I dont know if im pregnant

Can You Be Pregnant and Not Know It?

Written by Kimberly Goad

You’ve probably heard a story about it at least once: a woman who didn’t know they were pregnant until they went into labor. Your first thought? How is it possible to not know you’re carrying a baby?

It’s not out of the question, says Michael Cackovic, MD, an OB/GYN at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. “There are women who don’t have routine sex, don’t have routine periods, and don’t regularly see a doctor,” he says. Under those circumstances, it’s possible you could not realize you’re pregnant.

Other women have mental health problems that keep them from recognizing or accepting that they’re going to have a baby.

A few studies have estimated that one in 400 or 500 women are 20 weeks, or about 5 months, into their pregnancy before they realize they are pregnant. 

One in 2,500 women make it all the way to labor before they understand they’re going to have a baby. That’s about three times more common than a woman’s chance of having triplets.

How It Happens

A number of things could keep a woman from noticing the changes in their body:

Fear or stress. The thought of becoming a mother is so stressful for some women that they go into deep denial -- so deep that they don’t know they’re pregnant. “Denial is a very powerful defense mechanism, making it possible to talk yourself out of every symptom you may have. The movement in your abdomen is ‘just gas,’ for instance,” Cackovic says.

For example, a teenager may deny or ignore a pregnancy because they don’t want their parents to know they have had sex. A married woman may do the same because they got pregnant by someone other than their partner. Some women may have a denied pregnancy because of a mental health problem, like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.

No symptoms. For some women, the physical tip-offs of pregnancy, like weight gain, morning sickness, heartburn, or fatigue, don’t happen. Or they’re so mild that a woman just doesn’t notice them. Depending on their body type, “it’s reasonable for a woman to make it to 30 weeks without looking pregnant,” Cackovic says.

Weight changes. If a woman is overweight or their size often goes up and down, they might not notice the extra baby weight. If they’re obese, Cackovic says, they may not “have the physical feelings of being pregnant” that non-obese women feel.

Period problems. A woman can have irregular periods because of stress, some medications (like birth control pills or drugs for epilepsy), obesity, or health problems like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), uncontrolled diabetes, or an eating disorder. So when their period is a no-show, their first thought may not be pregnancy.

They can’t feel the baby move. Usually a mom-to-be will start to feel their baby kicking or rolling between 18 to 20 weeks of pregnancy. But if the placenta happens to be in the front of their uterus, they may not feel those movements, Cackovic says.

Research suggests a well-adjusted woman can have a denied pregnancy and still go on to be a good mother, especially if they’re able to come to grips with the fact that they’re going to have a baby, Cackovic says. For example, some women understand and accept it when they see an ultrasound image of their child. But doctors usually recommend a mental health evaluation to figure out what caused them to deny their pregnancy. It’s also an important step to prevent child abuse and neglect, which are more common after denied pregnancies than normal ones.

Why It Matters

Women can and do deliver healthy babies after a denied pregnancy, Cackovic says. But there are risks to not knowing you’re pregnant:

• You could miss out on the prenatal care that can ensure that you and your baby are healthy, like physical exams, blood tests, and ultrasound scans.
• You won’t know your or your baby’s risk for complications, like anemia, a type of high blood pressure called preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, or birth defects.
• You won’t know it’s time to make healthy changes that help your baby grow and thrive, like getting good nutrition, avoiding alcohol, and stopping certain medications.

Know the Early Signs

It’s hard to predict who could have a denied pregnancy. But if you think you might miss some of the classic signs, like weight gain or a missing period, you can watch out for other early signals, such as:

• Tender, swollen breasts
• Peeing more often
• Feeling very tired
• Nausea, sometimes with vomiting
• Can’t stand certain foods or smells

Pregnancy Symptoms | How to Tell If I'm Pregnant

The only way to know for sure if you’re pregnant is by taking a pregnancy test. You can go to your local Planned Parenthood, doctor’s office, or other community health center to get a pregnancy test, or you can buy a pregnancy test at your local drugstore.

When looking for a place to get a pregnancy test, beware of “Crisis Pregnancy Centers. ” These fake clinics seem like medical centers, and may even offer free pregnancy tests, but they’re run by people who want to scare or shame you out of things like birth control and abortion, and often give misleading or wrong information about your pregnancy options.

Pregnancy tests detect a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in your urine (pee). Your body only makes this hormone if you’re pregnant. Pregnancy tests are super accurate when you use them correctly. The pregnancy tests you get at the drugstore work 99 out of 100 times when you use them after you miss your period. Some pregnancy test brands say they work days before you miss your period, but these tests are less accurate before your period is due. Store-bought pregnancy tests are just as accurate as a urine pregnancy test that you’d get at a doctor’s office. 

Pregnancy tests are most accurate when you take them after you’ve already missed your period. A pregnancy test will be less accurate if it’s expired or if you don’t use it the right way. So always check the expiration date on the package, and carefully read the directions that come with your pregnancy test. If you take a pregnancy test and you still aren’t sure, visit a doctor or nurse or make an appointment at your local Planned Parenthood health center. 

For most people, the first sign of pregnancy is a missed period. However, missing a period doesn’t always mean you’re pregnant. 

Other early pregnancy symptoms include: 

• Slight bleeding or spotting

• Tender or swollen breasts 

• Feeling tired

• Feeling bloated

• Urinating (peeing) more than usual

• Mood swings

• Nausea and/or vomiting

Not everyone has all of these symptoms, but it’s common to have at least 1. Premenstrual symptoms, side effects from hormonal birth control, and early pregnancy symptoms can look the same or similar — bloating, sore or swollen breasts, feeling tired, and having mood swings. Many of these symptoms can also be signs of other conditions and don’t always mean that you’re pregnant. Even missing a period isn’t always a clear sign, especially if you’re on hormonal birth control, which can change or even get rid of your period while you’re using it. That’s why the only way to know for sure if you’re pregnant is to take a pregnancy test. 

How well your birth control works depends on the method you’re using and whether you take it correctly. 

No method of birth control is 100% effective, even if used perfectly, except abstinence. So the best way to prevent pregnancy is by using both birth control and condoms. There’s another really good reason to do this: condoms are the only method of birth control that also protects you from STDs.

Back to top

We couldn't access your location, please search for a location.

Zip, City, or State

Please enter a valid 5-digit zip code or city or state.

Please fill out this field.

Service All Services Abortion Abortion Referrals Birth Control COVID-19 Vaccine HIV Services Men's Health Care Mental Health Morning-After Pill (Emergency Contraception) Pregnancy Testing & Services Primary Care STD Testing, Treatment & Vaccines Transgender Hormone Therapy Women's Health Care

Filter By All Telehealth In-person

Please enter your age and the first day of your last period for more accurate abortion options. Your information is private and anonymous.

AGE This field is required.

Or call 1-800-230-7526

How to determine pregnancy without a test

How to determine pregnancy without a test and what signs indirectly indicate that your beloved baby will be born soon? Of course, only a blood test can give a 100% guarantee, but the presence of certain signs may indicate its possible onset.

Classic signs of pregnancy

The most common early signs and symptoms may include

• Delayed menses. nine0011 Problems with the regularity of the menstrual cycle may be associated with hormonal imbalance in the body. But if the delay arose for the first time, and before that the cycle was as accurate as a clock, then it is likely that you are pregnant.
• Early toxicosis with severe nausea and vomiting - the most common sign of an interesting situation, but not every woman has.
• Pain in both breasts or enlargement. Nipples can become very sensitive and change color. Sometimes in the early stages, colostrum is released from them with slight pressure. nine0012
• Pain in the pelvic region, similar to menstruation. But this sign can also indicate such a serious pathology as an ectopic pregnancy.
• Increased amount of discharge from the genitals. This can usually be observed during ovulation. Normal discharge is clear and odorless. When a whitish tint or a curdled structure appears, thrush can also be assumed, which is a common problem for expectant mothers. But in this case, you can not do without treatment. During the period of bearing a child, it is necessary to protect your body as much as possible from any, even such a safe disease. nine0012
• Increased or vice versa reduced libido. Every woman experiences jumps in sexual desire in one direction or the other due to hormonal changes occurring in the body. Therefore, men should treat this with understanding, knowing that they have not become less loved, but these are just signs of pregnancy.
• Frequent urination, despite the fact that you do not drink more often and there are no inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system. A similar phenomenon is associated with a slight relaxation of the sphincter of the bladder due to hormonal processes. And with the growth of the uterus and, accordingly, with the increase in pressure on the bladder, going to the toilet will become even more frequent. nine0012