What is the difference between early pregnancy and premenstrual signs?

The main reactions of women in the early stages of pregnancy include nausea, fatigue, and sleepiness. However, these cannot determine whether pregnancy is actually present. Some women do not have any reaction when they are pregnant. If there is a delayed menstruation, you must use an early pregnancy test as soon as possible or go to the hospital to check whether you are pregnant. Symptoms of menstruation may also include fatigue, sleepiness, and hunger. Everyone's physical constitution is different, so the reactions are also different. Want to know the differences between early pregnancy and menstruation?

1. Early pregnancy reaction

Early pregnancy reaction refers to a series of reactions in the early stages of pregnancy (about six weeks after menstruation), which include an increase in human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in the pregnant woman's body, a decrease in gastric acid secretion and a prolonged gastric emptying time, leading to dizziness, fatigue, loss of appetite, preference for sour food or aversion to greasy food, nausea, and vomiting in the morning. These symptoms generally do not require special treatment. After 12 weeks of pregnancy, as the HCG level in the body decreases, the symptoms will disappear naturally and appetite will return to normal.

2. Premenstrual symptoms

1. Mainly mental symptoms: common symptoms include nervous sensitivity, irritability, general fatigue, and sometimes headaches, insomnia, and lack of concentration.

2. Mainly physical symptoms: common symptoms include swelling of hands, feet and face, abdominal bloating, abdominal distension in some people, constipation in most girls, lower abdominal pain and breast pain, etc.

3. Premenstrual tension disorder is more common in unmarried young people. They have one or several of the above symptoms, which in most cases do not affect their study and work. A few people have severe symptoms and require medical treatment. Taking painkillers and sedatives can relieve symptoms.

3. Difference

1. Vaginal mucosal discoloration:

Pregnancy: In early pregnancy, the vaginal mucosa may appear darker due to congestion.

Menstruation: A woman's vaginal mucosa remains lighter in color during her menstrual period or before pregnancy.

2. Appetite:

Pregnancy: Basically all pregnant women will experience symptoms such as nausea and vomiting in the early stages of pregnancy. Some symptoms may be mild, while others may be so severe that they are unable to work and live normally and can only rest in bed.

Menstruation: However, the precursor to menstruation is an increased appetite and food intake. Some people prefer spicy food and eat a lot, feeling satisfied after eating. However, there are also a very small number of people who have poor appetite before menstruation, which needs to be distinguished from their previous physical condition.

3. Absence of menstruation:

Pregnancy: Women of normal childbearing age with normal menstrual cycles are very likely to be pregnant if their periods are generally delayed by 1-2 weeks.

Menstruation: Missing menstruation does not mean that you are pregnant. It may be that the menstrual cycle itself is disordered, or there is too much pressure from work and life recently, which leads to delayed menstruation. If it is delayed for too long, you should go to the hospital for diagnosis.

4. Lethargy:

Pregnancy: Early pregnancy symptoms include fatigue and frequent sleepiness. I feel like I’m not getting enough sleep.

Menstruation: Although you may feel sleepy during menstruation, the feeling usually returns to normal within 1 to 2 days. Moreover, most cases of sleepiness are caused by dysmenorrhea.

5. Lower abdominal pain:

Pregnancy: The lower abdomen is cramping and painful, mainly because the ligaments supporting the uterus are pulled upward due to the swelling of the uterus during pregnancy. Just rest and you will be fine. If the pain is severe and unbearable, or it is continuous pain instead of occasional cramps, you need to see an obstetrician and gynecologist.

Menstruation: There is a feeling of heaviness and pain in the lower abdomen. Excessive bleeding during menstruation leads to loss of blood calcium. However, the demand for calcium for females during puberty increases, resulting in severe calcium deficiency. The blood calcium drops even lower, which often causes spasms and contractions of the uterine wall muscles, leading to pain.

6.Body temperature:

Pregnancy: During early pregnancy, body temperature will continue to rise and will remain in the range of 36.9℃--37.2℃. It continued for three months and then dropped.

Menstruation: The body temperature of women of childbearing age may rise by 0.3-0.5℃ after ovulation and return to normal after the end of menstruation.