White vaginal discharge, cramping and a missed period are all signs of pregnancy, although they can also be symptoms of a late period or other conditions. Stomach pain and cramping during pregnancy usually feel different to pain and cramps you experience during your period.
Discharge before a period tends to be cloudy or white, due to the increased presence of progesterone, a hormone involved in both the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. In other phases of the cycle, when the body has higher levels of estrogen, vaginal discharge tends to be clear and watery.
White discharge commonly occurs three to five days before the start of your period. This happens because hormonal changes can increase the mucus produced by your vagina.
“On average, these cycles are 28 days long, but can range from 21 to 35 days.” That means that a 28-day cycle one month and a 26-day cycle the next month is probably nothing to worry about. But your period might be considered late if: It's been more than 35 days since your last period.
Menstrual irregularities, such as missed or late periods, occur in 14–25% of women of childbearing age. They can result from a range of conditions besides pregnancy, including hormonal imbalances, hormonal birth control, stress, weight loss, trauma, and certain health conditions.
An increase in vaginal discharge can be a sign of pregnancy. It is typically a thin clear, or milky white liquid.
Normal discharge during pregnancy is clear or white, and usually a bit sticky; it should not have a noticeable odor. It's OK if your discharge looks a little yellow on your underwear or panty liner during pregnancy, too.
Changes in cervical mucus can be a sign of early pregnancy. After ovulation, your cervical mucus thickens or dries up, then you eventually get your period. However, if you conceived at ovulation, you may still produce some cervical mucus. This can indicate to some women that they might have conceived.
Lots of women get pelvic pain and cramping, but your period isn't always to blame. Cysts, constipation, pregnancy -- even cancer -- can make it feel like your monthly visitor is about to stop by. It can be tough to tell whether having cramps without a period is caused by something simple or more serious.
Is a late period a sign of pregnancy? If you usually have regular periods and your period is overdue by less than three days, you may be pregnant and your period might be considered delinquent. Late periods can result from a variety of factors, such as lifestyle modifications and medical problems.
Hidden pregnancy signs may include typical pregnancy symptoms, such as spotting, nausea, cramping, swollen breasts, and fatigue. You may not notice these symptoms because you don't think you could be pregnant, or you may think your symptoms are caused by something else. It's also possible to have no symptoms at all.
Almost immediately after conception, your vagina's walls start to thicken, which can cause a white, milky discharge that may continue throughout your pregnancy. The discharge is typically harmless. If the discharge is accompanied by a smell or a burning or itching sensation, contact your physician immediately.
Probably the most reliable physical symptom of early pregnancy is a missed period. Noticing that your breasts are getting increasingly sore, or experiencing symptoms that you don't usually get around the time of your period, are also signs that you could be pregnant.
If your period is very late, or you've skipped your period, and you get a negative result, you are unlikely to be pregnant. If you are testing before the date of your expected period, you may be pregnant but your hCG levels are too low for the test to detect.
Things like missing your period, sore or tender breasts, feeling more tired and nausea (morning sickness) are common symptoms of early pregnancy. Some people have symptoms of pregnancy before they miss their period. Take an at-home pregnancy test if you think you might be pregnant.
If the stress is short-lived, you may miss a period or be a few days late. However, if the stress is chronic, more erratic or absent menstruation can occur.
Pregnancy is by far the most common cause of a missed period. However, other medical and lifestyle factors can also affect your menstrual cycle and make your period late. If you're not pregnant, then weight changes, hormonal irregularities, and menopause are among the most common causes of a missed period.
Periods without actual flow, also known as phantom periods or phantom flow, have symptoms that are very similar to those of a normal periods except that there is no actual blood release. Phantom periods can occur due to a variety of reasons including stress and endometriosis.
Implantation cramping and light bleeding may be an early sign of pregnancy. It is easy to mistake these symptoms as menstrual cramping or light bleeding. For this reason, it is important to recognize the other early signs of pregnancy. However, these symptoms alone do not prove a pregnancy.
Early pregnancy cramps are similar to menstrual cramps, but they can occur lower down in the stomach. These cramps may persist for weeks or months during pregnancy, as the embryo implants and the uterus stretches.