Signs of pregnancy or menstruation imminent? here are 10 ways to tell the difference

Signs of pregnancy or menstruation (PMS) are usually similar to one another. Both pregnancy and menstruation can cause signs such as breast pain and stomach cramps. Maybe that's what makes you feel anxious once the next menstrual schedule is near. So, how do you know which are the signs of pregnancy or menstruation?

Come on, find out the difference between the signs of pregnancy or menstruation that often lead to errors in the following reviews.

Why are the signs of pregnancy and menstruation similar?

Signs of pregnancy and menstruation are similar because they both start from the same process, namely ovulation. Ovulation is the period of time when the ovaries (ovaries) release mature egg cells that are ready to be fertilized by sperm.

The ovulation period or also known as the fertile period is a natural process that healthy adult women experience every month.

Ovulation period generally occurs around 12 to 14 days before menstruation. The process of producing and releasing eggs during ovulation is regulated by a part of the brain called the hypothalamus.

Now, after the ovaries produce eggs, the body will start releasing special enzymes. This enzyme is in charge of forming a hole to make it easier for the egg to fall into the uterus through the fallopian tube (the tube connecting the ovaries and uterus).

An egg, on average, can survive up to 24 hours after being released. If you have sex within 12-24 hours of ovulation, there is a high chance of pregnancy.

The reason is that it is during this time that the egg can successfully meet the sperm to be fertilized. Fertilization occurs in the fallopian tubes and takes place about 24 to 48 hours after sexual intercourse.

However, if no sperm enters to fertilize the egg, the egg will die and shed in the uterus. It is in this process that the vagina will bleed as a sign of menstruation or menstruation.

How do you tell the difference between signs of pregnancy or menstruation?

Differentiating the signs of pregnancy or menstruation is actually not that difficult. However, not everyone knows what menstrual signs or pregnancy are correct and precise.

For more details, consider some of the differences between the following signs of pregnancy or menstruation.

1. Different breast pain

Common signs of pregnancy or menstruation both make the breasts swollen and painful. You will also notice that your breasts feel heavier and denser or harder to the touch. Apart from pain in the breasts, some women can also experience pain around the nipples.

This sign of menstruation or pregnancy is caused by an increase in the hormone progesterone in the body to prepare for conception.

Here are the different signs of pregnancy or menstruation in terms of breast pain, namely:

Signs of pregnancy:

Breast pain, a sign of pregnancy and not menstruation usually lasts for 1 or 2 weeks after you conceive. You can even feel the pain throughout the pregnancy, and only stop after giving birth.

Menstruation signs:

Conversely, breast pain is a sign of menstruation that is not only brief or only during menstruation. Reporting from Healthline, symptoms first appear 1-2 days before you menstruate, and stop on the first day you menstruate.

2. Different stomach cramps

The most common sign of pregnancy or menstruation is stomach cramps. Almost every woman experiences these signs of menstruation or pregnancy when she comes to menstruation or during pregnancy.

However, this does not mean that the signs of cramps that occur during menstruation or pregnancy are the same. To be more sure to distinguish between signs of pregnancy or menstruation, pay attention to the location and intensity of the pain.

Signs of pregnancy:

Abdominal cramps that indicate pregnancy are not a sign of menstruation due to the implantation of the embryo or zygote. This is why the pain tends to be concentrated on one side only and looks like a pinching skin. For example, if a fertilized egg attaches to the right side of the uterus, the cramps will be more pronounced on that side rather than on the left.

Cramps or abdominal pain, a sign that you're not having your period, also tend to heal faster. Usually these cramps during pregnancy begin immediately after ovulation and will subside in a matter of hours.

Signs about to menstruate:

Abdominal cramps, a sign of a non-pregnant period, are generally caused by the uterine muscles twitching or tightening. This makes the pain centered in the lower part, and it feels as if your stomach is being squeezed hard every now and then. The pain also generally radiates to the back.

If the cramps last a day or two, you may just want your period not to be a sign of pregnancy. Pain marking menstruation can continue until the last day of your period, unlike the pain of a longer pregnancy.

3. Different blood spots that appear

Abdominal cramps, a sign of pregnancy, are generally accompanied by the appearance of blood spots. These streaks of blood that occur early in pregnancy are called implantation bleeding. But unfortunately, this sign of pregnancy is often mistaken for menstrual spots or spotting on the first day.

Now, to find out which signs of pregnancy or menstruation, you must know how many spots of blood are coming out.

Signs of pregnancy:

Spots that are a sign of pregnancy generally appear only 1 or 2 drops, not much like menstruation. Blood spots that are signs of pregnancy that come out are not blood red like menstruation, but tend to be bright pink or yellowish.

Bleeding or spotting as a sign of non-menstrual pregnancy is called implantation. This can happen at any time in the 10-14 days after conception, and lasts only 1-2 days.

Bleeding as a sign of pregnancy will not occur continuously for more than 5 or 7 days, slightly different from menstruation that stops on the third or fourth day.

If this bleeding continues for more than this time, it is a sign that there is something abnormal with your health. You should immediately consult a doctor, as well as ask more questions about the difference in signs of pregnancy or menstruation.

Signs about to menstruate:

Unlike being pregnant, menstruation will not make you experience signs of spots or spotting. This is what really distinguishes the signs of pregnancy from PMS symptoms or menstruation in every woman. The new bleeding will come out after your period starts, not before.

You are said to be menstruating if the blood flow is heavier and lasts up to a week. Menstrual blood color also tends to be thick and dark red or dark brown, in contrast to the condition of pregnancy sign spots.

Apart from being different in color, the blood signs of menstruation are also often accompanied by blood clots or blood clots, unlike pregnant spots.

4. Different cravings

A higher appetite and the desire to eat something specific can also confuse women, is this a sign of pregnancy or menstruation? Changes in appetite as a sign of pregnancy or menstruation occur because your body is experiencing an increase in hormones.

However, if you are still not sure whether this is a sign of pregnancy or menstruation, pay attention to what you have eaten in the past few days.

Signs of pregnancy:

Cravings that are referred to as a sign of pregnancy are not menstruation, are more of a very specific or unusual change in appetite. For example, suddenly want to drink jackfruit juice, curry tutut, or duck satay.

In fact, you either never eat or don't like it. In addition, you feel that these cravings must be fulfilled immediately.

Cravings, which are signs of pregnancy, also make you lose interest or interest in your favorite foods so far, unlike menstrual cravings. Maybe you used to like salted eggs, but instead you hated them when you were pregnant because they made your stomach feel nauseous.

Some expectant mothers may experience this non-menstrual sign of pregnancy, so they really avoid or are more sensitive to certain smells or smells. To be sure, the cravings for pregnancy can last for as long.

Signs about to menstruate:

Meanwhile, cravings for foods that tend to be sweet or salty, such as chocolate, potato chips, or fried foods, are most likely a sign that your period is not pregnant.

These cravings for menstruation are not pregnant tends to make you want to eat chocolate or cookies on this day. However, the next day you want to eat something salty and savory.

One more difference between the signs of pregnancy or menstruation is the length of time it lasts. This increased cravings or appetite for food occurs because menstruation is usually only brief. After menstruation appears, the cravings disappear.

6. The difference between nausea and vomiting

Some women report nausea and vomiting in the morning before finally testing positive for pregnancy. While others also experience the same thing when their menstrual schedule is near. So, is this a sign of pregnancy or menstruation?

Signs of pregnancy:

Nausea or vomiting in the morning is more of a classic and indisputable sign of pregnancy than a period.

This sign of pregnancy is known as morning sickness. Complaints of nausea and vomiting usually begin a month after conception until before the 9th week of pregnancy.

Pregnant women in the second trimester, these signs of nausea or vomiting gradually subside. Some pregnant women can sometimes continue to experience it throughout the pregnancy. However, there are also pregnant women who do not experience this morning sickness at all.

Despite the name morning sickness, but this condition can occur at any time of the day, whether it's day, evening, or night.

Signs about to menstruate:

Menstruation rarely makes you nauseous or vomiting, on the contrary it is more common as a sign of pregnancy. However, PMS symptoms can sometimes make digestion uncomfortable, such as nausea, bloating, and diarrhea.

7. Different back pain

Both signs of pregnancy and menstruation give rise to back pain. To differentiate more clearly, differentiate from when it started and how long the pain lasted.

If you are confused with back pain related to menstruation or pregnancy signs, note the following differences.

Signs of pregnancy:

Not a few of the prospective mothers complain of back pain during pregnancy. However, back pain is not a sign of early pregnancy.

Back pain generally appears in the second to third trimester when you gain weight as the fetus grows in the uterus.

Signs about to menstruate:

Back pain is one of the more common symptoms or signs that point to menstruation rather than early pregnancy. The pain is concentrated in the lower back area and feels throbbing dull or feels sore that radiates to the calf.

Some women who have menstrual pain are severe enough to even report pain like being shot.

If your back starts to feel sore and achy closer to your normal menstrual schedule, then it's probably just a sign that you're about to have a period.

8. Different weakness

Towards menstruation, the body will feel more tired than usual. It turns out that this can also be felt early in pregnancy, so it makes you confused whether this is a sign of pregnancy or menstruation.

In fact, this sign that you are complaining of fatigue and weakness during menstruation or pregnancy is due to an increase in the hormone progesterone.

To tell which signs of pregnancy or menstruation, you have to look at how tired you feel.

Signs of pregnancy:

Persistent or long-term fatigue is a sign that suggests pregnancy rather than menstruation. It can even continue throughout pregnancy until finally giving birth.

A pregnant woman can experience extreme fatigue even though her pregnancy is only 1 week old.

Signs about to menstruate:

Meanwhile, fatigue or tiredness of menstruation signs will usually disappear immediately after menstruation, lighter than what pregnant women feel.

The key to overcoming menstrual fatigue or pregnancy is to give more time so that your body can rest optimally and adjust your diet well before your period.

9. Different mood swing-his

Change mood could drastically be a sign of pregnancy or menstruation. Both of them can make mood You change easily. You may become more irritable, irritated, angry, and cry more than before.

Let alone for big things, even trivial problems can easily ignite your emotions that were previously in good condition. Instantly you can feel so sad that you burst into tears.

You can check the difference in mood changes as a sign of pregnancy or menstruation in the following explanation.

Signs of pregnancy:

Change mood triggered by the levels of pregnant hormones that fluctuate to adapt to changes in the body. Mood or the mood as a sign of pregnancy is different when you are menstruating, which can occur for a long time. It may even really subside after giving birth.

Signs about to menstruate:

Mood swing or mood changes due to menstruation are not a sign that pregnancy usually does not last long and will disappear soon. Generally, these mood swings are felt a few days before menstruation and on the first day of menstruation.

10. Late menstruation

It is undeniable that late menstruation is the most important sign of pregnancy. On the other hand, late menstruation can also be caused by other things outside of pregnancy.

So how to distinguish which late menstruation is a sign of pregnancy or menstruation?

Signs of pregnancy:

Late menstruation at least 1 to 2 weeks from the date that should be accompanied by other characteristics of young pregnancy, can be a positive sign of pregnancy, not menstruation or menstruation. Especially if you have had a regular menstrual schedule, it's never too late.

Menstruation signs:

You are said to be late for your regular period if after 5 or more days you have not had your period since the date it should have been. Especially if the signs of menstruation are not followed by the characteristics or symptoms that are felt by pregnant women.

Late menstruation can be caused by ongoing stress, illness, drug effects, extreme weight loss, or diet changes.

Late menstruation or menstruation is not the surest sign that you are really pregnant. Especially if your menstrual cycle has never been regular.

How to confirm positive pregnancy?

Making sure you are pregnant is not enough just by looking at the characteristics alone, unlike the signs of menstruation or menstruation.

These various body changes are often misunderstood as a sign of pregnancy or menstruation. But on the other hand, these symptoms may also be a sign of certain health conditions other than pregnancy or menstruation.

That is why if you suspect that you are pregnant, you should immediately check withtest pack. The goal is to ensure that the signs you are experiencing are really signs of pregnancy, not menstruation or other conditions.

Test packs can be obtained at the nearest pharmacy, drug store, or supermarket without a doctor's prescription. Resulttest pack generally quite accurate, around 97-99 percent.

However, a new pregnancy can be detected by the toolat least 10 days after late menstruation. On the test kit, a line will appear that shows you are pregnant or not.

In addition to knowing the signs of pregnancy or menstruation, make it a habit to record your menstrual schedule every month to find out patterns. That way, you can find out the cause and anticipate it if it's too late.

Apart from test pack, You can also check with your doctor to confirm whether you are pregnant or not. Knowing the signs of pregnancy or menstruation deeper helps you get an obstetrician consultation on time. This is very important for young pregnant women because it is very risky with miscarriage.

In addition, knowing the signs of pregnancy or menstruation better can also anticipate certain health problems that may cause similar symptoms.

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