Teen Pregnancy Signs- What Are The First Signs Of Pregnancy?

So, you think you might be pregnant, or a teenager you know might be pregnant. This page looks at what the signs are of a teenage pregnancy.

The easiest way to find out whether you are pregnant is to take a pregnancy test which are available from pharmacies and drugstores. Of course, not every teenager can easily get a pregnancy test, so this page will talk you through the signs that you may be pregnant.

If you are able to get to a pharmacy and buy a pregnancy test please remember that there are tests now that can tell you whether you are pregnant even a few days before your period is due. However, if one of these proves negative you should test again in a week or two just to be sure. Sometimes pregnancy hormones have not yet reached the level they need to be to register on a pregnancy test.

The most common way that women know that they are pregnant is that they miss a period. The problem that many people have though is that their periods may be irregular so it is hard for them to know whether their period is late or not. 

This is particularly true of teenagers. Whilst your period being late could be a sign that you are pregnant it can also be for a host of other reasons. Please don't assume that just because your period is a few days late you are definitely pregnant. 

If your period is more than two weeks late however you should definitely try to take a pregnancy test or to go and speak to your doctor if possible. If this isn't an option, try and speak to your school nurse or another trusted adult. 

Sore breasts can be another of the teen pregnancy signs. Unfortunately they can also be a sign of PMS or that your period is about to arrive, so as with a late period, they can be a teen pregnancy sign but having them does not mean that you are definitely pregnant.

Another of the teen pregnancy signs is feeling tired. The kind of tiredness that is experienced in early pregnancy is often different to the kind of tiredness that you have at other times in your life. Rather than feeling a bit fatigued, you may feel an overwhelming sense of tiredness, such that it is difficult for you even to stand up or carry on your normal day. 

However not everybody experiences this during pregnancy. If you are feeling unusually exhausted it may be another of the teen pregnancy signs however.

Another possible teen pregnancy sign is the need to go to the toilet more frequently than usual. Many women and girls when pregnant find that they need to get up in the night and go to the toilet far more frequently than normal. This is due to hormonal changes in the body. If you find that you are urinating or going to the toilet more than normal this could be one of the teen pregnancy signs. There are other reasons why you might be experiencing this however. 

Although one of the teen pregnancy signs is that you may have a late period, a very, very light period or spotting can be a sign of pregnancy. This is because it can be caused by the egg implanting into the uterus. Light spotting can also  be a sign that your period is about to start too though, so spotting should not be taken to mean that you are pregnant, only that it is a possibility.

Feeling dizzy, along with tiredness can be a teen pregnancy sign. However it can also be a sign of stress so if you are stressed about possibly being pregnant this could be the cause.

Nausea and vomiting, particularly in the morning can be a sign of teen pregnancy. Many people even if they do not vomit have a dragging sense of sickness throughout the day.

You may also notice that your sense of smell changes so that the slightest smell of food makes you feel sick.

If you have been nauseated and vomiting, particularly in the mornings you may be pregnant. If this has continued for several days you should see a doctor to find out whether you are pregnant or there is another cause. This is because prolonged vomiting can lead to dehydration.

If you think having read all of these signs that you might be pregnant you should speak to a parent and your doctor. 

If you really feel unable to do this at this stage and your period is more than two weeks late you should try and find a way to take a pregnancy test. Perhaps you could visit a clinic or ask a friend to purchase a test for you? This way you will be able to determine whether you really are pregnant before you start telling people. 

If your period is less than two weeks late it is probably best to wait a little bit before taking other action. Many, many teens have a late period rather than being pregnant. Allowing for your bodies natural changes in cycle may save you a lot of heartache. 

However, once your period is two weeks late you really do need to take action. Many teens are terrified of telling people of their fears, but the important thing to remember is that ignoring a pregnancy will not make it go away. 

Not only will you need health care you also limit the options open to you about what to do about your pregnancy if you leave it too long to tell someone. 

If you really feel that you can't tell your parents yourself you probably need to find an adult that you trust to help you to tell them. Some teens can talk to another family member or someone at school. Perhaps you have a friend that could be with you for support whilst you tell a teacher, the school nurse, a doctor or your parents.Whatever you do, you must tell someone if you discover that you are pregnant.