How and when to determine pregnancy after conception. All methods and means. The main symptoms that occur in pregnant women: what to expect? Video. Find out in a short time

Is it possible to establish the fact of pregnancy within a few days after conception? This question is asked by many girls, because the answer to it is often a turning point in life. Some cherish the dream of becoming the mother of a wonderful rosy-cheeked toddler, and someone freezes with fear, thinking about the need to quickly end the problem that has arisen. Regardless of whether a woman plans to give birth or not, when the first signs of pregnancy appear (or even earlier), it is recommended to consult a doctor. This is especially necessary for girls who feel unwell from the very beginning or are planning an interruption.

Do I have to see a doctor? Are there other ways to conduct a reliable and error-free diagnosis? Let's try to figure it out.

Methods for determining pregnancy at home

Every woman knows very well that the initial diagnosis at the slightest suspicion of pregnancy is carried out at home using a special test, which is not difficult to obtain at a pharmacy. The price of this magic wand ranges from 20 to 200 rubles. What is the difference and should I pay more? The principle of operation of all tests is the same - they react to the hCG hormone, which appears in a woman's urine when pregnancy occurs, but their sensitivity increases in proportion to the cost. So, an expensive sample allows you to determine pregnancy 2-3 days before the start of the delay. After the "late" menstruation is noticed, the analytical capabilities of all tests will be equal, since the concentration of human chorionic gonadotropin becomes high enough.

Here is the answer to the question posed - the test result can tell about the onset of pregnancy in the absence of menstruation. The method is quite reliable, its reliability is close to 100%. Of course, mistakes are possible, but they happen most often due to violation of the recommendations prescribed in the instructions for use. By conducting the test shortly after conception, a woman may see a subtle second stripe. There are two reasons for its appearance: a poor-quality test or a low level of hCG in the urine. If, according to assumptions, the period is quite serious (several weeks or months), and the strip is barely pink, you should pay attention to this - a low content of chorionic gonadotropin may indicate a frozen or ectopic pregnancy that requires urgent medical intervention. However, you should not panic - for reinsurance, you can buy a few more tests from different companies.

Is it possible to understand that pregnancy has come, just a couple of days before the delay? As mentioned above, you can, only a highly sensitive test is required. But there is another way - measuring basal temperature (best in the rectum). In the event that the temperature exceeds 37 degrees, and 2-3 days remain before the onset of the expected menstruation, it can be assumed that pregnancy has come. However, this indicator can be influenced by a number of factors - for example, recent intercourse. In any case, before using this method, you must familiarize yourself with all the rules.

Definition of pregnancy in a medical facility

A visit to a gynecologist will help to dot the "and". The doctor will examine you on a chair and diagnose by a number of diagnostic signs (size and shape of the uterus, color and consistency of the cervix). Do not forget that under certain circumstances, the uterus, slightly enlarged before menstruation, can be mistaken for a pregnant woman. The likelihood of error increases if you start to tell the doctor about the manifestations of the first symptoms and signs of an interesting situation. At a later date (from several weeks to two months), pregnancy becomes obvious to the doctor.

If the gynecologist has doubts about whether a pregnancy is taking place, how and where the fetus develops - in the uterus or in the fallopian tubes, he will recommend an ultrasound procedure. Many women are of the opinion that ultrasound in the early stages can negatively affect the health of the baby and even provoke a miscarriage - despite this, with objective indications for the procedure, it is not recommended to refuse it. This will not affect the child's condition, but it can help prevent various disorders.

Ultrasound examination allows you to see the ovum as early as the fourth obstetric week. Around this period, a tiny heart begins to pulsate in the baby. It is the heartbeats that allow the ultrasound doctor to ascertain whether the embryo is developing or not.

Another informative method for determining the early stages of pregnancy is a blood test for the content of chorionic gonadotropin. This is the same hormone that is in the urine, but its concentration is slightly higher, which makes it possible to judge the fertilization that took place after eight days, that is, almost immediately after the egg is implanted into the wall of the uterus. Inaccuracies are also possible - especially if a woman suffers from cancer or takes drugs that contain hCG.

The onset of pregnancy can also be judged by a number of subjective signs accompanying the first trimester.

Subjective first signs of pregnancy

Toxicosis

One has only to tell a friend that you are feeling nauseous, a logical question will follow: "Are you accidentally pregnant?" Morning nausea is considered a classic diagnostic sign of an interesting situation, and young girls rarely associate it with poisoning or overeating. It is worth noting that they experience this unpleasant symptom not from the first days of pregnancy, but starting from 4-5 obstetric weeks. In addition, some lucky women manage to avoid them.

Tension and pain in the breasts and nipples

This symptom is associated with hormonal changes in the body. All systems and organs start to work in a slightly different way, which allows you to provide the most comfortable conditions for the development of the baby and prepare in advance for a successful birth. The breast, in turn, prepares for lactation. The nipples increase in size, become pigmented (acquire a brownish tint). Even in the early stages, with pressure, colostrum secretion can be observed. As a rule, the mammary glands are quite painful, and throughout pregnancy they increase in size.

Lower abdominal pain

Almost all pregnant women feel discomfort in the lower abdomen on those days when they should have had their period. This is a specific sign that makes you pay attention to your health status and identify pregnancy. It must be remembered that severe pain is not the norm, and often indicates the tone of the uterus and the threat of spontaneous interruption.

Frequent urination

Some women believe that frequent urge to the ladies' room is a reliable sign of pregnancy. However, an interesting situation is often confused with the usual cystitis, which is also accompanied by this symptom. With inflammation, urination is frequent and painful, so a urine test will help to establish an accurate diagnosis.

Vaginal discharge

As a rule, the onset of pregnancy is accompanied by the presence of an increased amount of transparent whitish or yellowish discharge of a thick and viscous consistency. This is quite normal, and speaks of the formation of a mucous plug, which closes the cervix and prevents the penetration of pathogens from the vagina to the baby. Moreover, the cork is an excellent mechanical protection. She departs immediately before childbirth or during the birth process. In some cases, discharge indicates the presence of a sexually transmitted infection or other disease of the reproductive system. In the event that a pathogen is found in the smear, the doctor will prescribe an effective and safe treatment.
Now you know how to find out about pregnancy in the first days and weeks after it occurs. Take care of your health!

For a woman, pregnancy is one of the most important stages in life. How do you want not to miss such an important event! But how long can pregnancy be determined? What symptoms will tell you that it has come?

Determining pregnancy at the earliest stage is very important, because a woman will now have to reckon with her new position. There are several ways to determine if a pregnancy has occurred:

  • express test;
  • examination by a gynecologist;
  • Ultrasound (not recommended in the early stages);
  • blood test.

The following symptoms may indicate that you may soon become a mother:

  • the onset of menstruation is delayed;
  • absent-mindedness uncharacteristic for you appeared;
  • began to suffer from bouts of nausea;
  • you notice that you have become too irritable.

The definition of an interesting position is connected with the fact that it is necessary to take into account the listed signs. Most often they appear soon after conception, but not all of them. A woman may not even be aware of her interesting situation. There may even be bleeding. But this is no longer menstruation. This is the result of the embryo being attached to the uterine wall. So the surest way is to see a gynecologist. A gynecological examination will help one hundred percent determine whether the fertilization of the egg has occurred.

So how long is it possible to accurately determine pregnancy? You can install it in the early stages - already a week after conception.

This can be done at home as well. The surest way is an express test and an ultrasound scan.

Ultrasound

Let's clarify right away that ultrasound is not the best definition of early pregnancy. Many gynecologists do not recommend determining whether fertilization has taken place using echography. This method in the early stages gives too little information about the state of the fetus itself and can only confirm or deny its presence.

There is no exact data on how safe ultrasound is for the fetus at the very initial stage of its development. But this method allows you to determine the presence of an embryo as early as the first week.

Ultrasound can be abdominal or transvaginal. If you use a transvaginal examination, then the fertilized egg can be seen already in the second or third week. But until the doctor can determine if there is an embryo in it. The presence of an embryo will be established only at the 5th week when examining an external sensor.

By the way, it is from the fifth week that a small heart begins to beat. An ultrasound will help establish the likely date of conception. For this, the distance from the tailbone to the crown of the embryo is measured.

Another way is to take a blood test. In this case, the level of a specific hormone (trophoblastic beta globulin) is established in the blood. This method will help establish the truth in the first week.

But it is better to resort to a blood test after you find that your period is delayed.

If you pass the analysis earlier, the probability of a false result is too high. If you are advised to do this earlier, do not rush. The main thing is to get accurate and reliable information.

Analysis of urine

This is the most reliable test to date. The hormone trophoblastic beta globulin can be found not only in blood, but also in urine. This is the basis of the principle of work of home expert tests. It is enough to urinate for the test, and soon you will be able to find out if you will become a mom. Already on the first day of the delay, a home rapid test can accurately answer the main female question. But for maximum accuracy, it is better to repeat the test 2-3 times.

Too early in the urine, there may still not be so much hormone for the test to determine the presence of an embryo.

If you notice that your period did not start on the expected day of the start of the new menstrual cycle, there is a chance of conception. It is advisable to carry out a home test on the first day of a missed period. On this day, the test can already give fairly accurate results. The main thing is to correctly conduct it.

A special strip should be immersed in the first morning urine. It is in it that the concentration of the hormone that signals conception will be maximum. The chorion of the embryo is already secreting hCG, and the test will certainly be able to catch its increased level. Now even express tests with the maximum degree of sensitivity have appeared.

6-8 days after conception, the embryo bypasses the fallopian tubes and attaches to the wall of the uterus. The placenta begins to grow vigorously, which produces the hormone chorionic gonadotropin. It is his presence that confirms the interesting position of a woman with maximum accuracy. But determining the exact date of conception is not easy enough. This is due to the fact that it is difficult to establish the exact date when ovulation began. In addition, it is impossible to establish how fast the sperm moved, and when they got to the egg. Therefore, the date of fertilization is often approximate.

Another way is to measure basal temperature. He will reveal the truth to you as early as 1-2 days of delay in the menstrual cycle.

The presence of pregnancy will be indicated by a high basal temperature (above 37 degrees), which does not decrease for at least three days. But this method is more suitable for those who know their basal temperature well and even keep a calendar.

So, the most reliable methods are a doctor's examination, an ultrasound scan and an analysis for hCG.

Pregnancy symptoms

It is also worth listening to your subjective feelings. Conception may be evidenced by:


Everything is quite individual. If you have any suspicions that you could get pregnant, you better buy a test and develop your doubts! Well, be sure to visit a gynecologist.

It is believed that it is possible to more or less reliably determine the presence of pregnancy only if the first day of the delay in menstruation has already come. However, many women want to know as early as possible if conception has occurred. Someone is waiting for this moment with trepidation, dreaming of a new life and a miracle, someone, on the contrary, is afraid of this, and mentally prepare for an abortion. Usually this situation occurs if unprotected intercourse has occurred.

In either case, early diagnosis of pregnancy would be very helpful. The sooner a pregnant woman registers, the more chances of a successful gestation. There is no need to talk about the fact that it is better to have an abortion at the earliest possible date, everyone already knows this very well. How to determine early pregnancy and can it be done?

In fact, this can still be done with varying degrees of reliability. However, for this it is necessary to understand what happens in the female body before and after conception, because it is the changes that occur in the body at this moment that can tell whether pregnancy has occurred.

What happens in the body after conception?

Pregnancy is rigidly tied to a woman's menstrual cycle, and conception can occur on strictly defined days: 1-2 days after ovulation. The cycle is not in vain counted from the first day of menstruation. It is from this time that the new egg begins to prepare to leave the ovary. It ripens by the middle of the cycle, usually by about 14 days, if, of course, your cycle is 28 days. If the cycle is longer or shorter, this must be taken into account, especially if you are using a calendar method of contraception. He himself is extremely unreliable, but if the day of ovulation is incorrectly calculated, then its reliability disappears altogether.

In parallel with ovulation, a woman's body prepares for a possible conception: the endometrium softens and thickens, preparing to receive the ovum, the follicle that has released a mature egg is reborn into the corpus luteum and begins to produce progesterone, which is necessary for successful implantation and preservation of pregnancy, the basal body temperature rises to 37 degrees which are most comfortable for conception. The body is in this state for a little over a week.

If conception does not occur, then everything returns to normal: the temperature drops, the corpus luteum degrades, the endometrium exfoliates and leaves with menstruation. The cycle starts again. And if fertilization occurs?

The fertilized egg continues to move through the fallopian tube. Already on this path, its division and development begins. A week or a little more later, the introduction of the ovum occurs. From this moment, the chorion, one of the membranes, begins to produce the hCG hormone. Gradually, this hormone accumulates in the body.

Medical methods for diagnosing pregnancy

Early pregnancy detection is possible only after implantation. Until this moment, the fertilized egg does not come into contact with the parent's organism in any way, that is, the organism itself does not yet know about pregnancy.

Accordingly, there are no changes associated with pregnancy.

With one hundred percent probability, pregnancy can be diagnosed only in a medical institution. To do this, you need to donate blood no earlier than 7-10 days after conception. This analysis is based on determining the presence of hCG in a woman's blood.

How to determine pregnancy before delay at home?

However, is it worth running to the doctor every month in the hope of a cherished result?

Answer

Of course, the pregnancy process is exciting for every woman. But a lot of stress is brought by the first weeks of waiting and the constant question: am I pregnant or not.

In each cycle, a woman has only 6 days to become pregnant: 5 days before ovulation and 2 days after it. So how do you know how long it is already possible to determine your pregnancy? What methods of definition are available and effective? I am often asked such questions in the comments on the site, so I will tell you in detail.

Even if you are sure that in this cycle you have determined the time of ovulation and have done everything to fertilize the egg, this does not mean that a couple of days after the intended conception you need to go to the pharmacy for a test and the next day to the gynecologist with complaints of infertility. Pregnancy can be detected after the secretion of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is triggered, and this launch does not occur before the egg is fixed to the wall of the uterus.

How many days after PA can a pregnancy test be done?

There are 2 types of tests that will help you determine whether to start preparing for the arrival of a new family member.

Blood test

This method will help to quickly determine the presence of pregnancy.

Positive moment: You can donate blood as early as 7-12 days after the intended conception.

Negative point: testing takes about a day (the timing of obtaining the result varies, depending on the laboratory).

Usually, the qualitative and quantitative hCG is determined: the first will show the presence of this hormone in general, and the second indicator will indicate the exact figure for determining the period.

In general, if you are pregnant, a blood test will show a positive result 3-4 days after direct implantation or 9-10 days after fertilization and ovulation.

Analysis of urine

This test is easy to use and shows results in 5 minutes. This is definitely a huge plus.

The disadvantage of such tests is that they will not always show you a reliable result. The manufacturers claim that the test can be performed 24-48 hours before the delay. But in fact, no more than 25% of pregnant women who did the test 2 days before the onset of the expected menstruation received 2 strips on it. Under the same conditions, 1 day before the delay, already 40% of expectant mothers confirmed their position with the help of such a test. But still, this number is quite low. It turns out that women received unreliable information and could rely on its result.

On average, most women get a second strip on the test about 2 weeks (13-14 days) after ovulation. Those. just the day of the delay.

IMPORTANT! Despite the research conducted, there are cases that the test shows a positive result only 3 weeks after ovulation. We indicate these data for the reason that often the result on the day of delay is negative and the woman is 100% sure of this, but it is imperative to double-check or donate blood for hCG.

Do the tests always show the correct result?

Manufacturers indicate on the packaging of a home pregnancy test the effectiveness is equal to 99%. But this is far from the case. All studies that confirm this figure were carried out 3 weeks after ovulation, i.e. 7 days after the delay. But in the early stages, the test often shows one strip, which confuses the expectant mother.

You can find out the reasons why the most common test may turn out to be false positive in.

Here are the reasons for a false negative test:

  • test done too early;
  • the test has expired;
  • you do not follow the instructions for use;
  • you are not using morning urine.

What factors influence test results

Duration of implantation... Despite the fact that the test result depends on the presence of the pregnancy hormone (hCG), long periods of implantation can lead to negative results, since the movement of a fertilized egg to the wall of the uterus takes about 7 days. Therefore, if you test too early, be prepared to get a negative result.

HCG level in urine... The score may decrease if you drink too much liquid. In concentrated urine, the hCG level is higher and the test result is accurate.

Sensitivity of a home pregnancy test... Read the test instructions and compare the sensitivity of several products of this type: the higher it is, the sooner and more accurately you will know the answer to your question.

Other methods for determining pregnancy

Basal temperature


Minuses
: it is necessary to measure BT for 3-4 cycles, to have a more or less stable menstrual cycle.

pros: if you measure BT for several days after the delay, then it will invariably be higher than normal - this will most likely indicate pregnancy, but it is imperative to take into account the "disadvantages" of this method.

Ultrasound


Minuses
: in the first weeks of pregnancy, there is no point in using this study, an ultrasound specialist is unlikely to see a fertilized egg, which is still very small; in addition, I insist that it is impossible to disturb the embryo at the stage of formation, and this is done only according to the strict indications of the attending physician.

pros: you can be sure that you do not have an ectopic pregnancy, and the presence of the second strip on the test is not a consequence of hormonal disorders.

Most women find out about pregnancy only after a missed period. Its earlier detection is possible with the help of a blood test for the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). The hormone begins to be detected in a woman's blood immediately after the introduction of a fertilized egg into the walls of the uterus. Its indicators double every 2 days, which will indicate an ongoing pregnancy. Homemade HCG test strips can give false negative results in early pregnancy.

This means that only a blood test can reveal a successful implantation from the 8th day after the intended conception. An ordinary home test - only from the 10th day. A more reliable result is expected if a study is carried out on the first day of a missed period.

  • Show all

    When does conception occur?

    Fertilization is possible only after the onset of ovulation. The release of an egg from the ovary occurs in most women in the middle of the cycle. With a 28-day cycle, this would be 13-15 days of the cycle. The egg cell is capable of fertilization only the first 24–48 hours after ovulation. Sperm can live from 3 to 7 days. Cell fusion occurs in a woman's fallopian tubes.

    After the onset of conception, the ovum moves from the tube to the uterine cavity for another 7-14 days in search of the best place for implantation. HCG is released into the mother's blood immediately after attachment. Indicators of more than 25 mU / ml will be considered a positive result.

    What is HCG?

    Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone produced by the membranes of the ovum. After implantation into the walls of the uterus, hCG helps in the formation of the placenta. It is composed of α-hCG and β-hCG. 8 days after conception, β-hCG blood allows you to determine pregnancy if implantation has already occurred by this time. In urine, the concentration of β-hCG required for determination appears later than in the blood.

    The production of hCG after embryo attachment occurs throughout pregnancy. In the first weeks, β-hCG doubles every 1.5 - 2 days. The highest concentration is determined at 10-11 weeks, after this period it begins to gradually decrease. With multiple pregnancies, the hCG content increases as many times as the number of fetuses develops, which suggests a multiple pregnancy even before ultrasound examination.

    If hCG is below normal, this may indicate fetal malformations, an ectopic, undeveloped pregnancy, and a threatening abortion. Determination of the hCG content at 12-13 weeks is used in the diagnosis of fetal malformations, determining risk groups in conjunction with ultrasound data, age group and anamnesis.

    When is it advisable to run the test?

    Most women find out about pregnancy only after the next menstrual bleeding does not come. The test allows you to assume at home if a woman is pregnant. There are electronic tests that can show the approximate time from conception. Test strips can give false negative results when the test is performed before the delay or when the time period is less than intended. This is possible due to the low concentration in the urine of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin.

    If the pregnancy is planned and the woman knows the exact day when ovulation occurred, it is possible to determine it using basal temperature. After fertilization and implantation, the temperature will not drop before the expected onset of the next menstruation. Normal BT will be 37.1-37.3 degrees. It rises by the time of ovulation and does not decrease during the first months of fetal development.

    A blood test for hCG can be taken even before the delay, but not earlier than 10-14 days after ovulation. In addition to hCG, you can donate blood for progesterone, this hormone also rises during pregnancy even before menstruation is delayed. If the date of ovulation is unknown, it is better to take hCG 2 weeks after intercourse or on the first day of delay.

    An ultrasound scan before the delay will not be reliable. In the study, it is possible only to see the corpus luteum, if ovulation has occurred, and the "lush" endometrium (M-ECHO more than 10 mm). This will only allow you to find out if there was an ovulatory cycle, and indirectly assume an early pregnancy. After a delay, it is possible to see a fertilized egg in the uterine cavity or to detect an ectopic pregnancy.

    Traditional methods of determining pregnancy

    Folk tests are carried out with urine:

    • It is necessary to boil the urine and pour it into a glass jar. At the onset of pregnancy before the delay of menstruation, white "flakes" will appear in the urine after boiling.
    • Moisten paper or cloth with urine and drip a few drops of iodine onto it. If it acquires a purple tint, this is regarded as a positive result; if it is negative, the tint will turn blue.

    These tests do not guarantee reliable results.

    Well-being - the first signs

    After the onset of pregnancy, serious hormonal changes occur in a woman's body. They lead to a change in well-being, which allows an attentive girl to understand about her onset even before the delay. Possible symptoms:

    • Delayed menstruation.
    • Sleepiness, tiredness. They are manifested due to an increase in progesterone, it suppresses the work of the nervous system.
    • Bloating, increased gas production. Progesterone affects smooth muscles, intestinal motility.
    • Frequent urination. It occurs due to hormonal changes.
    • Constipation.
    • Irritability, tearfulness.
    • An increase in body temperature to 37.5 in the absence of signs of ARVI.
    • An increase in the amount of vaginal discharge.
    • Hot or cold throws.
    • Breast enlargement, tingling in the breasts, nipple tenderness, veins on the breasts.
    • Changes in the color of the nipples and the appearance of a dark strip along the white line of the abdomen.
    • Morning or evening nausea.
    • Changing taste preferences.
    • Feeling of "warmth" in the lower abdomen.
    • Frequent headaches.

    All of these symptoms will not necessarily appear in the early stages. There may be no visible change in well-being. Also, these symptoms can be observed in some diseases not related to pregnancy.

    Pregnancy after IVF

    With in vitro fertilization, an embryo is transferred into the uterus 3 or 5 days from development. Implantation occurs as in natural pregnancy 7-14 days after fertilization. That is, after 4-11 days for three-day-old embryos and after 2-9 days for five-day-old embryos, the production of hCG will begin. The analysis is prescribed on the 10th day after the transfer.

    Symptoms of pregnancy after IVF may be the same or absent from natural cycle pregnancy. Due to the high progesterone support, drowsiness and bloating may occur. When using hCG drugs in a cycle, it is not recommended to take an analysis and conduct a pregnancy test earlier than the prescribed time to avoid false positive results.

    The most obvious sign is the absence of menstruation. To determine the location and confirm pregnancy, it is necessary to consult an obstetrician-gynecologist. A bimanual examination on a chair can measure the uterus and suggest a due date. On an ultrasound examination, the ovum will be visible from 4-5 weeks. The exact date is set, the number of fetal eggs is determined and the uterine or ectopic localization is confirmed.

    Additionally, a blood test for hCG may be prescribed to confirm pregnancy. If you suspect an undeveloped or ectopic pregnancy, hCG is given over time.