Every girl is faced with puberty. After that, "adult" processes begin in the children's body. For example, menstruation comes. This is a clear sign that the girl has become a girl, she is ready for pregnancy. In any case, fertilization of the egg becomes possible.
PMS or pregnancy - how to distinguish between these two body conditions? How do they differ from each other? How are they characterized? To understand all of this will be further. In reality, everything is not as difficult as it might seem initially. In any case, every woman will be able to quickly quickly distinguish between premenstrual syndrome and pregnancy.
PMS is ...
First, find out what we have to deal with. Let's start with premenstrual syndrome.
PMS or pregnancy? It is difficult to distinguish these two states in the early stages of an “interesting situation”.
The fact is that premenstrual syndrome is a phenomenon that is observed in most women before critical days. Usually starts a week before the "red days of the calendar."
The manifestation thereof can be expressed in different ways. Most often, women experience mood swings and irritability. The same symptoms are noted in pregnant women. Therefore, further we will find out how to distinguish PMS from an "interesting position".
Pregnancy. Definition of a concept
Premenstrual syndrome in girls appears shortly before the onset of critical days. This is a signal of the body about the upcoming menstruation. It is caused by the action of the human hormonal system.
Pregnancy is the result of successful fertilization of the finished egg. After the sperm enter the female cell, a new life begins. 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 position" are generally similar to the premenstrual period. But how to distinguish one from the other? PMS or pregnancy in women? Consider the most common manifestations of the described processes.
Food preferences
It's no secret that during pregnancy, the girl’s body changes due to the action of hormones. Often a woman changes taste preferences. For example, a pregnant woman can be pulled for sweet or savory foods.
During PMS, craving for certain products is also possible. Basically, this phenomenon is associated with a deficiency of vitamins and minerals, as well as a change in hormonal levels.
Aversion to food in expectant mothers is often caused by toxicosis. Nausea and vomiting in pregnant women most often appear on the 4th – 6th week of an “interesting” position. This is due to the development of the fetus in the mother's body.
That is, toxicosis almost does not occur before the delay of critical days. And craving for unusual products (for example, chalk) is a consequence of a deficiency of vitamins entering the body.
Toxicosis with PMS does not occur. Except as an exception for individual girls. Relying only on the taste preferences of a woman in diagnosing pregnancy should not be.
Breast and its sensitivity
How to distinguish PMS from pregnancy to delay? To do this is very problematic. Indeed, at first, the "interesting position" of a woman is very similar to premenstrual syndrome.
During both processes, the girls may increase breasts, its sensitivity increases. PMS or pregnancy? You can navigate by the duration of breast engorgement.
If the girl soon begins menstruation, 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 an "interesting situation". Sometimes even after childbirth.
Feeling tired
How to distinguish PMS from pregnancy? In both cases, women have 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 specifically, 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 the onset of menstruation, progesterone falls, constant fatigue passes. Therefore, this indicator is also impossible to navigate.
Stomach ache
Before the next critical days, in the middle of the cycle, the body prepares for fertilization. The mucous membrane appears on the walls of the uterus. If there was no fertilization, then the excess mucus begins to exfoliate. From here there are pains in the lower abdomen. They are pulling in nature. The duration of these can be up to a week.
Signs of PMS and pregnancy in this case are also similar. In the early stages of the "interesting situation", the expectant mother may feel pain in the lower abdomen. But this is due to the attachment of a fertilized egg to the wall of the uterus.
The duration of abdominal pain during pregnancy is about 1-2 days. As we already said, with PMS, the corresponding phenomenon lasts much longer. Sometimes it does not leave the girl until the end of menstruation.
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, with an “interesting position” in the expectant mother, lower back and back pain appears closer to mid-pregnancy. This phenomenon is associated with an increase in the load on the spine. As a rule, PMS with pregnancy at such times cannot be confused in any way.
Mood variability
How to distinguish PMS? In the early stages of pregnancy, as well as before childbirth, expectant mothers are faced with mood swings. Tearfulness gives way to laughter, mercy to anger and vice versa. A 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 a woman. The fact is that the described phenomenon manifests itself more negatively. With PMS, the girl has negative emotions: anger, hysteria, tearfulness, irritability.
If we talk about pregnancy, then in this case all emotions will be expressed brightly - both positive and negative. This rule is important for everyone to remember. Only in this way will it be possible to determine from an emotional background whether a PMS or a girl's pregnancy.
Urination
The difference between PMS and pregnancy is so small that it is hardly possible to catch it the first time. What other phenomena can occur in a particular case?
During pregnancy, frequent urination occurs. Typically, these processes appear 2 times - at the beginning and at the end of bearing a child. The whole fault is the metabolism, which is disturbed after the conception of the baby. The kidneys work "for two", which leads to frequent urination.
In premenstrual syndrome, such an “event” is not observed. In other words, if the critical days have not yet arrived, and the girl already has frequent urges to urinate, pregnancy can be suspected.
Uterine bleeding
PMS or pregnancy? Differences in the described processes are difficult to catch. Especially if you do not know how these phenomena are manifested.
Some women find out about 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 several hours.
Symptoms of PMS and pregnancy are similar. With premenstrual syndrome, there is no bleeding from the uterus. But menstruation is accompanied by profuse bleeding from the vagina. The process lasts up to 7 days.
Can bleeding indicate PMS? No. Spotting spotting is a clear sign of pregnancy or some kind of disturbance. Especially if they appeared somewhere a week before the critical days.
Toxicosis and vomiting
As we have already said, in the early stages of the "interesting situation", expectant mothers develop toxicosis. It may be accompanied by vomiting. Nausea does not appear at all and not always.
Often, PMS is characterized by a general malaise of the body. And nausea is also possible. But such a phenomenon is extremely rare. It is caused by an individual reaction of the body to the preparation of the uterus and egg for fertilization.
That is, toxicosis and vomiting are precursors of early pregnancy. And PMS should not be suspected in the described processes. This is possible if each menstruation has previously been accompanied by mild nausea.
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;
- pulling and aching pains of a prolonged nature appear in the lower abdomen;
- nausea is possible, but in exceptional cases;
- there are no uterine bleeding;
- sometimes there is back pain;
- there is increased fatigue and even drowsiness.
At the same time, hormone tests will be normal. Progesterone is elevated, but slightly. And after the onset of menstruation, this indicator will rapidly decline.
To exclude pregnancy by 100%, you can do a test at home. Some pharmacy test strips are highly sensitive. And about a week before the delay of critical days, you can see whether the woman is pregnant or not.
Important: early pregnancy tests may be wrong. A false negative result before the delay is normal. It happens because of an insufficient level of hCG in the expectant mother. This substance is growing rapidly in the second month of the "interesting situation", that is, after a delay of critical days.
Signs of pregnancy
It remains to study the early symptoms of pregnancy. Only in this way will it be possible to understand whether a woman will soon be a mother or not.
How to distinguish PMS from pregnancy? With successful fertilization, the girl has such processes and phenomena:
- nausea and vomiting (especially in the morning);
- aversion to odors, food;
- strange taste preferences;
- strong craving for sweet and salty (with PMS, this point also takes place);
- uterine bleeding may occur (a couple of hours, not profuse);
- there is pain in the lower abdomen and in the back.
In general, the most obvious sign of pregnancy at first is a positive pregnancy test. Spend it, as a rule, in the first days of delayed menstruation.
You can donate blood for hCG. The level of this hormone will skyrocket. This is a clear sign that soon the woman will become a mother. With PMS, hCG will be within normal limits. Increase, especially the rapid, is not observed.
Conclusion
PMS or pregnancy? The difference between these phenomena is almost elusive. Therefore, a woman can only watch her body and remember when there was unprotected sexual intercourse. Pregnancy is highly likely in the middle of the monthly cycle.
There are no more ways to detect premenstrual syndrome. Some women do not have PMS at all. And this is quite normal. Differences between PMS and pregnancy are almost invisible.