If your periods are normally regular, the most common reason for missing a period is being pregnant. A period which is much lighter than normal or that is unusual in any way may also be a sign of pregnancy. If your cycle is irregular, it is more difficult to know if you have missed a period.
If you are trying for a baby, missing a period may come as a welcome experience. If you aren’t, it is important to consider whether you have had unprotected intercourse since your last period or whether there was any situation where your contraceptive may have failed, e.g. broken condoms, or diarrhoea/vomiting if on the pill.
If you feel there is any chance you might be pregnant, you can take a home pregnancy test yourself, or make an appointment with your General Practitioner (GP).
Aside from a missed period, there are several other common early signs of pregnancy. Nausea, commonly called “morning sickness” is relatively common in the first trimester (first 12 weeks of pregnancy) and can start very early into your pregnancy. As the name suggests, it often occurs in the mornings, usually improving as the day goes on but can occur at any time of the day. As well as feeling nauseous, you may also experience vomiting, which can occasionally be severe. In this instance you should see your GP, or receive immediate medical attention if your symptoms warrant it.
Tiredness and general fatigue can also be signs of pregnancy. Tiredness can be caused by a number of conditions (some medical, some not) but is often present and noticeable during the early stages of pregnancy. Another early sign of pregnancy is breast tenderness. This is caused by an increase in certain hormones, making the breasts more tender than usual. Some women do experience some breast tenderness ordinarily with their periods, but this usually settles as their period ends.
If you think you might be pregnant, or you are just not sure, a pregnancy test would be the most helpful thing to do in the first instance. Pregnancy test kits are available from pharmacies and are relatively inexpensive. Alternatively, you could have a pregnancy test carried out at your GP surgery, although you may need to book an appointment. Some Family Planning Clinics, and some Sexual Health Clinics (GUM clinics) also provide pregnancy testing without charge.
The pregnancy tests available from the pharmacies are very similar to those used at the doctors’ surgery. The test is performed on a urine sample passed at any time during the day and can be done at any point from the first day after your period was due. This test takes just a few moments to provide a result, and will come with instructions to help you interpret the results.
These tests are approximately 97% accurate when performed correctly, however the tests are more accurate with positive results, than negative results. Therefore, if you think you may be pregnant, but have a negative test result, it would be advisable to repeat the test, or see your GP because the negative result may be incorrect. Your GP can then take a full history from you and perform another test (blood test) to assess more accurately whether you are pregnant or not. However, it takes longer to receive results following a blood test as the sample must be sent to a laboratory for processing. Both the urine and blood tests detect the presence of a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) which is produced by the embryo within a few days of pregnancy.
In early pregnancy it’s best to lead a healthy diet and lifestyle and to avoid anything which may affect the baby in the first few weeks of development. This is discussed in more detail in separate articles, but general guidance includes:
If you have received a positive result from a pregnancy test, think you may be pregnant, or are just unsure, you should make an appointment to see your GP. This is the first step in your antenatal care (care of you during pregnancy). The GP does not need to repeat a pregnancy test if you have had a positive result from a test bought at the pharmacy, but will do a test if you have not already done one or if there is any doubt about whether you are pregnant.
During the first visit, your GP will discuss your pregnancy and answer any questions or concerns you may have. Your general health is very important for the healthy development of the baby and your doctor will look at any illnesses, both past and current, as well as medications and advise you about these for your pregnancy.
Your GP will then arrange your first, or “booking” appointment, with the midwife who will look after you during pregnancy. Your care will be “midwife-led” which means the midwife leads and coordinates your care during pregnancy but will liaise with your GP and obstetricians as required. However, your GP will still be responsible for your general health throughout this period and you should still make an appointment with them for anything non pregnancy-related.
If you have certain pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or epilepsy you may be referred directly to an obstetrician or specialist clinic that looks after pregnant patients with these conditions to optimise your care and ensure you remain fit and well during the pregnancy.