After fertilization, the egg moves into the uterine cavity, where it is fixed and begins to develop. This is a normal intrauterine pregnancy, which in the absence of severe complications will lead to the birth of a child. But sometimes the ovum is not fixed in the uterus, as a result of which there is a serious danger to the life and health of a woman. Intrauterine and ectopic pregnancies are often manifested by the same symptoms.
Menstruation delay
A reliable symptom of an intrauterine pregnancy is a delay in the menstrual cycle. Assuming a delay, you need to remember when the last periods were and how long the cycle usually lasts. You can do the test on the first day of the delay, but the result may be false negative. It is better to wait three to seven days for the level of hCG hormone, which increases rapidly during pregnancy, to reach the level determined in the urine. The test is usually done for morning urine to maximize hormone concentration. It is better to do two or three tests of different companies to verify the result.
It is important that the delay in menstruation is also observed with pathological ectopic pregnancy, as well as a number of other gynecological diseases. The female body is quite sensitive to the general state of health and the emotional background. Menstruation may be delayed by climate change, starvation, taking hormonal drugs or antibiotics. After receiving the test result (intrauterine pregnancy, that is, normal, it is sometimes determined before the delay, but it is better to wait) you need to see a doctor. It is better to make sure right away that the cause of the delay is pregnancy, and it develops normally.
Basal temperature
How to determine an intrauterine pregnancy? This can be done by changing the temperature graph. This symptom of an intrauterine pregnancy makes sense only when a woman has independently monitored BT for at least three months. This is the only way to see deviations on the graph and compare with cycles in which pregnancy did not occur. Usually, charts are made for women who plan to conceive a child. This method allows you to determine the day of ovulation. The doctor may also recommend measuring BT for menstrual irregularities (to determine hormonal levels), suspected infertility, or for contraception.
The two-phase schedule of BT in the menstrual cycle in which pregnancy has not occurred, normally looks as follows: with ovulation, the temperature increases by about 0.4 degrees, which visually divides the schedule into two phases; necessarily there are temperature drops before ovulation and before menstruation. If pregnancy has occurred, then there will be no premenstrual drop in temperature on the chart, after ovulation, the indicators will remain at a consistently high level. Sometimes the so-called implantation retraction may appear - a decrease in temperature for one day by approximately 0.2-0.4 degrees 3-10 days after ovulation.
With an ectopic pregnancy, the basal temperature can remain at the usual level, be slightly lowered or increased. The same symptoms are characteristic for a disturbed intrauterine pregnancy, that is, detachment of the fetal egg or spontaneous interruption. Basal temperature is not considered an indicator of whether pregnancy develops normally or not. Therefore, in any case, a woman should consult a doctor if the schedule has changed significantly, and other signs of pregnancy are additionally present.
Breast sensitivity
Breast tenderness during pregnancy and breast augmentation can be observed already in the very early stages. The body begins to prepare for bearing, giving birth and feeding the baby from the moment of conception, so that especially sensitive women may feel that the usual bra has become too small already at the 4-6th week of pregnancy. In the future, the area around the nipples will darken, and from the 16th week or earlier, a clear liquid may begin to stand out from the chest. While these signs are not yet there, it is only possible to consider breast soreness as a symptom of an intrauterine pregnancy if the mammary glands did not react to changes in hormone levels before menstruation, or if there are other signs that the conception has taken place. With an ectopic pregnancy, the breast can also become sensitive.
Mood changes
A rapid change in mood during pregnancy is explained by active hormonal changes. Hormones have a strong effect on the female body - hence, by the way, premenstrual syndrome. Possible increased irritability, drowsiness, tearfulness, taste changes. These symptoms are noticed by many women who did not plan a pregnancy, but usually take them for PMS.
Fatigue and weakness
The body fully adapts to the onset of pregnancy only at the beginning of the second trimester, when toxicosis disappears. In the early stages, perestroika is so significant and global that a lot of internal forces are expended on it. Fatigue, drowsiness and fatigue are companions to increase the concentration of progesterone, which is necessary to maintain pregnancy. Headache, pressure drops, dizziness, general malaise are also possible. It is necessary for the female body to allow the fertilized egg to normalize itself in the uterus.
Low pressure
Reduced blood pressure is noted in many pregnant women in the early stages. This is accompanied by nausea, a feeling of lack of fresh air, dizziness, drowsiness, darkening in the eyes, rapid fatigue. It can throw it in the heat, then in the cold. This is also associated with pressure and fluctuations in body temperature in the first trimester. Low blood pressure can only be considered a sign of pregnancy if other symptoms are present.
Vaginal discharge
Normally, a secretion of white, transparent or yellowish color is secreted from the vagina (depending on the phase of the cycle). When pregnancy occurs, the amount of discharge can increase, which is associated with active blood supply to the pelvic organs. Also in the secretions increases the concentration of hydrogen ions, which protect the body from infections. But this environment is favorable for the development of yeast fungi that cause thrush. Candidiasis during pregnancy must be treated, because infection can threaten the fetus.
Also, sometimes minor spotting appears, which can be taken as a meager period. This symptom of intrauterine pregnancy in the early stages occurs in approximately 20% of women, and in other cases indicates any violations (detachment of the ovum, the onset of spontaneous abortion, ectopic pregnancy). Implantation bleeding may be a normal option, but be sure to see a doctor to rule out dangerous pathologies.
Typically, a small amount of spotting is observed about a week or two after conception. During this time, the egg manages to reach the uterine cavity and gain a foothold, and the epithelium is slightly damaged, which provokes discharge. The implantation bleeding lasts no longer than two to three days. Color - pink, yellowish or reddish, but not bright red. Bright red and brown discharge may indicate a pathology.
Frequent urination
Symptoms of an intrauterine pregnancy include frequent urination. After conception, blood flow to the pelvic organs increases, which provokes frequent urge to the toilet. Cystitis can also be the cause - in the early stages, the female body is vulnerable to infections, because the immune defense is suppressed in order to successfully consolidate and begin embryo development. In reviews, women often say that urination is often provoked by an enlarged uterus. But at the very beginning of pregnancy, the uterus does not increase enough to exert significant pressure on the bladder, so this is an explanation of the symptom for later periods.
Digestive disorders
The abdomen in early pregnancy may increase slightly, but the reason is not in the growth of the uterus, but in bloating. When pregnancy occurs, intestinal motility may be impaired, the speed of digestion and metabolic processes decreases, as a result of which bloating, constipation or diarrhea may appear. This is facilitated by active blood supply to the pelvic organs (this leads to slight swelling of the intestinal walls) and hormonal changes in the body.
Tingling in the uterus
Many women experience implantation. It is like tingling and a feeling of fullness in the lower abdomen. Active blood supply to the pelvic organs causes the same sensations. A similar symptom can be considered a symptom of pregnancy only if other symptoms are present. Significant discomfort may indicate an ectopic pregnancy or indicate the approach of menstruation (premenstrual pain is characteristic of a significant number of women).
Morning sickness
Toxicosis during pregnancy in the early stages may appear already in the second week after conception. In the early stages, this symptom appears in half of the women, the rest encounter different manifestations of toxicosis a little later. Along with nausea, there is increased salivation, there may be vomiting. This is accompanied by a decrease in appetite and (sometimes) slight weight loss. Toxicosis during early pregnancy is a violation of the functional state of the central nervous system, and not the digestive system, as is the case with poisoning. This is how the adaptive reaction to pregnancy manifests itself.
Temperature rise
A common symptom of an intrauterine pregnancy is a slight increase in body temperature, a feeling of weakness, weakness, and mild signs of a cold. Many really get sick amid a decrease in immunity. If you suspect a pregnancy, you can not use potent drugs. It is advisable to start treatment at the first symptoms and get by with alternative methods. You need to drink more liquid, well, if it is tea with raspberries or warm milk with honey, gargle and wash your nose with a solution of soda or decoctions of herbs.
HCG increase
After implantation, the hCG hormone and a number of others begin to be actively produced. It is hCG that allows you to determine pregnancy in the early stages. According to the dynamics of blood tests, it is possible to determine that the conception took place, even before the delay of menstruation, and later the increased pregnancy hormone is “noticed” by a home pregnancy test. The hormone level in the third or fourth week rises from 160 units to 7200, in the fourth and fifth weeks - from 1000 to 31 800, in the fifth and sixth - from 3600 to 160 000. During ectopic pregnancy, the concentration of hCG also increases, but not so fast. Up to three to four weeks, indicators will increase, but then growth will stop.
Positive test: what's next
What should I do if a woman notices signs of an intrauterine pregnancy? You can diagnose early pregnancy with a home test. You can do it from the first day of the delay of menstruation, although in some cases it can be determined that conception has taken place before the delay. But the test will be positive with an ectopic pregnancy, which is a pathology and needs to be interrupted for medical reasons. Therefore, with a delay in menstruation (for any test result), you need to consult a gynecologist. The doctor will confirm the pregnancy, if it really is, and also determine the place of attachment of the fetal egg. This can be done during an examination on a gynecological chair or using ultrasound.
Ectopic pregnancy
A serious violation is an ectopic pregnancy. Such a pregnancy is not viable and is dangerous to the health of a woman. At the same time, there is a delay in menstruation and a positive test result, as well as some other symptoms of a normal pregnancy. It is necessary to pay attention to spotting and pain in the lower abdomen, because these symptoms may indicate pathology. An ectopic pregnancy cannot be saved. After some time (if you do not seek medical help), a pipe rupture will occur, as a result of which a fatal outcome or infertility is possible. Therefore, you need to contact the clinic immediately after the delay in order to manage to take emergency measures if necessary. Judging by the reviews, an intrauterine pregnancy and an ectopic can be very similar. Be sure to consult a doctor if you have a delay in order to avoid dangerous consequences.