9 Signs You Might Be Pregnant

Are you in a committed relationship and trying to get pregnant? Do you think you or a loved one might be pregnant but don't know for sure? Are you looking for information on the most common symptoms of pregnancy?

As someone who has gone through a pregnancy with a spouse, I feel it's important to educate others on the importance of getting proper medical treatment as early and often as possible during this important time.

First, you must determine whether or not you or your loved one are pregnant. And the first sign that a woman might be pregnant is simple: a missed menstrual period.

Though missing a period may be caused by other things-birth control pills, certain forms of prescription medication, illnesses, malnutrition, excessive exercise, menopause-it is still a good idea to determine the cause of a missed menstrual period with your doctor.

Home pregnancy tests, which are available in most any supermarket or drug store, are useful and convenient tools to help women determine whether or not they are pregnant. But are they safe? Are they accurate? How do they work?

Home pregnancy tests usually involve placing a small sample of urine on a test strip. The strip tests for a hormone created during pregnancy, hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin). After waiting for one to two minutes, the strip produces a result-either positive or negative. Keep in mind, however, that the test will only be accurate if there is enough hCG in your body during testing. If your body is too early in the pregnancy, the test strip could show a negative result even if you are pregnant, so wait seven to ten days after your missed period before you attempt a pregnancy test.

If you still aren't sure, or if you've determined that you are indeed pregnant and want to know what lies ahead, you might want to check out some of the most common symptoms of pregnancy. Keep in mind that symptoms differ from woman to woman, as well as from pregnancy to pregnancy. Listed below are some of the most common symptoms found on the American Pregnancy Association website:

Implantation Bleeding