The discomforts that come with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) are often quite similar to the symptoms of early pregnancy. Are there any simple ways for a woman to know which of the two conditions she is experiencing? By all means - it is particularly worth noting if you are experiencing symptoms that uniquely suggest the possibility of pregnancy.
Table of contents:
- Mood swings
- Changes in your breasts
- Feelings of fatigue
- Constipation
- Spotting and spasmodic abdominal pains
- Changes in appetite
- Symptoms particularly indicative of pregnancy
In women's bodies - especially at childbearing age - there are dynamic and cyclical changes in the concentrations of sex hormones. These are responsible for the appearance of menstruation in women, but are also blamed for the problem of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Yet another condition that is linked to female sex hormones, and which also causes the appearance of various female discomforts, is pregnancy. It turns out that, in fact, premenstrual syndrome and the blessed state can cause patients to experience very similar types of complaints. There are, however, some differences between the manifestations of the two conditions - some of which are more subtle, while others rather clearly point to one particular condition.
Mood swings
Irritability, lowered mood or excessive crying are familiar to both women who struggle with PMS and patients who have become pregnant. Both conditions can be manifested by mood swings - which are blamed on changes in the concentrations of sex hormones. The fact that mood swings are linked to premenstrual syndrome can be shown by the fact that they disappear when menstruation begins. In the case of pregnancy, on the other hand, mood problems usually persist over a longer period of time - the fact that a patient with mood swings is pregnant may be particularly suggested by the fact that such problems are accompanied by the absence of menstruation.
Changes concerning the breasts
Both pregnant women and those experiencing PMS may even be absolutely forbidden to approach anyone near their breasts - they may experience breast pain or increased sensitivity to touch, and it is also possible to develop swelling of the breasts. If the cause of such problems is premenstrual syndrome, they are most acute before the onset of bleeding and usually subside once it has begun. In pregnancy, however, breast problems may persist until the baby is born, and other symptoms than those associated with PMS may also appear, such as markedly dilated and visible veins in the breasts.
Feeling tired
Elevated progesterone levels - which can be observed in both PMS and pregnancy - can lead to a feeling of weakness. In premenstrual syndrome , the feeling of fatigue is most intense before menstruation, and in pregnancy it may even persist until the end of the period.
Constipation
Fluctuations in the levels of sex hormones are sometimes responsible for the onset of constipation in women, as these substances can lead to slower gastrointestinal peristalsis. However, PMS-related constipation subsides with the onset of menstruation, whereas constipation in pregnant women may even persist throughout the first and second trimesters of pregnancy.
Discomforts associated with PMS, photo: panthermedia
Spotting and crampy abdominal pains
During pregnancy, implantation bleeding may occur (usually around 10-14 days after conception). This is usually light in volume and is associated with implantation of the embryo within the uterine cavity. In the case of premenstrual syndrome , on the other hand, spotting is unlikely to occur - patients may sometimes think they are spotting, but in fact during the first day of their period the volume of bleeding may simply be small.
Crampy abdominal pains are sometimes characteristic of both PMS and pregnancy. Once again, the feature that differentiates the two conditions is the duration of the symptom - in premenstrual syndrome, the pains precede menstruation, while in pregnant women they can persist even until termination.
Changes in appetite
The cravings for unusual combinations of foods, which are usually attributed to pregnant women, are also found in women with premenstrual syndrome. However, it is not only the patients who crave different foods, but it can also happen that certain foods - even those that the woman previously enjoyed exceptionally - are suddenly considered unpalatable or unpleasant smelling. Food aversion is unlikely to be encountered in the course of PMS; it is much more possible in pregnancy.
Symptoms particularly indicative of pregnancy
The occurrence of certain symptoms in a particular way may suggest that the patient is not suffering from premenstrual syndrome, but is in fact pregnant. First and foremost, the absence of menstruation can be cited as such a symptom - when the complaints described above are accompanied by such a phenomenon, it is particularly worth taking a pregnancy test.
Other problems that are characteristic of pregnancy, but are unlikely to be encountered in the course of PMS, are nausea and vomiting. These typically occur within a fairly short period of time and it is estimated that nausea and vomiting occur in up to 8 out of 10 of all patients who are expecting a baby.
Another sign that a patient may be pregnant is changes to her nipples. Such phenomena, such as enlargement or darker nipples, are unlikely to be observed in the course of PMS, but they are possible in pregnancy. Changes to the nipples can already begin very early in pregnancy, even in the first or second week.
It is clear that pregnancy and PMS are not always easy to distinguish from each other. When in doubt, the patient can always use a pregnancy test. If, on the other hand, the result seems uncertain and the woman still suspects that she may in fact have become pregnant, it is best to simply visit a gynaecologist.
In this article you will find out, among other things, what mood swings and changes in appetite are related to, and you will also learn about the symptoms indicating pregnancy.
