Women's healthPregnancy & parenting

9 signs of early pregnancy

Here's what to know about the early signs of pregnancy, plus when to take a pregnancy test.


LearnWomen's healthPregnancy9 signs of early pregnancy
A missed period or light bleeding
Tender breasts
Abdominal cramping
Nausea and vomiting
Changes in bathroom habits
Fatigue
Sinus issues
Food and odor aversions or cravings
Mood changes
When to take a pregnancy test

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Most over-the-counter pregnancy tests are 99 percent effective when you take them after a missed period. But how do you know when to check yourself for pregnancy at home?

Pregnancy symptoms are different for everyone, and as the levels of the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) rise, signs of pregnancy may increase, says Jessica Brown, MD, an OBGYN in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Here are some of the first symptoms of pregnancy, along with ways to ease the discomfort, and the best time to take a pregnancy test.

Sources: Planned Parenthood. Pregnancy Tests. Acc... + 29
  1. Planned Parenthood. Pregnancy Tests. Accessed September 19, 2025.
  2. Cleveland Clinic. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin. April 21, 2025.
  3. Cleveland Clinic. Implantation Bleeding. August 9, 2024.
  4. The Endowment for Human Development. Unit 1: The Biology of Prenatal Development. Accessed September 19, 2025.
  5. Johns Hopkins Medicine. 10 Early Signs of Pregnancy. Accessed September 19, 2025.
  6. Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Signs and Symptoms of Pregnancy. January 31, 2017.
  7. Cleveland Clinic. Pregnancy: Am I Pregnant. July 26, 2022.
  8. Mayo Clinic. Symptoms of Pregnancy. March 13, 2024.
  9. Health Service Executive (Ireland). Stomach Pain and Cramps in Pregnancy. November 13, 2022.
  10. Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Pain and/or Bleeding in Early Pregnancy (First 13 Weeks). Accessed September 19, 2025.
  11. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Can I Use a Sauna or Hot Tub Early in Pregnancy. September 2021.
  12. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Can Pregnant Women Take Baths. March 8, 2019.
  13. Merck Manual. Nausea and Vomiting During Early Pregnancy. July 2023.
  14. Cleveland Clinic. Morning Sickness: Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy. April 25, 2023.
  15. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Morning Sickness: Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy. October 2023.
  16. MedlinePlus. Constipation. July 21, 2025.
  17. Alqudah M, Al-Shboul O, et al. Progesterone inhibitory role on gastrointestinal motility. Physiol Res. 2022 Apr 30;71(2):193-198. Cleveland Clinic. Pregnancy Constipation. August 3, 2023.
  18. Cleveland Clinic. Pregnancy Constipation. October 19, 2021.
  19. University of New Mexico Health. 5 Tips to Relieve Pregnancy Constipation. June 2, 2023.
  20. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Problems of the Digestive System. November 2023.
  21. University of Rochester Medical Center. Constipation. Accessed September 19, 2025.
  22. Johns Hopkins Medicine. First Trimester Fatigue. Accessed September 19, 2025.
  23. National Health Service. Tiredness in Pregnancy. March 11, 2024.
  24. Cleveland Clinic. Pregnancy Rhinitis. June 4, 2024.
  25. UT Southwestern Medical Center. Pregnancy and Stuffy Nose: Rhinitis. October 6, 2020.
  26. Mayo Clinic. Pregnancy Week by Week. February 4, 2024.
  27. Tommy’s. Emotional Changes in Pregnancy. Accessed September 19, 2025.
  28. Better Health Channel. Pregnancy Stages and Changes. December 22, 2023.
  29. Alberta Health Services. Pregnancy: First Trimester. April 30, 2024.
  30. Cleveland Clinic. Pregnancy Tests. November 28, 2022.
Written by Olivia DeLong.
Medically reviewed by Joanne Perron, MD, MPH.August, 2025
Updated onAugust, 2026
Written by Olivia DeLong.
Medically reviewed by Joanne Perron, MD, MPH.August, 2025
Updated onAugust, 2026
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