When a woman is trying to conceive, she is often waiting anxiously during the two-week period between ovulation and the day that she expects that her menstrual period will either start or not start. While there is no way to know for sure whether you are pregnant during what is sometimes called the "two-week wait," there are some signs of early pregnancy to look for even before a missed period.
Implantation Spotting
According to the American Pregnancy Association, some women experience spotting or slight bleeding before they even miss their periods. When the embryo implants into the uterine lining, about a week or two after the egg is fertilized, a woman may notice spotting or some cramping.
Triphasic Basal Temperature
Women charting their temperatures will notice that immediately after ovulation, their morning, or basal, temperature is half a degree to a degree higher than their lower, pre-ovulatory temperatures. When implantation occurs, some women notice another rise in temperature. Known as a triphasic pattern, this is not a foolproof sign of pregnancy. Some women will be pregnant and may not experience a triphasic pattern, and others may see what looks like a triphasic pattern and not actually be pregnant.
Sore Breasts
The Mayo Clinic states that a woman who is pregnant may notice that her breasts are sore, tender, larger or heavier than normal. This may occur as early as two weeks after conception, right around the time her period is due, and is caused by hormonal changes.
Fatigue
According to the Mayo Clinic, the unrelenting fatigue that often accompanies early pregnancy is caused by an excess of progesterone, which is produced in large quantities during the first weeks of pregnancy. Other reasons for feeling very tired during early pregnancy include a lowered blood pressure, low blood sugar and the efforts that the body makes to increase its blood supply.
Nausea
Sometimes referred to as "morning sickness," pregnancy nausea and vomiting can strike at any time of the day or night. The American Pregnancy Association states that nausea can begin as early as two weeks or as late as eight weeks after conception. Some women do not experience any morning sickness at all.
