Introduction

Are you wondering if your extreme lethargy or tender breasts are early signs of pregnancy? While every woman's body responds differently, there are some common pregnancy symptoms


Calculate when your period is due. If you have a regular cycle and you keep track of it, a late period is one of the earliest signs of pregnancy.

Notice any other changes in your body. Are you extremely sleepy? Are your breasts tender? Are you moody? Though sometimes subtle, these changes can be clear indicators.

Buy a home pregnancy test at a pharmacy or grocery store, or online. Choose one with two tests per box so you can double-check your results.

Test after you miss a period, or 14 days after you think you conceived.

Read and follow the test instructions carefully. Some tell you to urinate in a cup; others say to urinate right on the test stick.

If the test is positive, make an appointment with your doctor to confirm with other tests and a physical exam.

Retest after a few days if the test is negative and you still suspect that you're pregnant.

Tips & Warnings

Do the test first thing in the morning, when hormone concentrations are highest.
Home tests claim to be 97 percent accurate. When there are mistakes, they're usually false negatives; false positives are very rare.