Pregnancy and menstrual cramps

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Pregnancy and menstrual cramps

You may be pregnant if you:

• Have had sexual intercourse and you have not used any method of birth control.
• Have missed one or more periods.
• Have your period, but there is a lot less bleeding than usual.
• Take birth control pills, but you missed a pill. It is especially risky to miss a pill early in the cycle or pack or to start your new pack a day or two late.
• Have symptoms of early pregnancy. Symptoms may include:
  • Fatigue.
  • Breast tenderness or enlargement.
  • Nausea or vomiting.
  • Increased urination.
• Have done a home pregnancy test, and the result was positive.

During early pregnancy, you may have one or two episodes of light bleeding (spotting). These usually will be lighter than your regular periods and may include some mild cramping pain. Moderate to severe pain with pregnancy can be caused by another problem, such as an infection, an ectopic pregnancy, or a miscarriage or impending miscarriage.

Most women who have regular menstrual periods and are sexually active can become pregnant, even if they use birth control.

If there is a possibility that you are pregnant, make an appointment with your health professional to discuss your symptoms. Practice the following good health habits until you see your health professional:

• Eat a balanced diet.
• Do not smoke.
• Do not use alcohol or drugs.
• Avoid caffeine. Or limit your intake to about 1 cup of coffee or tea each day.
• Do not clean a cat litter box, to avoid the risk of toxoplasmosis.
• Avoid people who are ill.
• Take a vitamin supplement that contains folic acid or a prenatal vitamin.

Credits

Last updated:	July 11, 2007
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer