Whether you're trying to conceive or not, the time leading up to your period can be spent either anticipating or dreading the start of it, so you'll know if you're pregnant or not. When conceive a baby, your body begins to produce human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which causes you to have pregnancy symptoms. But just as there are signs that you are pregnant, there are also ways to tell that you are not. You should pay attention to your body and menstrual cycle to spot signs that you aren’t pregnant.
Menstrual Cycle
If your menstrual period comes on time and is as heavy or light as normal, more than likely, you aren’t pregnant. Generally, a missed period is the first sign of pregnancy, according to Womenshealth.gov 12. When you're pregnant you usually don't have any menstrual periods. However, some women experience implantation bleeding 6 to 12 days after conception, notes the American Pregnancy Association 3. In some cases, this may seem like a really light, really short period.
Absence of Pregnancy Symptoms
Many women experience nausea, vomiting, tender and swollen breasts, increased urination, backache and/or headaches when pregnant, according to the website, A Healthy Me. An absence of these signs, especially when accompanied by a normal menstrual cycle, is a sign that you aren’t pregnant. Fatigue is another sign of pregnancy that starts as early as a week after conception 3. If you aren’t a lot more tired than normal or if you can attribute your fatigue to stress or illness, pregnancy isn’t likely.
Clinical Signs
A negative pregnancy test, especially if it is a blood test done at the doctor’s office to test for hCG, is a sign that you aren’t pregnant 2. Blood tests can usually confirm a pregnancy around 6 to 8 days after you've ovulated, according to Womenshealth.gov 1. Other clinical signs that you aren’t pregnant include no fetus showing on an ultrasound and the absence of fetal heart tones. Additionally, cervical and uterine changes associated with pregnancy won’t be noticed by your practitioner during a vaginal exam.