PMS Symptoms vs Pregnancy Symptoms | Pregnant or PMS?

Are you a bit uncertain if it’s PMS or pregnancy? You’re in the right place, so stay here to find out more.

Overview of Pregnancy Symptoms vs PMS Symptoms

PMS and pregnancy have many of the same symptoms. That’s why it can be a bit difficult to tell if you just have PMS, or if you might be pregnant. Keep on reading for all the details to help you figure it out.

What is PMS?

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a condition that is characterized by physical and psychological symptoms that develop at some point after ovulation (which occurs during the middle of the menstrual cycle) and ends at the start of a woman’s period.

PMS Symptoms

The symptoms of PMS can include:

• Depression or anxiety
• Irritability
• Bloating
• Fatigue
• Crying
• Breast tenderness 
• Acne
• Bloating
• Appetite changes including food cravings
• Mood swings

While 90% of women are believed to experience some symptoms associated with menstruation, true PMS is said to be more severe and can likely occur in 20-30% of women.

PMS symptoms may very similar to those of early pregnancy. However, there are subtle differences that varies between woman to woman and the following will help us better understand those differences.

What are the Early Pregnancy Symptoms?

Now, let’s take a look at some of the signs of early pregnancy. If you’re trying to conceive, we’re sure you’ll want to know:

• Swollen breasts
• Fatigue
• Bleeding or cramping
• Nausea
• Food cravings/aversions
• Headache
• Constipation
• Mood Swings
• Dizziness
• Higher temperate
• Missed period

Pregnant or PMS: What’s the Same? What’s Different?

Let’s take a look at some of the most common symptoms of PMS and pregnancy. We’ll start with the symptoms that are different between pregnancy or PMS and then get into the ones that overlap. Here is a list for a quick reference:

PMS and Pregnancy: Things that are Different

• Bleeding
• Breast pain
• Fatigue
• Mood Changes including depression or anxiety
• Food cravings and aversions
• Nausea
• Cramping
• Vaginal discharge
• Darkening of the area around the nipples
• Acne flare-ups
• Fatigue

PMS and Pregnancy Symptoms: What’s the Same?

• Headaches
• Constipation
• Increase urination
• Back pain
• Weight gain
• Headache

Keep on reading to find out more information about each of these things.

PMS vs Pregnancy: What’s Different?

Symptom #1: Bleeding

The type of bleeding between these two things is very different.

Pregnancy:

One of the first signs of pregnancy for some women is light vaginal bleeding and spotting which is usually dark brown or pink. It’s due to the fertilized egg implantation into the walls of the uterus.

This occurs between 10-14 days after a woman has conceived and is typically not enough to fill tampons or pads. The spotting usually lasts for a day or two and is thus shorter than a normal period.

Learn more about Implantation Bleeding.

Of course, if you’re pregnant, one of the first signs of it is that your period will be “late.” If you really are pregnant, you won’t end up getting your period at all! Despite the myth that you can have kind of normal periods, and then suddenly a baby pops out, this isn’t really true. If you’re having heavy bleeding during pregnancy, something isn’t right, or you’re not pregnant.

PMS:

Women who have PMS, usually won’t have bleeding. But after their period starts, the flow becomes heavier and could last for over a week. If you’re not pregnant, you can just expect to have your normal menstrual flow. 

Can I have my Period and Still Be Pregnant? 

If you have some of the early signs of pregnancy, but then eventually get your period, can you still be pregnant? The easy answer is probably not.

Although some people have light bleeding or spotting during the early parts of pregnancy, if it’s heavy enough to be an actual period, you’re probably not pregnant.

If you’re unsure about exactly how heavy your bleeding is, see your doctor or use a home pregnancy test.

Early Stages of Pregnancy or PMS?

Symptom #2: Breast Pain

Pregnancy:

During early pregnancy, a woman’s breasts may feel sensitive, sore, or tender to the touch and may also become fuller as well as heavier. This phenomenon usually occurs one or two weeks after conception, and can last for sometime as your progesterone levels rise because of pregnancy.

PMS:

Women with PMS may experience breast tenderness and swelling in the second half of their cycle. The tenderness can range between mild to severe, but is most severe right before a period occurs. The symptoms tend to be more severe for women in their childbearing years.

Breast tissue, especially in the outer areas, may feel bumpy and dense. During this time, women may experience breast fullness and tenderness with a heavy, dull pain. The pain later subsides during or after their period as their progesterone levels decrease.

Symptom #3: Fatigue

Many women have experienced some serious fatigue with both PMS and pregnancy. Is there anything different though?

Pregnancy:

During pregnancy, the rising levels of the hormone progesterone can make an expecting mother tired. The fatigue can increase in women during their first trimester, but it may even last throughout their pregnancy as well. To help them cope with their pain, expecting mothers must eat and sleep well.

Week by week, this symptom may get better or worse. It just depends on each individual.

PMS:

During PMS, fatigue or tiredness and also sleep problems are quite common. However, they should go away at the start of your period. Other than that, you should exercise to help improve your sleep and reduce your fatigue.

PMS or Pregnancy?

Symptom #4: Mood Changes

Pregnancy:

When pregnant, you may experience mood changes that may last till the time you give birth. During pregnancy, you may feel an array of emotions, like getting excited that you’re about to have a new member to the family. You may experience moments of sadness and cry often as well.

The latter symptoms may indicate depression. If you’re depressed and are concerned about your symptoms, you should go see your doctor. It is common to experience depression during pregnancy and it can also be treated.

PMS:

During PMS, you may feel a bit grouchy and irritated. Besides that, you may also experience anxiousness and crying spells. Though the symptoms usually go away after the start of your period.

Getting plenty of sleep and exercise can lighten some of the PMS mood swings. However, like pregnancy, any feeling of sadness, hopelessness, being overwhelmed and having a lack of energy for two or more weeks is a sign of depression. So be sure to talk it out with your healthcare provider.

Symptom #5: Food Cravings/Aversions

Pregnancy:

One of the common symptoms of pregnancy is that you may have high cravings for certain and become completely uninterested in other foods. In fact, you may even stay away from certain tastes and smells, especially the ones you usually like. These effects can last throughout your pregnancy.

You may also have pica, which is when you compulsively consume things that have no nutritional value like dried plant flakes, ice, dirt or pieces of metal. If you experience such a phenomenon, go see your doctor right away.

PMS: 

Food cravings is one of the most common PMS symptoms. It’s sometimes so bad that it can start to interfere with your life (or at least it feels like that!).

Women on PMS are likely to notice a change in their eating habits. They may crave for sugars, chocolate, sweets, carbohydrates, or salty foods. If not that, then they might have a ravenous appetite. These symptoms don’t occur in the same manner as when a woman is pregnant.

Symptom #6: Nausea

Pregnancy:

Experiencing morning sickness is a sure sign of pregnancy. A month after pregnancy, women experience short periods of nausea, which may or may not be followed by vomiting. In spite of the name, morning sickness can happen at any time of the day. But this may vary between women.

You can even feel sick after drinking water.

PMS:

If your period is late, you shouldn’t expect any nausea or vomiting. However, you may experience some digestive discomfort like nausea, that can be followed by symptoms of PMS.

Symptom #7: Cramping

Pregnancy:

Pregnant women may experience mild or light abdominal cramping. These cramps may be similar to the ones that are felt during a period, but they usually occur in the lower stomach or lower back.

If you have a pregnancy loss history, pay attention to these symptoms and rest. Talk to your doctor if they don’t go away. The cramps can last from weeks to months during pregnancy. It is crucial you see your doctor immediately if the cramps during your pregnancy are accompanied by either bleeding or watery discharge.

PMS:

You may experience dysmenorrhea if you have PMS, which are cramps that occur 24 or 48 hours prior to your period. It’s due to mild contractions of the uterus. The pain may reduce during your period and disappear completely by the end of your flow.

Menstrual cramps are known to lessen after your first pregnancy or as you grow older. Some women even experience more cramping as they head towards menopause.

How to Reduce Menstrual Cramps

There are a number of ways to treat painful periods, including menstrual cramps. Some of these include dietary changes, home remedies, over the counter painkillers, as well as medical treatments from your doctor.

However, one interesting, new option is the Livia. The company calls it the “off-switch” for period pain. The way is works is that the machine emits a frequency that disrupts menstrual cramps. Scientific studies have shown some good results.

You can learn more about it here: Livia Review. Or, check it out for yourself over on Amazon:

Symptom #8: Vaginal Discharge

Pregnancy:

When you’re pregnant, an increase in estrogen can lead to an increase in milky, white discharge. It may be thicker in texture than regular discharge throughout your cycle, but it’s often hard to know the difference. This often lasts throughout pregnancy.

PMS: 

A spike in progesterone levels before your period may cause an increase in vaginal discharge. It’s usually thick and sticky, and the quantity will be less than during ovulation.

Symptom #9: Darkening of the Areola

Pregnancy:

As early as a week or two after conception, the areolas or nipples can darken. It may also develop later on in the pregnancy.

PMS:

Changes in the colour of the areolas or nipples are not caused by changing hormones during your cycle.

Symptom #10: Acne

Pregnancy:

During early pregnancy, there’s usually no chance related to this.

PMS: 

Some people have hormonal acne that can often flare-up right before their period.

Symptom #11: Fatigue

Pregnancy:

During early pregnancy, fatigue is very common.

PMS:

Before a period, it’s normal to feel tired and fatigued. However, this feeling usually goes away once you start your period.

PMS or Pregnancy: Shared Symptoms

There are a number of symptoms that both PMS and pregnancy share. Many of them are caused by the same underlying condition: hormonal changes. We’ll outline a few of the most common ones here.

Symptom #1: Headaches

Changing hormones can results in headaches during pregnancy as well as leading up to your period.

Symptom #2: Constipation

Levels of progesterone rise during the second half of the menstrual cycle when you’d be going through PMS, which can lead to constipation.

During early pregnancy, changing hormones can cause this problem as well.

Symptom #3: Increased Urination

Most people who are pregnant experience the need to urinate more. Some people also find that more frequent urination happens right before their period is about to start.

Symptom #4: Back Pain

Both pregnancy and PMS can lead to an increase in back-pain and discomfort.

Symptom #5: Weight Gain

During PMS, one of the most common symptom is bloating, which can seem like weight gain. During early pregnancy, you’ll also of course gain weight as well as your body prepares for the pregnancy.

Symptom #6: Headaches

It’s normal to experience hormonal headaches, and both pregnancy and before your period are times when hormones are wildly fluctuating.

When to See your Doctor about Pregnancy Symptoms vs PMS?

A common question that people have is whether or not they should see their doctor if they’re confused about PMS or Pregnancy. A good rule of thumb is to wait for a week or two after the time of your regular period and visit your doctor for a pregnancy test.

This assumes that you have a normal menstrual cycle though. If your cycle is very irregular, and you miss periods, or have very late periods, then you may want to wait an additional amount of time, perhaps another week or two.

The most common reason for a missed period is pregnancy! There are other reasons to miss periods so don’t just assume it’s because you’re pregnant. If you have any concerns, please visit a medical professional.

However, if you get your period, then you’ll know that your symptoms were most likely related to PMS.

Here are some of the home pregnancy tests you could also consider taking as well:

Can You Have a Period and be Pregnant?

In spite of all the claims put out there, it is not possible to have a period while you’re pregnant, light or heavy. It may be possible to experience spotting during early pregnancy, which could be light pink or dark brown in color, but nothing really serious.

Per the American Pregnancy Association, if you’re bleeding to the point where you fill pads and tampons, then this may be a good indication that you’re probably not pregnant.”

Difference Between Period and Pregnancy

A period is a monthly event which occurs in place of a fertilized egg.  Eggs are usually released once a month and if they aren’t fertilized, they exit out of the uterus and shed through the vagina.

During a “normal” period, bleeding starts out light and then gets heavier, resulting in darker red colored blood. Then at the end of a menstrual cycle, the bleeding becomes lighter in both color and quantity.

There is a clear and simple difference between being pregnant and menstruation – As soon as you become pregnant, you don’t get any periods. However, there have been some women who claim that they have experienced periods during their pregnancy. Some of these conspiracies are fueled from places such as online blogs, social media, as well as television shows like “I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant.”

What Happens If I Start Bleeding After I Have a Positive Pregnancy Test?

You have to understand that bleeding itself isn’t necessarily a bad sign. In fact, many women experience spotting during their first trimester go on to have healthy babies afterward. And if you’re bleeding during pregnancy, then it is something other than regular menstruation.

Besides, periods only occur when you’re not pregnant. That’s why it is important for you to learn the different types of bleeding during pregnancy before you get in touch with your OB-GYN.

What Causes Bleeding During The First Trimester of Pregnancy?

Around 25-30% of women experience bleeding or spotting in early pregnancy. This can be caused by a number of various factors such as:

• Changes in the cervix
• Implantation bleeding
• Infection
• Ectopic pregnancy (Pregnancy that happens outside the uterus)
• Molar pregnancy (non-viable fertilized egg gets attached to the uterus)
• Early signs of miscarriage

Implantation Bleeding

Implantation bleeding (also known as breakthrough bleeding) usually happens during the first stages of pregnancy. During this phase, you may not have likely gotten a pregnancy test just yet.

Implantation bleeding takes place when the fertilized egg attached itself to the uterus, which is around the time when your period usually occurs. This type of bleeding is at times mistaken by pregnant women as a period, but it is actually spotting or light bleeding.

A little while after pregnancy, you will notice spotting caused by cervical changes. Although this isn’t a cause for concern unless there’s an infection.

Other Causes

There are other kinds of early bleeding that may require emergency medical attention, such as:

• Molar pregnancy
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Miscarriage
• Infection

That is also followed by

• Back pain
• Losing consciousness or faintness
• Abdominal pain or severe cramping
• Shoulder pain
• Fatigue
• Vaginal discharge changes
• Fever
• Frequent vomiting and nausea

While the bleeding may be a little heavier, it’s more like experiencing a normal period.

What Causes Bleeding in The Second And Third Trimesters?

If you experience bleeding beyond the first trimester, then something is indeed wrong. Whether the bleeding during the second and third trimester is light or heavy, whether it has symptoms or not, you need to call your doctor right away.

Common causes of bleeding during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy include:

• Miscarriage
• Term or preterm labor or cervical dilation
• Placental abruption
• Placenta previa
• Vasa previa (rare)
• Uterine rupture (rare)

Placenta Previa

This occurs when the placenta is implanted low in the uterus and is either really close or covers the cervix. The bleeding may be different at times, but there are no other symptoms that you will experience. Placenta previa hinders labor as well as delivery.

Preterm labor

This indicates any birth that takes place before 37 weeks. Prior to peterm labor, some women experience period-like symptoms, along with a large amoun of mucus discharge. Other symptoms of perterm labor may include a sensation of pressure in the vagina, backache and changes in discharge.

Uterine Rupture

This refers to the uterus muscle that either separates or tears, which causes uncontrolled bleeding. It occurs commonly in women in the United States who have delivered in the past via cesarean delivery. Although this may be rare, this tear occurs on old car lines along the uterus.

Placental Abruption

Placental abruption occurs during the last few months of pregnancy. This condition involves the placenta being detached from the uterus, which then causes heavy bleeding and possibly also severe cramping as well as severe stomach pain. Some health conditions, such as high blood pressure, can increase the risk for placental abruption.

Many of the symptoms that occur during the latter part of pregnancy can cause bleeding as well as other symptoms that may come off as having a period, but it not actually one.

Third Trimester Bleeding

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8_J9Ayigmc

Bleeding and Pregnancy

It is not possible to get periods during pregnancy. However, there are some pregnant women who experience symptoms that are identical to that of a period during their first trimesters, which include:

• Light cramping
• Vaginal bleeding (light, and short-term)
• Irritability
• Fatigue
• Lower back pain

The only difference here is that these symptoms are natural part of your body to prepare it for pregnancy. If any one of these symptoms are either painful or don’t go away soon, and occur during the second and third trimesters, then it is vital that you seek immediate emergency attention from your doctor.

This is usually tricky because it is very hard to tell whether the bleeding you experience requires immediate medical attention or not. But just in the event you do indeed experience any kind of bleeding during pregnancy, then you must inform your doctor right away. 

PMS Symptoms vs Pregnancy: Conclusion

It is very crucial that you know the cause of your symptoms. The sooner you find those causes if or when you’re pregnant, the sooner you can get the right care for yourself. By far, the best way to differentiate the symptoms of PMS and early pregnancy is by taking a pregnancy test.

PMS Symptoms vs Pregnancy Symptoms: Have your Say!

Do you have any questions or comments about pregnancy symptoms vs PMS symptoms? Or tips and advice for how to differentiate between the two? Do you have a story that you’d like to share? Leave a comment below and let us know your thoughts.

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Reference: Healthline

Please note that this content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. See your doctor for proper care, and advice that pertains to your specific information.