If you’ve ever experienced the stereotypical symptoms of PMS — such as breast tenderness, cramping, and mood swings — you’ve also experienced some of the most common symptoms of early pregnancy.
It’s no secret that both PMS and early symptoms of pregnancy can feel very similar, and it’s why many people think they’re pregnant during the luteal phase even if they’re not.
If you’ve had unprotected sex and you’re curious about your chances of pregnancy, we’ve put together a quiz to help you:
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Untangle your symptoms and
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Get clarity about what’s going on in your body
We’ll also provide some practical next steps you can take based on your results.
Why PMS and Early Pregnancy Feel So Similar
Hormonal shifts, particularly rising progesterone levels, are at the heart of both PMS and early pregnancy symptoms. This is why PMS and early pregnancy can feel very similar.
The most common shared symptoms include:
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Bloating
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Breast Tenderness
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Cramps
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Fatigue
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Food cravings
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Mood swings
Timing is another factor, with both PMS and some early pregnancy symptoms occurring after ovulation but before a missed period.
Key Differences Between PMS and Pregnancy Symptoms
Common Symptoms
It can be very difficult to tell the difference between PMS and early pregnancy due to many of the shared symptoms. For example, bloating before your period is a common PMS symptom. Bloating is also common in early pregnancy.
It’s important to note that there are certain symptoms only associated with pregnancy. For example, nausea before your period is not considered a common PMS symptom. Nausea is more common in early pregnancy — especially in the morning (i.e. morning sickness).
The following table highlights symptoms that are common to both PMS and pregnancy, as well as those only associated with pregnancy.
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PMS vs Pregnancy Symptoms |
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Associated With Both PMS and Pregnancy |
Only Associated With Pregnancy |
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Hormonal Shifts
Progesterone begins to rise following ovulation and is the dominant hormone during the second half of the menstrual cycle (i.e. the luteal phase). There is also a slight rise in estrogen after ovulation, although estrogen levels are much lower compared to progesterone during the luteal phase.
If pregnancy does not occur, progesterone and estrogen levels drop and your period begins. The underlying cause of PMS symptoms is this decline in progesterone and estrogen levels after their peaks in the luteal phase.
If pregnancy does occur, the body produces the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). HCG then tells the body to continue producing progesterone and estrogen, which are vital for pregnancy. This continued rise in progesterone and estrogen is what causes many of the symptoms of early pregnancy.
Patterns and Timing
PMS symptoms can occur as early as two weeks before your period. Once your period begins, symptoms typically ease and eventually go away by the time menstruation has finished.
Early pregnancy symptoms can begin around implantation, which occurs as early as six days past ovulation (6 DPO). In most cases, symptoms do not ease or go away until the second trimester (12 weeks of pregnancy). Certain symptoms, especially morning sickness, typically become increasingly worse throughout the first trimester — often peaking in intensity around 10 weeks of pregnancy.
How This PMS vs Pregnancy Symptoms Quiz Can Help
This quiz is intended to help you assess your symptoms and chances of pregnancy based on the timing and intensity of your symptoms. While it cannot confirm whether you’re pregnant or not, it can provide you with helpful insights into what might be going on inside your body.
This quiz is based on common patterns and hormone-related indicators. It is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
What to Do After Taking This Quiz
If Your Results Suggest Pregnancy…
If your results suggest pregnancy, you should take a basic pregnancy test no sooner than the first day after your missed period. If your pregnancy test result is negative, wait a few days and then test again. It may also be worth taking an early-detection pregnancy test. This type of pregnancy test is more sensitive than standard pregnancy tests and can confirm pregnancy as early as five days before a missed period in some cases.
If your pregnancy test is positive, you should:
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Make a prenatal appointment with your doctor as soon as possible.
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Start taking a prenatal multivitamin to protect the health of your pregnancy.
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Follow a healthy pregnancy diet by avoiding foods that are potentially harmful to pregnancy.
If Your Results Suggest PMS…
If your results suggest PMS, you may be able to find symptom relief with the following strategies:
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Place a warm heating pad on the lower abdomen to ease pain from cramping.
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Gentle exercises, such as walking, yoga, or swimming, can provide natural pain relief while also boosting your mood.
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A combination of magnesium and vitamin B6 supplements can help reduce the severity of certain PMS symptoms — such as depressive mood, anxiety, and cravings.
If you still think you may be pregnant even if your results suggest PMS, it doesn’t hurt to go ahead and take a pregnancy test if your period is late.
In the long term, it’s a good idea to start tracking your symptoms as they evolve throughout your menstrual cycle. This can help you feel more in control of your body and better prepared to address your symptoms as they arise. You can do this in a diary, calendar, or fertility tracking app (such as the Mira App).
For even more clarity into your cycle and symptoms, it’s also worth tracking your hormone levels directly. This is possible with advanced hormone tracking systems, such as the Mira Hormone Monitor.
With Mira, you can:
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Visualize your hormonal fluctuations in real-time.
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Track your physical and emotional symptoms.
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See how your PMS symptoms align with shifting hormone levels during the luteal phase.
If you are actively TTC, Mira also enables you to pinpoint your most fertile days and confirm when ovulation occurred. This can help you plan sex with your partner during the times when you’re most likely to conceive. You’ll also be able to track your period and know the earliest day you can take a pregnancy test.
If Your Results Are Mixed…
If your results are mixed, you should go ahead and take a pregnancy test no sooner than the first day after your missed period. If your result is negative, wait another few days and then take another test.
Waiting for your period to come can feel like forever — especially if you’re anxious about the possibility of pregnancy. During this time, try to stay calm and focus on the things you can control. Stress can disrupt your hormones and delay your period, so it’s important to prioritize your mental and emotional health during this time.
A few helpful strategies include:
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Maintaining a regular routine
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Distracting yourself with work, hobbies, or socializing
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Exercising to boost endorphins and ease anxiety symptoms
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Speaking with a loved one or counselor about how you’re feeling
You should also avoid alcohol and tobacco products to prevent any potential harm to your pregnancy.
When to Take a Pregnancy Test
It’s normal to want to take a pregnancy test as soon as possible after unprotected sex. However, it takes several days for hCG levels to be high enough to be detected in a pregnancy test. If you test too soon, your result may be negative even if you’re technically pregnant. This is called a ‘false-negative’ result.
As a general rule of thumb, you should wait to take a pregnancy test until:
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At least one day after your missed period
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At least 12 days past ovulation (12 DPO)
If you plan to take an early-detection pregnancy test, follow the instructions closely before testing. Guidelines may vary depending on the brand of test.
If your pregnancy test result was negative, it’s worth waiting a few days and then testing again. If you continue to experience period symptoms but still have no period, make an appointment with your doctor. They can assess your symptoms and run blood testing to check your serum hCG levels.
Final Thoughts: Tune In to Your Body — And Trust Your Instincts
If you’ve had unprotected sex, it’s completely normal to feel confused by your symptoms as you approach your period. You may already be familiar with how your body feels during the luteal phase. However, knowing you could be pregnant may make you more hyper-aware of your symptoms.
Listening to your body is important, and this quiz can help you make sense of your symptoms. It’s not a final answer, but it can help you put your symptoms into context. The only way to know for sure whether or not you’re pregnant is to take a pregnancy test.
If you are struggling with PMS symptoms, actively TTC, or both — you may also find the following additional resources helpful:
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Use the Mira App for free to track your symptoms and period.
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Browse our library of free webinars, ebooks, and blog articles.
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Seek expert guidance and emotional support from a specialist in our virtual Hormone Health Clinic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Сan you be pregnant and still have a period?
No, you cannot have a period while you are pregnant. However, it is possible to experience abnormal bleeding during pregnancy that may be mistaken for a period.
If you are pregnant (or think you might be pregnant) and bleeding, speak with your doctor straight away. They can assess your symptoms and check the health of your pregnancy.
What are the signs of your period vs pregnancy?
The most common signs that your period is approaching include:
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Acne
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Bloating
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Breast tenderness
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Cramps
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Fatigue
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Food cravings
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Headaches
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Mood swings
The most common symptoms of early pregnancy include all of the above symptoms along with:
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Frequent urination
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Implantation spotting
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Morning nausea
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Missed period
How do PMS cramps vs pregnancy cramps differ?
Period cramps and early pregnancy cramps can feel very similar — but there are a few subtle differences.
Period cramps tend to be more intense and typically go away after your period is over. Early pregnancy cramps tend to be milder and can continue throughout the first trimester of pregnancy.
What is the difference in discharge before your period vs early pregnancy?
Before your period, discharge is best described as being thick, creamy, and sticky in texture. It can be white or off-white in color, and it tends to be low in volume.
In early pregnancy, discharge is typically thinner and milkier in texture. It can be clear or white in color and often increases in volume throughout pregnancy.
