Many people associate the early signs of pregnancy with breast tenderness and morning sickness; still, other early signs indicate conception has occurred. A pregnancy is medically defined as present once sperm fertilizes the egg. Pregnancy due dates are calculated from the first day of the last menstrual period, even though conception does not occur for another two weeks. Most women do not experience symptoms of pregnancy until 10 to 14 days after conception. Remember, some symptoms associated with conception are not unique to being pregnant.
Implantation Bleeding
Light spotting is seen in some women when the fertilized egg implants into the uterine lining. The bleeding is light-pink in color and often thicker than a regular menstrual cycle. A tampon is not necessary, as the amount of blood is scant. Women occasionally confuse implantation bleeding with their menstrual cycle. The length of implantation bleeding varies for each woman---some women will not experience it, others may only have slight spotting for a day and perhaps others will have implantation bleeding for three days. Implantation bleeding occurs six to 12 days after conception, according to the American Pregnancy Association.
Raised Basal Body Temperature
A slight raise in basal body temperature that lasts over one to two weeks indicate that ovulation has occurred and a pregnancy may be present. The increase in temperature is four-tenths to 1 degree Fahrenheit. The temperature will drop back to normal levels right before a period is expected if a pregnancy is not present. The Mayo Clinic describes the basal body temperature as the oral temperature taken first thing in the morning. A consistent raised temperature may indicate conception and an early pregnancy.
Missed Period
During the first week of pregnancy, a woman may have been expecting her menstrual cycle to start. A missed period is one of the first indicators of pregnancy. Most women with regular cycles will not expect their cycles to begin until the end of the first week, and more likely, the second week after ovulation. Still, every woman's body is different, and not all women follow the regular 28-day cycle.
