I have a delay, am I pregnant?

The loss of menstruation is one of the main signs that warn of a possible pregnancy, but it is not the only one , there are many others that we must take into account to consider the possibility of being pregnant and rule out that it is a simple delay of the period, since that this not only occurs in pregnancy, but there are many other causes that can cause it.

WHAT OTHER SIGNS SHOULD WE LOOK FOR TO CONFIRM A PREGNANCY?

It must be taken into account that the pregnancy process is different in each woman and the appearance of symptoms may have a different order, it is even possible not to suffer any of them, suffer others or not show symptoms . Therefore, it is advisable not to just base yourself on symptoms and to make sure by means of a pregnancy test or a blood test that it corroborates that you are really pregnant. Some of the most common signs that appear during pregnancy in women can be:

– Amenorrhea or loss of menstruation : As we have said before, the main sign that can be observed in a pregnancy is the loss of the period, also called amenorrhea. It is important to keep in mind that showing this sign does not mean that you are pregnant, there are many other reasons why this case can occur.

– Light bleeding: In many cases the implantation of the ovum in the woman’s uterus causes a small brown-colored bleeding. It usually occurs five or six days after fertilization.

– Nausea or vomiting: It is very common for women to feel morning sickness or vomiting during pregnancy, this is a consequence of a rise in the level of hormones, such as progesterone. It usually occurs between the second week and the second month after fertilization.

– Feeling disgust and rejection towards certain foods: The simple smell of a food that before liked or that was eaten often can cause disgust and hatred.

– Craving for certain foods: During pregnancy it is very common to suffer what is known as cravings , which are simply a very strong desire to eat a specific food. This is a consequence of the change in the level of hormones that a woman undergoes when she is pregnant.

– Increased sensitivity to pain: It is very common for women to be more sensitive to pain due to the hormonal changes suffered throughout the pregnancy process.

– Tiredness , exhaustion and sleep: It is very common for a pregnant woman to feel constantly tired and sleepy. This sign is much more visible in the first months.

– Dizziness, loss of balance, even fainting: The rise in hormonal levels experienced by women causes arteries to dilate and their pressure to decrease, causing dizziness and loss of balance.

– Increased desire to urinate: During pregnancy the amount of fluids increases and the pressure exerted by the uterus on the bladder makes it necessary to go to the bathroom more often. On many occasions, women present urine leakage or urinary incontinence .

– Increase in the size of the breasts: This sign usually occurs after six weeks of pregnancy and continues until three months. As a consequence of this increase in breast size, stretch marks or itching on the skin usually appear .

– Spots on the skin: The increase in hormones can cause the appearance of spots on the skin, both on the face and on the hands, including a dark line on the abdomen that goes from the pubis to the navel.

– Pelvic pains : These pains are similar to those suffered during menstruation, they are a consequence of the growth experienced by the woman’s uterus after fertilization.

– Increase in abdominal size: The first three months this increase is due to fluid and air retention in the abdomen, after three months it is a consequence of the growth and development of the fetus.

– Higher temperature: A change in the level of hormones can cause a higher body temperature compared to normal.

FOR WHAT OTHER REASONS CAN WE SUFFER A MENSTRUAL DELAY?

Many times we confuse a delay in the menstrual cycle with a pregnancy, and it does not have to be that way, since despite being the most representative sign of a pregnancy it can be caused by a multitude of reasons and have nothing to do with it. Some of them can be:

– Stress : When we experience a very stressful situation, which causes us anxiety or emotional anguish, our period can be affected, delaying noticeably in its appearance.

– Medications : Medications can also affect the correct menstrual cycle, delaying the onset of the period or causing its loss during the period of time that the medication is being taken. Some of these may be birth control, hormonal pills, antidepressants, schizophrenia medication, etc.

– Changes in diet: The modification of eating behaviors can cause a change in the menstrual cycle, causing our period to be delayed or extended more than usual. In many cases, such as anorexia or very strict diets in which you lose a lot of weight and very abruptly, the rule may disappear permanently. In obesity it can also be the case since there is a loss of ovulation.

– Polycystic ovaries : Having polycystic ovaries modifies the hormonal level and therefore, the menstrual cycle, this makes our period go down in a very irregular and uneven way.

– Thyroid problems : Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism also affect the correct menstrual cycle, significantly modifying it.

– Illness : Suffering from an illness, be it a serious illness or simply a cold, can affect our period and cause it to be delayed.

– Excessive physical activity : The increase in physical exercise in a sudden and excessive way, an unusual energy expenditure or a very strict training, are reasons why our rule may be delayed or modified.

– Menopause : The loss of menstruation as a result of age can also be a reason for mistakes in women, especially if it is a case of early menopause.

– Other causes that affect the menstrual cycle can be : chemotherapy in cancer patients, brain tumors, reduced number of ovaries, etc.