Sometimes, the two weeks between the date a woman ovulates and the start of her next period are spent contemplating the chance of pregnancy. When you get pregnant, your body begins to produce human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which causes you to have pregnancy symptoms. But just as there are signs that you are pregnant, there are also ways to tell that you are not. Paying attention to your body and menstrual cycle enables you to spot signs that you aren't pregnant.
Menstrual Cycle
If your menstrual period comes on time and is as heavy or light as normal, more than likely, you aren't pregnant. Generally, a woman who is pregnant won't have any menstrual periods during her pregnancy. However, some women experience implantation bleeding 6 to 12 days after conception. In some cases, this may seem like a really light, really short period.
Absence of Pregnancy Symptoms
Many women experience nausea, vomiting, tender and swollen breasts, increased urination, backache and/or headaches when pregnant. An absence of these signs, especially when accompanied by a normal menstrual cycle, is a sign that you aren't pregnant. Fatigue is another sign of pregnancy that starts as early as a week after conception. If you aren't a lot more tired than normal or if you can attribute your fatigue to stress or illness, pregnancy isn't likely.
Clinical Signs
A negative pregnancy test, especially if it is a blood test done at the doctor's office to test for hCG, is a sign that you aren't pregnant. Other clinical signs that you aren't pregnant include no fetus showing on an ultrasound and the absence of fetal heart tones. Additionally, cervical and uterine changes associated with pregnancy won't be noticed by your practitioner during a vaginal exam.
