have to understand all this further. In reality, everything is not as difficult as it might seem initially. In any case, every woman will be able to quickly distinguish premenstrual syndrome from pregnancy over time.

PMS is...

First, let's find out what we have to deal with. Let's start with premenstrual syndrome.

PMS or pregnancy? It is difficult to distinguish these two conditions in the early stages of an “interesting situation”.

The fact is that premenstrual syndrome is a phenomenon that is observed in most women before their critical days. Usually starts a week before the “red days of the calendar”.

Its manifestation can be expressed in different ways. Most often, women experience mood swings and irritability. The same symptoms are observed in pregnant women. Therefore, next we will find out how to distinguish PMS from an “interesting situation.”

Delayed PMS and its causes

Premenstrual syndrome is a complex of physical and psychological symptoms that appear 3-5-7 days before the start of a new cyclic process. Sometimes PMS may be delayed for up to 5 days; this condition is not considered a pathology and most often returns to normal without consequences.

PMS forms

The following forms of PMS have been identified:

• neuropsychic, which is expressed in aggressiveness and irritability;
• edematous, when there is swelling and tenderness of the chest, swelling of the face, pain in the lower abdomen and lower back;
• crisis, accompanied by high blood pressure, palpitations, pressing pain in the heart;
• cephalgic, characterized by severe throbbing headache with normal pressure, profuse sweating, especially at night;
• atypical, which consists of a combination of symptoms of different forms.

The forms of PMS are different and manifest themselves differently in each woman.
Delayed PMS is caused by different reasons. The most common is a hormonal imbalance between estrogen and progesterone. In addition, the reasons are:

• sedentary or overly busy lifestyle;
• being overweight or underweight;
• stress, difficult life situations;
• previous abortion or miscarriage, inability to get pregnant, or, conversely, frequent conceptions;
• rare or frequent sexual intercourse;
• taking contraceptives;
• various diseases, infectious, endocrine;
• bad habits.

In addition to hormonal imbalance, the reasons for the delay can be: changes in life activity, weight, worries, previous surgeries, bad habits

Pregnancy. Definition of the concept

Premenstrual syndrome in girls appears shortly before the onset of menstruation. This is the body's signal about the upcoming menstruation. It is caused by the action of the human hormonal system.

Pregnancy is a consequence of successful fertilization of a ready egg. After sperm enter the female cell, a new life is born. After this, an embryo appears, which in the future will become a child.

Pregnancy is characterized by the absence of critical days. Symptoms of an “interesting situation” are generally similar to the premenstrual period. But how to distinguish one from the other? PMS or pregnancy in a woman? Let's consider the most common manifestations of the described processes.

Food preferences

It's no secret that during pregnancy a girl's body changes due to the action of hormones. Often a woman's taste preferences change. For example, a pregnant woman may crave sweet or salty foods.

During PMS, cravings for certain foods are also possible. This phenomenon is mainly associated with a deficiency of vitamins and minerals, as well as changes in hormonal levels.

Aversion to food in expectant mothers is often caused by toxicosis. Nausea and vomiting in pregnant women most often appear in the 4-6th week of the “interesting” position. This is due to the development of the fetus in the mother’s body.

That is, toxicosis almost never occurs before the delay of critical days. And the craving for unusual products (for example, chalk) is a consequence of a deficiency of vitamins entering the body.

Toxicosis does not occur with PMS. Unless in the form of exceptions for individual girls. When diagnosing pregnancy, you should not rely only on a woman’s taste preferences.

The first signs of pregnancy and their similarity to PMS symptoms

In phase II of the menstrual cycle, the level of progesterone in the blood increases, this contributes to the rupture of the mature follicle and the growth of the inner layer of the uterus.

If conception occurs, the fertilized egg exits through the fallopian tubes into the uterine cavity and is implanted into the loose endometrium (6-7 days after conception). To maintain pregnancy, progesterone remains at high levels. As a result, a hormonal imbalance occurs, which is the reason that the symptoms before menstruation and during early pregnancy are very similar:

With PMS, the main distinguishing feature of all common symptoms is their short duration. With the arrival of menstruation, the discomfort disappears. How long PMS lasts depends on the individual characteristics of the female body.

During pregnancy, general symptoms may intensify and accompany a woman until childbirth: breast and weight gain, etc. The main sign of pregnancy will be the absence of menstruation.

Breasts and their sensitivity

How to distinguish PMS from pregnancy before delay? This is very difficult to do. Indeed, at first, a woman’s “interesting position” is very similar to premenstrual syndrome.

During both processes, girls' breasts may become enlarged and their sensitivity increases. PMS or pregnancy? You can navigate by the duration of breast engorgement.

If a girl begins her period soon, the sensitivity of the mammary glands will increase significantly 2-3 days before the event. And during pregnancy, a similar condition accompanies a woman for almost all 9 months of the “interesting situation.” Sometimes even after childbirth.

Changes inherent in early pregnancy

It is impossible to say with 100% certainty what differences there are between PMS and pregnancy.

In the early stages of pregnancy, the body gets used to the new state, and a kind of fitting of the fetus to your body occurs.

If any errors or failures occur during conception, your body will get rid of the fetus.

This mechanism helps to bear only a healthy child.

How can you distinguish PMS from pregnancy before a delay?

Let's look at the situation and your feelings more broadly. We are trying to find symptoms inherent in pregnancy. What could it be?

1. Increased frequency of urination;

This manifestation is characteristic of both late and early stages. It is caused by changes in metabolic processes and hormonal balance, in particular, the production of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin.

Under the influence of hormones, the tone of the bladder walls changes, which causes an increased urge to urinate.

1. Toxicosis is the body’s reaction from pregnancy to delay, distinguishing pregnancy from PMS;

Its appearance is possible immediately after the attachment of the egg. After the first week, you may already notice signs of toxicosis (read: Toxicosis in early pregnancy>>>). With PMS, this phenomenon is excluded.

1. Bloody issues;

With PMS or pregnancy, differences of this type are significant.

• If such discharge appears between periods, this may be a sign of pregnancy;
• They differ from menstrual discharge in volume and color. They have a more scanty, spotting character and a longer period (from a week to two weeks);
• They are similar to the discharge of the first or last days of menstruation;
• The color also differs: it can be pale pink or brownish, in contrast to the scarlet discharge during menstruation.

1. The appearance of dizziness. It is caused by changes in hormonal balance and blood volume. As a rule, it does not appear before the delay, but is typical in the third and fourth weeks of conception;
2. Feeling hungry for more than a few days;
3. Increased sensitivity to odors;
4. The occurrence of a change in habitual breathing. The appearance of shortness of breath;
5. The appearance of an unusual taste in the mouth. The phenomenon is not common, but possible.

Feeling tired

How to distinguish PMS from pregnancy? In both cases, women experience increased fatigue.

If a girl is preparing to become a mother, then the corresponding phenomenon is caused by the action of the hormonal system. More precisely, increased progesterone. You can take a blood test and determine the concentration of the corresponding substance in the body.

Fatigue with PMS also occurs. After menstruation arrives, progesterone drops and constant fatigue goes away. Therefore, it is also impossible to navigate by this indicator.

Stomach ache

Before the next critical days, in the middle of the cycle, the body prepares for fertilization. A mucous membrane appears on the walls of the uterus. If there has been no fertilization, then the excess mucus begins to peel off. This causes pain in the lower abdomen. They are of a pulling nature. The duration of these can be up to a week.

The signs of PMS and pregnancy in this case are also similar. In the early stages of an “interesting situation,” the expectant mother may feel pain in the lower abdomen. But this is due to the attachment of the fertilized egg to the wall of the uterus.

The duration of abdominal pain during pregnancy is about 1-2 days. As we have already said, with PMS the corresponding phenomenon lasts much longer. Sometimes it does not leave the girl until the end of menstruation.

How to determine pregnancy and distinguish it from PMS

It is difficult to distinguish from premenstrual syndrome due to similar symptoms. All factors must be taken into account, not selective ones.

Before the delay

Before the onset of menstruation, the symptoms are almost identical. Every woman's body responds differently to pregnancy and PMS. The only right decision is to take an hCG test. Pharmacies sell options that can detect conception up to 4-5 days before the start of menstruation. The following symptoms also indirectly indicate pregnancy:

• frequent urination;
• morning sickness;
• implantation bleeding.

The woman’s emotional background also indirectly indicates pregnancy. During PMS it is mostly irritability and drowsiness, and during pregnancy it is sentimentality. A woman who experiences hormonal changes associated with conception has a wider range of emotions.

If your period starts

During pregnancy, bleeding may begin, which is mistakenly confused with the onset of menstruation.
The discharge is scanty, brighter in color, and lasts for several days. Their appearance is explained by the fact that the zygote attaches to the walls of the uterus, and during this implantation, damage to the small capillaries of the uterus occurs. Scanty and short-lived spotting is normal if conception occurs. And when these occur during PMS, it means that full periods will begin in a few days. Other signs are the same as for the period before critical days.

Symptoms and main differences

The symptoms of pregnancy and PMS are very similar. There are a number of signs that are the same for states:

• bloating;
• soreness of the mammary glands;
• feeling drowsy and tired;
• pain in the lower abdomen, or more precisely in the ovarian area;
• lower back pain (with PMS, it is caused by detachment of the mucous membrane, and during pregnancy, it is caused by the attachment of an egg to the walls of the uterus).

There are some signs that are characteristic only of pregnancy or only of premenstrual syndrome. At conception they are as follows:

• frequent urination (kidneys function more actively);
• toxicosis (a high degree of fetal metabolic products is observed in the woman’s blood);
• scanty bleeding (caused by the attachment of the fertilized egg to the walls of the uterus);
• change in food preferences (during pregnancy, taste preferences change more sharply than during PMS);
• hypersensitivity to smell, taste (analyzers begin to work harder during conception);
• an increase in the range of emotionality (with PMS this symptom is also present, but during pregnancy the range of feelings is brighter and wider).

Each female body has individual characteristics. In the early stages, determining pregnancy is problematic. Therefore, more often than not, self-awareness is the only clear signal that conception has occurred.

Back pain

Some note that their premenstrual syndrome manifests itself in the form of regular back pain. This is an individual feature of the body. PMS or pregnancy in a girl in this case?

As a rule, when the expectant mother has an “interesting position,” pain in the lower back and back appears closer to the middle of pregnancy. This phenomenon is associated with an increase in the load on the spine. As a rule, there is no way to confuse PMS with pregnancy at such a time frame.

Mood variability

How to distinguish PMS? In the early stages of pregnancy, as before childbirth, expectant mothers experience mood swings. Tearfulness gives way to laughter, mercy to anger and vice versa. Changeable mood is also characteristic of premenstrual syndrome.

It is worth paying attention to the fact that PMS has a certain difference from pregnancy in the emotional state of the woman. The fact is that the described phenomenon manifests itself to a greater extent negatively. With PMS, a girl experiences negative emotions: anger, hysteria, tearfulness, irritability.

If we talk about pregnancy, then in this case all emotions will be expressed vividly - both positive and negative. This rule is important for everyone to remember. This is the only way to determine from the emotional background whether a girl has PMS or is pregnant.

Differences in women's conditions

When the above changes occur, the question arises: how to distinguish PMS from pregnancy. Still, there are some signs of PMS and pregnancy that have differences in physiological changes:

Click to get 3 video lessons on healthy pregnancy and preparation for childbirth

1. Relationship with food;

• With PMS, the desire for more food consumption increases;
• After conception, there is a craving for new tastes and foods;
• There may be a special desire for salty foods and unusual foods. This phenomenon is due to the body’s desire to compensate for the lack of vitamins and microelements;
• There may be an aversion to food associated with the onset of toxicosis, which does not occur with PMS (article on the topic: Nausea is the first sign of pregnancy>>>).

1. With PMS, constipation or diarrhea is possible; constipation is inherent in pregnancy (see article Constipation during pregnancy>>>);
2. Breast enlargement occurs due to changes in hormonal balance. It is impossible to distinguish by this feature, but this can be done by the duration of the phenomenon;

• With PMS, breast size changes for several days, after which it returns to its usual state;
• During pregnancy, this increase becomes permanent. Therefore, if the breasts do not return to their usual state, then such an increase is most likely associated with pregnancy;
• The enlargement is accompanied by painful sensitivity, a symptom common to both conditions.

1. Fatigue occurs during PMS and pregnancy, due to an increase in the amount of progesterone. With the first days of menstruation, the feeling of fatigue goes away. In the case of early pregnancy, fatigue is felt periodically.

Important! You should not attribute the feeling of fatigue to conception, because it is often a sign of other diseases. If you have chronic fatigue, you need to pay attention to your diet and consult a doctor.

1. The occurrence of pain in the lower abdomen;

• With PMS, the lining inside the uterus begins to shed, causing pain. Such pains are characterized by more severe spasms, and everything is individual for each woman. Some have stronger cramps, others have weaker ones;
• In the early stages after conception, the appearance of pain is also possible. But the nature of the pain is milder and short-term (see the article Pulling in the lower abdomen - a sign of pregnancy>>>).

1. Nagging pain in the back;

They are typical specifically for PMS, because such pain during pregnancy mainly occurs closer to the second trimester, when the growing fetus begins to put pressure on the spine and with increased load on the support column.

1. Changes in a woman’s mood occur under the influence of hormonal changes. Although this phenomenon is inherent in both conditions, there are still differences.

• With PMS, a woman experiences more negative emotions: vulnerability, irritability, resentment, uncertainty, anger;
• With the onset of menstruation, mood stability returns, the intensity of sensual emotions subsides as hormonal balance is restored;
• During pregnancy, there is a change in pronounced positive and negative emotions. Irritability and moodiness last a long time;

Urination

The difference between PMS and pregnancy is so small that it is unlikely to be caught the first time. What other phenomena may occur in this or that case?

During pregnancy, there is a frequent urge to urinate. Typically, such processes appear 2 times - at the beginning and at the end of bearing a child. It's all because of the metabolism, which is disrupted after the baby is conceived. The kidneys work “for two”, which leads to frequent urge to go to the toilet.

With premenstrual syndrome, such an “event” is not observed. In other words, if your period has not yet arrived, and the girl already has a frequent urge to urinate, you can suspect pregnancy.

What is premenstrual syndrome?

Premenstrual syndrome or PMS is a special condition accompanied by certain psychological and physical manifestations.

According to statistics, 3-10 days before menstruation, about 50 percent of women of childbearing age notice the onset of PMS. During this period, women become irritable, may burst into tears for any reason, and also experience headaches and muscle pain.

Noticeable psychological manifestations - irritability, nervousness, even aggressiveness - become the cause of various incidents. According to statistics, most of the crimes, accidents and other incidents caused by women are committed during PMS.

Most often, premenstrual syndrome affects women whose health is weakened. Reduced immunity, chronic diseases, recent surgeries - all these factors can cause PMS.

It is also believed that women experiencing constant mental stress are also susceptible to this syndrome.

What are the causes of PMS?

Despite the widespread prevalence of premenstrual syndrome, doctors cannot accurately determine the causes of its occurrence. There are two main theories:

1. Cyclic hormonal changes. An imbalance between the levels of the hormone progesterone and estrogen, caused by various factors, is considered one of the main theories for the development of PMS.
2. Chemical processes in the brain. The amount of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine affects emotional and mental state. For example, not having enough serotonin can worsen your mood, cause fatigue, insomnia, and other problems.

Main symptoms of PMS

Most often during this period, women are worried about a combination of physical and psychological manifestations.

Physical:

• swelling of the mammary glands and increased breast sensitivity;
• nagging pain in the lower abdomen and lower back;
• headache;
• skin rashes (acne);
• constipation or diarrhea;
• nausea or vomiting.

Psychological:

• sudden mood changes;
• depression, irritability;
• aggressiveness;
• tearfulness;
• fatigue;
• drowsiness or insomnia;
• change in libido;
• difficulties with concentration, etc.

All of these sensations arise from an imbalance between progesterone and estrogen, and can be combined in different ways. For some women, PMS is accompanied by only minor pain in the lower abdomen, while for others there are many symptoms that cause severe discomfort.

If a woman constantly experiences severe pain and cannot do without medication, doctors diagnose PMDD - premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Most often, PMDD occurs in girls who have suffered severe physical or psychological trauma.

In any case, PMS symptoms disappear after the onset of menstruation or after it ends.

Bleeding from the uterus

PMS or pregnancy? It is difficult to discern the differences between the processes described. Especially if you don’t know how these phenomena manifest themselves.

Some women become aware of an “interesting” position before the delay due to uterine bleeding. It indicates the attachment of a fertilized egg to the uterus. Manifestation: blood smears in vaginal discharge. Uterine bleeding can last for several hours.

The symptoms of PMS and pregnancy are similar. With premenstrual syndrome there is no bleeding from the uterus. But menstruation is accompanied by heavy bleeding from the vagina. The process lasts up to 7 days.

Could bleeding indicate PMS? No. Spotting and spotting is a clear sign of pregnancy or some other disorder. Especially if they appeared about a week before the critical days.

Differences between discharge before menstruation and during pregnancy

Vaginal discharge is observed at different stages of the menstrual cycle. Depending on the individual characteristics of the body, the nature of the discharge before menstruation changes over time: the secretion may differ in color and consistency. An increase in the volume of leucorrhoea is observed before menstruation and in the event of conception.

Discharge as a sign of pregnancy

To understand exactly what the discharge should be like before menstruation if there is a pregnancy, you need to understand the factors that influence secretion. When expecting a child, hormonal changes occur in the mother's body, and progesterone begins to be actively produced. This hormone is responsible for preserving the embryo and makes the mucus denser. It is worth noting that the secretion may be transparent or light in color. This factor depends on the vaginal microflora and the ratio of lactobacilli. Thus, hormonal changes gradually affect the vaginal microflora. The discharge should not be accompanied by an unpleasant odor, itching or pain in the lower abdomen.

How to distinguish pregnancy from PMS?

Discharge before menstruation and during pregnancy are different. In the absence of fertilization, mucus remains liquid and transparent, in addition, its amount is insignificant and practically does not cause any discomfort. As for leucorrhoea during conception, it has the following characteristics:

• dense consistency;
• White color;
• abundance. Sometimes the expectant mother has to change her panty liner several times a day.

In addition, mucus during pregnancy may be accompanied by spotting in the middle of the cycle. A similar phenomenon at the beginning of the gestation period and before menstruation is not a pathology, but indicates the implantation of the embryo into the mucous layer of the uterus.

• hormonal imbalance;
• diseases of the reproductive organs;
• implantation of the embryo into the endometrium.

Also, during conception, the expectant mother experiences the following symptoms:

• changes in the acuity of smell and taste;
• mood changes;
• pulling sensations in the lower abdomen;
• toxicosis.

Brownish discharge that continues after menstruation and curdled leucorrhoea of ​​a yellowish hue require attention from a doctor.

What kind of discharge occurs when menstruation is late during pregnancy?

Leucorrhea with a delay in menstruation during conception is considered an indicator of fertilization that has occurred. Sometimes they are abundant. This is a normal reaction of the body, since mucus is necessary for the formation of a plug that will protect the embryo from negative external manifestations while it is in the uterus.

• spotting and spotting shortly before the onset of menstruation;
• creamy, curdled, foamy and purulent - characteristic of thrush and cervical diseases;
• abundant, mucous, odorless.

If leucorrhoea is accompanied by odor, itching and burning, you should consult a doctor who will help distinguish the pathology from the norm and prescribe treatment. This kind of discharge is observed in the presence of infectious and bacterial diseases of the uterus. The fact is that while carrying a baby, a woman’s immunity decreases, and the mother’s health is at risk.

• pink discharge instead of menstruation. They arise as a result of rupture of blood vessels after the implantation of the embryo into the upper layer of the uterus;
• nausea;
• swelling of the mammary glands, soreness;
• increasing taste and olfactory qualities.

The first sign of fertilization is considered to be discharge that appears from 2 weeks to two days before menstruation. The consistency of the secretion is thicker than usual. In case of pathology, for example, cervical erosion, blood is present in the discharge. In this case, they acquire a scarlet tint.

Important! The test does not always show a positive result in the early stages, this is due to a lack of production of the hCG hormone. If you notice a change in the consistency of your leucorrhoea shortly before menstruation, it is better to visit a gynecologist and undergo an ultrasound.

The amount and consistency of discharge changes while the baby is expecting. Leucorrhoea in the first trimester is necessary for the formation of a mucous plug, which will protect the baby in the womb from negative external manifestations. Over time, the secretion is released in much smaller volumes, and its quality indicates the state of health of the mother.

Differences between discharge before menstruation and during pregnancy - video

Toxicosis and vomiting

As we have already said, in the early stages of an “interesting situation,” expectant mothers develop toxicosis. It may be accompanied by vomiting. Not everyone experiences nausea and not always.

PMS is often characterized by a general malaise of the body. And nausea is also possible. But such a phenomenon is extremely rare. It is caused by the individual reaction of the body to prepare the uterus and egg for fertilization.

That is, toxicosis and vomiting are harbingers of pregnancy in the early stages. And PMS should not be suspected during the processes described. This is possible if each menstruation was previously accompanied by mild nausea.

What do PMS and fetal birth have in common?

Below you will find common signs that describe both pregnancy and premenstrual syndrome.

New food preferences

1. We are accustomed to thinking that during pregnancy, mothers eat a lot of salty foods. A change in taste may indeed indicate the presence of an interesting situation, but few people realize that this symptom is also characteristic of PMS. From this information we can conclude that the desire to eat this or that food does not at all indicate that this is the “machinery” of the fetus.
2. An aversion to food manifests itself in the initial period of the birth of a baby, and this is associated with toxicosis, which is caused by changes in the woman’s body. As for PMS, this phenomenon is rare and practically never occurs. Pregnant women suffer from toxicosis due to the fact that the fetus begins to actively develop, and all the bad substances from its body enter the expectant mother’s bloodstream until the fourth month, since it is during this period that the placenta appears.
3. An interesting situation is also characterized by experiments in food - the desire to combine incompatible products. It is worth noting that this symptom is common to absolutely all women, since they need microelements and vitamins.

Based on these provisions, we can conclude that it is impossible to distinguish between PMS and the presence of a fetus during a delay only because of what a girl eats.

What will the mammary gland tell you?

1. Various types of changes in hormonal levels always affect the mammary glands, so breasts can ache and swell both after successful sexual intercourse and a few days before menstruation. This means that it is very problematic to find out about pregnancy using this sign.
2. Breasts can still help a girl understand her situation. So, during the period of PMS, painful feelings are observed for a couple of days, and in the presence of a fetus, for a very long time, until the mammary gland prepares itself for lactation.

We also recommend reading: Polyps during pregnancy

Feeling tired

1. The initial stages of gestation are characterized by an increase in the hormone progesterone, so expectant mothers very often feel “lethargic.” In addition, this condition is caused by low blood sugar and low blood pressure.
2. In most cases, PMS resembles a successful conception, because the hormonal background at this time becomes very close to the hormonal background of the expectant mother. This is the reason for poor health and reluctance to do anything.

You can’t completely trust this feeling, but you shouldn’t ignore it either, because there are many diseases, the initial symptom of which is fatigue. A woman’s hormonal imbalance is one of them, which has serious consequences.

Ovarian soreness

1. The middle of the menstrual cycle is different in that at this time the female body prepares itself for implantation of the embryo into the fallopian tubes. It is then that the mucous membrane of the reproductive organ becomes thicker, and if fertilization does not occur, then this layer separates from the walls of the uterus and comes out along with blood discharge. This whole process is very often accompanied by pain. In the early stages of pregnancy, pain may occur due to the fact that the fertilized egg touches the uterine wall, which causes irritation of the mucous layer of the uterus. As you can understand, the presence of cramps in the lower abdomen can indicate both the presence of a fetus and PMS.
2. You also need to pay attention to the painful feelings that torment the female body. If we are talking about the presence of an embryo, then the spasms during this period are short-term and almost unnoticeable. As for pain during premenstrual syndrome, it is individual for each woman. They usually last two to three days, but in some cases they can last up to a week.

In this case, if you listen to your feelings, you can distinguish premenstrual syndrome from pregnancy, but this is not so easy.

Spinal pain

It is worth saying that this symptom appears only during PMS, and as for pregnancy, it worries expectant mothers only during certain months of an interesting situation.

1. Unpleasant sensations in the back area occur during premenstrual syndrome due to the fact that the bone marrow produces red blood cells at a time when the lining of the uterus is detached. The duration of this symptom can be up to seven days.
2. The early period of pregnancy is not characterized by pain in the spine, as it manifests itself as the fetus grows. Typically, such a feeling can occur to the expectant mother at the end of the second trimester of bearing a baby, and it continues until labor.

We also recommend reading: Early symptoms of pregnancy

Emotional condition

Pregnancy and PMS are similar in that women of the fair sex experience unpredictable mood swings, and such a storm of emotions is caused by changes in the woman’s hormonal background.

1. Premenstrual syndrome is characterized by the appearance of negative emotions: anger, irritability, depression, tears.
2. As for the interesting situation, in this case a positive mood can be replaced by a negative one and vice versa. This is due to the fact that the expectant mother becomes very sensitive and receptive.

How to diagnose PMS

Now let's summarize all of the above. PMS or pregnancy in a girl? How to determine premenstrual syndrome?

To cope with the task, a woman will have to listen to her own body. Usually before menstruation:

• irritability/tearfulness/hysteria occurs;
• prolonged nagging and aching pain appears in the lower abdomen;
• nausea is possible, but in exceptional cases;
• no uterine bleeding;
• sometimes there is back pain;
• increased fatigue and even drowsiness are observed.

In this case, hormone tests will be normal. Progesterone is increased, but only slightly. And after the onset of menstruation, this figure will rapidly decrease.

To rule out pregnancy 100%, you can do a test at home. Some pharmacy test strips are highly sensitive. And about a week before the delay of the critical days, you can see whether the woman is pregnant or not.

Important: Early pregnancy tests can be wrong. A false negative result before the delay is normal. This happens due to insufficient hCG levels in the expectant mother. This substance grows rapidly in the second month of the “interesting situation”, that is, after the delay of critical days.

Symptoms unique to pregnancy

Some symptoms are more likely to indicate early pregnancy than to indicate your period is approaching. However, women should only talk confidently about pregnancy based on the results of a visit to the doctor or at least after performing a home test.

The following are symptoms that are more likely to indicate pregnancy.

Lack of menstruation

Missing your period is one of the most obvious signs of pregnancy. Therefore, if a week has passed since the expected start of menstruation, a woman should take a pregnancy test.

Some tests are highly sensitive and can indicate pregnancy several days before your period begins.

However, menstruation may be absent for other reasons, including the following:

• stress;
• insufficient body weight;
• polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS);
• starting, stopping taking birth control pills, as well as changing their type or brand;
• problems with the thyroid gland;
• diabetes;
• menopause.

Nausea

Mild discomfort in the digestive tract can develop before menstruation, but nausea and vomiting are not considered typical symptoms of PMS. However, they often occur in early pregnancy. Nausea affects up to 80% of pregnant women.

Nausea and vomiting usually begin before the ninth week of pregnancy. These symptoms usually disappear in the second trimester, but some women continue to experience them until the end of pregnancy.

Changing nipple color

While nipples can change color both during pregnancy and during PMS, this symptom is rarely observed before menstruation.

During pregnancy, the dark areas of skin around the nipples can become not only darker, but also larger. Such changes can occur one to two weeks after conception.

Signs of pregnancy

It remains to study the early symptoms of pregnancy. This is the only way to understand whether a woman will soon be a mother or not.

How to distinguish PMS from pregnancy? With successful fertilization, the girl experiences the following processes and phenomena:

• nausea and vomiting (especially in the morning);
• aversion to smells, food;
• strange taste preferences;
• strong cravings for sweet and salty foods (this also occurs with PMS);
• Uterine bleeding may be observed (a couple of hours, not heavy);
• pain appears in the lower abdomen and back.

In general, the most obvious sign of pregnancy at first is a positive pregnancy test. It is usually carried out in the first days of missed menstruation.

You can donate blood for hCG. The level of this hormone will increase rapidly. This is a clear sign that the woman will soon become a mother. With PMS, hCG will be within normal limits. An increase, especially a rapid one, is not observed.

What is the difference

It is not always possible to distinguish PMS from pregnancy in the early stages. In the first days and even weeks, the symptoms of pregnancy are still subtle and can be interpreted ambiguously. Sometimes women interpret PMS as signs of an interesting situation, but the opposite happens. When waiting for her period, a woman does not realize that a new life has already arisen in her. Since there are no pronounced signs, and representatives of the fair sex are already accustomed to feeling such a malaise every month. It is for this reason that difficulties arise in determining the difference between pregnancy and PMS. However, there are still distinctive features, and further we will consider them in more detail.

Frequent urination

Frequent urination during pregnancy worries a woman at the beginning and at the end of her pregnancy. At first, due to the fact that the concentration of progesterone in the body increases, the walls of the bladder relax, and at a later stage the uterus enlarges and puts pressure on the bladder.

But for PMS this condition is not acceptable. Due to hormones, swelling may appear, which disappears on the third day of the menstrual cycle. Therefore, there may be a weight gain of 1.5 kg, which then disappears.

Toxicosis

Perhaps the main symptom by which one can recognize this PMS or pregnancy is toxicosis. The first signs of pregnancy occur after the fetal nucleus attaches to the wall of the uterus, but more obvious symptoms appear after three to four weeks. During this time, the baby's waste products accumulate in the expectant mother's body, which contribute to the appearance of nausea. Therefore, if nausea appears before a missed period, this may be a signal of a number of other diseases. During PMS, a woman does not experience this condition.

Bloody discharge

When menstruation arrives, women experience bleeding. However, even for the first time days after conception, this is quite possible. Since during the period of implantation into the walls of the uterus, a fertilized egg can damage small blood vessels, as a result of which blood discharge may appear, however, light and scanty. Whereas during menstruation the discharge is abundant and bright red in color.

In extremely rare cases, there may be pregnancy after menstruation, but in such cases, heavy bleeding most often indicates pathological changes.