Alternative medicine practitioners utilize evening primrose oil, often shortened to EPO, as a fertility aid. The oil, obtained from the seeds of the wildflower, has been used medicinally by a number of cultures. The Internet abounds with anecdotal...
During pregnancy, several hormones work in symphony to support the growing fetus and the complex body changes needed to support it. They are also important for labor and birth to occur and for the production of breast milk. Human chorionic...
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...
Pregnancy, whether planned or unexpected, can be an exciting time in a woman's life. Knowing the signs and symptoms of pregnancy can help a woman know when to take better care of herself and seek medical attention. While not all women will...
Doctors determine your due date by the first day of your missed menstrual cycle, so, though fertilization --- the point at which you're technically pregnant --- won't typically occur until two weeks into your cycle, you're considered two weeks...
Implantation occurs about six to 12 days after conception, according to the American Pregnancy Association. Implantation is the term used to describe the attaching of the fertilized egg to the woman's uterus, an important first step in the process...
Implantation occurs between five and eight days after conception, according to Merck Manual. This process marks the first major step in the pregnancy following fertilization of the egg. Once the sperm and egg meet, they form a zygote. This zygote,...
Although every pregnancy is different, many pregnancies present with similar symptoms during the first week. As the embryo makes its descent through the fallopian tube and implants in the uterus, hormone levels soar and changes abound in the...
There is an approximate two-week period between conception and testing positive on a pregnancy test. The wait may be difficult for hopeful parents to be. Some symptoms may appear in the first weeks of pregnancy. If you begin to experience symptoms...
For at least the six weeks into your pregnancy, your unborn baby is only the size of half a pea. Yet something so small can affect your body so profoundly. Beyond symptoms such as morning sickness and sleepiness, your body begins undergoing...
Vitamins are essential substances that help to facilitate various chemical reactions in the body to maintain normal growth and functioning. They are present in large amounts in fresh vegetables, fruits, dairy products, meat, eggs and fish. For a...
Spotting or cramping during pregnancy may be simply an annoyance, but it also may indicate a serious medical condition or pregnancy complication. Since it can be difficult for women to determine when the situation is harmless and when it is...
While the likelihood of getting pregnant while taking birth control as directed isn't high, it is still possible. As such, all women should be aware of the signs and symptoms of pregnancy. Getting proper prenatal care early in the pregnancy is...
Waiting for your missed period before taking a pregnancy test can be hard. If you're especially intuitive, you can use some of the immediate signs that you're pregnant that appear before your missed period to give you some clues as to whether...
Signs of pregnancy may occur before a missed period and soon after conception. Hormone levels begin fluctuating soon after a woman's egg is fertilized. Several of the earliest signs of pregnancy may incorrectly be attributed to an upcoming...
For many women anxious to find out if they are pregnant, waiting until a positive pregnancy test is possible is just unbearable. Although many signs of pregnancy do not appear until weeks after conception, there are a few signs that can occur as...
One of the first signs of pregnancy is often a missed menstrual period. However, some women with irregular cycles may not be able to accurately predict when their menstrual periods are due. Implantation bleeding can also be interpreted as a...
Women who are trying to conceive often wish to detect a pregnancy as soon as possible. Many women experience symptoms at the beginning of their pregnancy, which may provide clues to the changes going on within their bodies. Symptoms vary among...
Many women will experience signs and symptoms of pregnancy prior to a missed menstrual period. Symptoms may begin around the time a fertilized egg begins to implant into the uterine wall. This causes a rapid rise in both estrogen and progesterone,...
Implantation bleeding is one of the earliest signs a woman is pregnant and occurs several days after conception. The bleeding appears when the fertilized egg travels from the fallopian tubes and attaches to the uterine wall. About 30 percent of...
At one month pregnant, you have actually only been pregnant for about two weeks. This is because the number of weeks in your pregnancy starts from the date of your last menstrual cycle instead of the actual date of ovulation or conception....
Pregnancy changes so many things about a woman's body, including the way it functions. Some of the changes are enjoyable, such as thicker nails, healthier hair and sometimes a larger bust. Other changes prove less than desirable, such as gas,...
Some brief cramping or pain in the abdominal area is normal during pregnancy. The March of Dimes explains that any severe cramping or pain during pregnancy is not normal and should be reported to a doctor right away. Any abdominal pain, even mild,...
Also known as vitex or monk's pepper, the medicinal herb chasteberry has been used for centuries to improve reproductive health and hormone balance in women. Historically, folk healers have used chaste tree berry as a naturopathic treatment for...
Every pregnancy is different. Even if you've been pregnant before, you may not be certain you're pregnant until you take a pregnancy test. There are other key indicators that your body uses to let you know that you're pregnant and you should plan...
The signs and symptoms of pregnancy vary from woman to woman and can develop as early as a few weeks after conception. Many of the signs of pregnancy can be caused by factors unrelated to pregnancy. If you are sexually active and believe you may...
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...
When you become pregnant, your body goes through many changes to prepare it for carrying your baby for the next nine months. Symptoms of early pregnancy are associated with hormonal changes that begin as soon as you conceive. Although early signs...
Bleeding around the time of an expected period isn't unusual, even if a woman is newly pregnant. Bleeding in very early pregnancy can have several causes, some normal and harmless, others more concerning. It can be difficult to determine the exact...