Am I Pregnant?

Sep 10, 2025 | Abortion Options | Pregnancy, Pregnancy, Women's Health

Am I Pregnant?

Missed Period?

Are you asking yourself, “Am I pregnant?!” If you missed a period and think you might be pregnant, don’t panic. You’re not alone! At PLL, our compassionate, professional staff can help you figure it out if you’re pregnant. We can also help you as you decide what your next steps are.

(Prefer the quick summary? Check out this short video to learn about common pregnancy signs and symptoms.)

It’s important to remember that a missed period can be the result of many different things, including stress [1]. So a missed period doesn’t automatically mean you’re pregnant. 

Missed Period?

Pregnancy Testing

If you think you might be pregnant, accurate testing is very important. You may have done a pregnancy test at home, but PLL provides medical-grade pregnancy testing – for free! – as part of our pregnancy evaluation. And it’s completely confidential.

At PLL, our pregnancy tests are lab-quality, high-sensitivity urine tests with instant results. They’re generally up to 99% accurate, and we do them here in our clinical (and private!) setting. You’ll know the results during your appointment – no anxious waiting!

Want to schedule a free appointment now? You can do that right here on our website!

positive pregnancy test

12 Signs of Pregnancy

There are a lot of different signs and symptoms of pregnancy in the beginning, and they differ from woman to woman. Paying attention to early symptoms of pregnancy is also important. Let’s look at 12 possible early signs of pregnancy.

1. Missed Period: A missed period is often the very first sign [2] of pregnancy. If your period is a week late (or more) [3], you might consider this a possible indicator of pregnancy. However, if your cycles are often irregular, this may not be a reliable symptom for you.

2. Nausea and/or Vomiting: Nausea – or morning sickness – is common in the first trimester. It may or may not be accompanied by vomiting. “Morning sickness” can technically be experienced at any time of day (or night). The severity of sickness may be different from one person to another. While we don’t know exactly what causes morning sickness, it may be due to hormonal changes related to pregnancy. Fortunately, for most women, it tapers off toward the end of the first trimester. [4]

Pregnancy Symptoms - nausea

3. Tender, Swollen Breasts: Hormone changes may also affect a woman’s breasts during pregnancy. Many women report breast tenderness and swelling. These symptoms typically last only a few weeks. [5]

4. Light Spotting, Bleeding, and/or Vaginal Discharge: Implantation bleeding may occur after the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine wall. Although it’s possible to mistake implantation bleeding for a period, there are some distinct differences. Generally, implantation bleeding will involve less bleeding than a regular period, and it will likely have a lighter color than menstrual bleeding. It also tends to last for a shorter time and does not have clotting. That said, implantation bleeding does not always happen in a pregnancy. [6]

Pregnancy Symptoms - cramps

5. Cramping and Pain: Cramps are a monthly occurrence for many women, but they could also be a symptom of pregnancy. Implantation cramps are different than typical PMS or period cramps, though. Implantation cramps would be present even after you’ve missed your period. Some women have described implantation cramps as feeling like pricking, pulling, and/or tingling. These cramps are typically not intense. [7]

6. Headaches: Headaches are such a common ailment that they really are not a reliable sign of pregnancy. However, some women experience more frequent headaches during pregnancy. Pregnancy-related headaches are often experienced in the first few months, which may be caused by hormonal changes. Since headaches are such a common ailment even outside of pregnancy, do not rely solely on headaches as an indication of pregnancy. [8]

Want to schedule a free appointment now? You can do that right here on our website!

Pregnancy Symptoms

7. Sensitivity to Smell: There is not a lot of science regarding a pregnant woman’s sensitivity to smell, but that doesn’t change the fact that many women report experiencing this. Heightened sense of smell (or sensitivity to certain smells) may also be linked to morning sickness. [9]

8. Change of Appetite: Are you suddenly craving certain foods? Or are you now grossed out by a food you typically love? Both of these are normal early pregnancy symptoms. It’s common for pregnant women to experience a change in their appetites – especially in those early weeks. Most women see food aversions taper off after the first trimester. [10]

Pregnancy Symptoms - change of appetite

9. Frequent Urination: If you’re finding yourself running to the bathroom more often than you used to, this could also be a pregnancy symptom. Because of hormonal changes, it’s possible this pregnancy symptom could show up before you even miss a period. Studies show that about 75% of pregnant women experience increased frequency of urination. [11]

10. Constipation and Bloating: Constipation and bloating may also be signs of pregnancy. Pregnancy constipation is “defined as having fewer than three bowel movements a week.” This can obviously lead to some discomfort, but there are ways to treat this. [12] As with many other signs and symptoms, hormones are the culprit for pregnancy-related constipation and bloating, as well. [13]

Pregnancy Symptoms - bloating

11. Mood Swings/Fatigue: Mood swings and fatigue are also common symptoms of pregnancy. Mood swings may come and go throughout pregnancy, but some women see these emotions start to settle after the first trimester. (Note that it’s important to talk with your healthcare provider about depression if you have a history of depression or find it difficult to cope.) [14] Fatigue – or feeling extra tired – is also a common early symptom of pregnancy. [15]

12. Heartburn/Indigestion: Heartburn is a common pregnancy symptom. However, most women experience pregnancy-related heartburn in the second and/or third trimester. Progesterone (a hormone) is likely to blame for this pregnancy symptom. [16]

Pregnancy Symptoms - heartburn

What now?

This is a long (but not exhaustive) list of “maybes,” but what comes next? Whether you’re overwhelmed, excited, or feeling anything else, our recommendation is to start with a (free and confidential!) pregnancy test here at PLL. Our tests are medical-grade, so you can rely on the results. This may also be followed by an ultrasound (also free!) to help you determine what comes next. (Read more about ultrasound importance on our website.)

Our compassionate, professional staff will help you as you navigate through the next steps – from learning about your options to finding resources to help you.

For many women, this can be an overwhelming time in life. Unexpected pregnancies can bring about a big range of emotions. That’s completely normal, and you shouldn’t feel badly about whatever you feel. At PLL, we want you to know that you don’t have to go through this alone.

Disclaimer: This website and blog do not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The information provided here is only for general understanding. This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

Looking to Learn More?

If you’re looking to learn more, we would love to chat with you. You can call, text, email, or DM us. Or you can just come by our office! But if you’d prefer to research things on your own first, check out these helpful links:

Want to schedule a free appointment now? You can do that right here on our website!

Sources:

  1. Amenorrhea. Mayo Clinic. (2023, Feb. 09) https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/amenorrhea/symptoms-causes/syc-20369299  
  2. Knowing if You Are Pregnant. Office on Women’s Health. (2021, Feb. 22)  https://womenshealth.gov/pregnancy/you-get-pregnant/knowing-if-you-are-pregnant#:~:text=A%20missed%20period%20is%20often%20the%20first%20clue%20that%20a%20woman%20might%20be%20pregnant.
  3. Getting Pregnant. Mayo Clinic. (2024, Mar. 13) https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/getting-pregnant/in-depth/symptoms-of-pregnancy/art-20043853#:~:text=Missed%20period.%20If%20you%27re%20in%20your%20childbearing%20years%20and%20a%20week%20or%20more%20has%20passed%20without%20the%20start%20of%20an%20expected%20menstrual%20cycle%2C%20you%20might%20be%20pregnant.  
  4. Am I Pregnant? Cleveland Clinic. (2022, July 26). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/9709-pregnancy-am-i-pregnant#:~:text=Morning%20(and%20noon,and%20dehydration.
  5. Am I Pregnant? Cleveland Clinic. (2022, July 26). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/9709-pregnancy-am-i-pregnant#:~:text=Sore%20(and%20swollen,tighter%20than%20normal.
  6. What is Implantation Bleeding? American Pregnancy Association. (n.d.). https://americanpregnancy.org/getting-pregnant/what-is-implantation-bleeding/#:~:text=Implantation%20bleeding%20can,than%20menstrual%20bleeding. 
  7. Cramp Confusion: Early Pregnancy or Period? Understanding the Difference. Hackensack Meridian Health. (2024, Oct. 22). 
     https://www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/en/healthu/2024/10/22/cramp-confusion-early-pregnancy-or-period-understanding-the-difference#:~:text=For%20many%20women,symptoms%20can%20be.
  8. Common Discomforts of Pregnancy. March of Dimes. (2022, March). https://www.marchofdimes.org/find-support/topics/planning-baby/common-discomforts-pregnancy#:~:text=Headaches,the%20new%20amount.
  9. Pregnancy and Olfaction: A Review. NIH. (2014, February 6). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3915141/#:~:text=The%20most%20consistent,pregnancy1.
  10. Am I Pregnant? Cleveland Clinic. (2022, July 26). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/9709-pregnancy-am-i-pregnant#:~:text=Food%20cravings%2C%20constant,you%20previously%20enjoyed.
  11. Why You Have to Pee So Often When You’re Pregnant. Cleveland Clinic. (2025, Feb. 18). https://health.clevelandclinic.org/frequent-urination-in-pregnancy#:~:text=There%20are%20two%20big%20reasons%20you%E2%80%99re%20likely%20to%20have%20to%20pee%20more%20often%20when%20you%E2%80%99re%20pregnant%3A%20added%20pressure%20on%20your%20bladder%20and%20pregnancy%2Drelated%20changes%20in%20the%20way%20your%20kidneys%20work.%20Let%E2%80%99s%20take%20a%20look%20at%20what%E2%80%99s%20happening%20in%20your%20body.
  12.  Pregnancy Week by Week. Mayo Clinic. (2025, March 6). https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/expert-answers/pregnancy-constipation/faq-20058550#:~:text=Pregnancy%20constipation%2C%20defined%20as%20having%20fewer%20than%20three%20bowel%20movements%20a%20week%2C%20can%20be%20uncomfortable.
  13. Pregnancy Constipation. Cleveland Clinic. (2021, October 19). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21895-pregnancy-constipation#:~:text=Hormone%20changes%20in%20your%20body%20during%20pregnancy%20and%20your%20daily%20habits%20can%20increase%20your%20chances%20of%20constipation.  
  14. Prenatal Depression. Cleveland Clinic. (2022, May 10). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22984-prenatal-depression#:~:text=If%20you%E2%80%99re%20pregnant%2C%20it%E2%80%99s%20normal%20to%20feel%20anxious%2C%20worried%20or%20emotional%20from%20time%20to%20time.%20But%20if%20sadness%20or%20anxiety%20is%20affecting%20your%20daily%20life%2C%20see%20your%20provider.%20Be%20open%20and%20honest%20about%20your%20symptoms%2C%20feelings%20and%20concerns.
  15. First Trimester Fatigue. University of Rochester Medical Center. (n.d.). https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=134&contentid=4
  16. Pregnancy and Heartburn. Stanford Medicine. (n.d.). https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=pregnancy-and-heartburn-134-10#:~:text=Many%20women%20who,play%20a%20role. 
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