Am I Pregnant? Signs of Pregnancy after Sex

Common question men and women have after unprotected sex is, “ Will we get pregnant?” or “What are the first signs of pregnancy after having sex?” Well, there is no direct, firm answer to both, it varies from person to person. Not one, but many different factors play a role in pregnancy after sex. 

Signs of pregnancy appear when the fertilized egg attaches to the wall of the female’s uterus. Some females notice pregnancy symptoms even 1 week after sex. While others do not notice pregnancy symptoms until a few months of their pregnancy.

Symptoms of pregnancy include nausea, morning sickness, headaches, a missed period, fatigue, sore or enlarged breasts, frequent urination, and so on.

Taking a pregnancy test is the best way to know for sure if you are pregnant. You can take a home pregnancy test or go to a gynecologist for testing.

Earliest signs of pregnancy after sex

The symptoms of pregnancy often vary from female to female. There are no “normal or sure-shot predictable” signs of pregnancy that will appear at a certain time.  Just like our bodies, each pregnancy is unique.

However, there are some early pregnancy symptoms that females may notice, including- 

• Implantation cramping and bleeding

A female may experience cramps as one of the earliest signs of pregnancy. Cramps occur due to implantation. Implantation happens when the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine lining.

Such cramps mostly occur a few days after ovulation and are felt in the lower back, abdomen, or pelvis.

Around 25 % of females may notice slight bleeding or spotting around implantation, which is commonly called implantation bleeding. The bleeding is lighter in color and flow than the period blood.

• Raised basal body temperature

  

The female’s basal body temperature increases after ovulation. Her body temperature may stay higher than usual until her period begins. The basal body temperature will remain unusually high, more than the typical time if she is pregnant.

However, this sign is not unique only in pregnancy. Other hormonal or lifestyle factors can also cause a high basal temperature for a long period of time.

• Breast tenderness

Hormone fluctuation during early pregnancy may cause swollen or tender breasts. The female may also feel tingly or itchy breasts. This symptom is common in 1–2 weeks after pregnancy. (Also Read: Itchiness During Pregnancy? Here Are A Few Tips For Would-be Mothers )

• Fatigue

  

Hormonal changes, especially a sudden rise in progesterone levels during the early pregnancy, may make the female feel sleepy or dizzy throughout the day. This symptom can occur just 1 week after pregnancy.

• Headaches

  

Increasing hormone levels in pregnancy may trigger headaches. Some females have headaches in just 1 week after pregnancy while in others it may come a few weeks later. 

• Food cravings or aversions

Many females notice that they have suddenly developed very specific food cravings during pregnancy. This is usually one of the first signs of pregnancy.  

Just like craving particular tastes, a female can begin to find some flavors repellant. The smell or taste of some foods may make her lose appetite or feel nauseous. This is another early sign of pregnancy. (Also Read: Pregnancy diet chart- what to eat during pregnancy )

• Frequent Urination

The urge to pee more often is an early sign of pregnancy in some females. It is due to the high levels of pregnancy hormones in the female body, which increases the blood flow in the kidneys and pelvic area.

• Mood swings

Strong mood swings are also an early sign of pregnancy. Again, these are a result of significant hormonal changes in the body during pregnancy. A female may start having mood swings a few weeks after pregnancy.

• Morning sickness

  

Females usually experience nausea and vomiting at any time of the day just 2 weeks after getting pregnant. You can again blame the hormones for this!

When will I get Pregnant After Sex?

There is no specific time period for that.  The egg and sperm can meet within a few minutes or may take up to 12 hours after unprotected sex involving ejaculation. But, to see a positive result on the pregnancy test, you should wait. 

How early can a pregnancy test show an accurate result?

Pregnancy tests are very advanced and give you an accurate result after the 1st day of the missed period. Some new pregnancy tests are more sensitive and can be done before a missed period, and even after 4-5 days before the period is due.

Next Steps

If you have early pregnancy symptoms or just feel pregnant after having sex, take a home pregnancy test kit, and carefully read instructions and follow the steps. If you get a positive result, it means that you are pregnant. Make an appointment with a doctor to the soonest to know what will happen in your pregnancy in the next weeks, what you should do, about diet and daily exercise. 

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• Homemade pregnancy test- DIY at home pregnancy test
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