How Can I Tell If I Am Pregnant
Summary: The best way to determine if you are or are not pregnant is to take a pregnancy test.  Home pregnancy tests are widely available on the market today, allowing you the freedom and privacy to accurately test at home, as early as one or two days after a missed menstrual cycle.  Home pregnancy tests check your urine for the presence of HCG (Human Chronic Gonadotropin) hormone.

It is possible to test slightly earlier, though it's necessary to be aware of your ovulation cycle and fertility times to do so.  The more sensitive tests can recognize the rise of HCG in your urine as quickly as seven or eight days after conception - The time of conception is the moment at which the egg is actually fertilized, not the time of intercourse.  The levels of HCG double on a daily basis when you are pregnant. Your physician can also offer you a pregnancy test that tests by blood.  A blood test is more sensitive than the urine tests and will find the HCG hormone sooner than a urine test will.

There are many myths about getting pregnant, how to avoid getting pregnant and what to do if 'an accident happens'.  The fact is that pregnancy is not an accident; the timing must be perfect for one to conceive.  If your menses are timely and you are aware of your ovulation cycle you can map out your fertile days with little effort.  There are many online ovulation calculators available that can help you determine your ovulation and most fertile times, though generally, your fertile period is approximately four to five days before ovulation and extends approximately 24 to 48 hours thereafter.  Ovulation typically falls around day 14 of your 28-day menstrual cycle.  Sperm can live inside your body for four to five days after being deposited and the egg can survive for approximately 24 hours after being released, matching the two together within the same window of time will result in a fertilized egg.  However, using the calendar as a gauge for or decisive factor in practicing or not practicing birth control is a dangerous and unsafe.

Statistically there are approximately 11 million couples in the United States trying to conceive.  Of these couples only 20% will be successful in the first month, most will need 5-6 months to conceive.  The couples that are unsuccessful at becoming pregnant, after trying for a minimum twelve months, may begin fertility treatment, with an estimated success rate of 50%.  Reports indicate that infertility causes among couples are caused 40% in part from the female, 40% from the male and 20% from a combination.  When you are trying to become pregnant it's easy to become anxious and the urge to test early is hard to resist, but testing early has its painful downfalls.  One of the benefits to waiting until your missed period to take a pregnancy test is because as many as 40% of women actually do conceive but get their menstrual cycle before ever realizing it. This is normal, it is the way our bodies are designed, but it is also a heartbreaking statistic that one can avoid.

If you suspect that you are pregnant, are experiencing some of the common symptoms or have uncharacteristic abdominal pain or bleeding it is recommended that you see your doctor immediately.  The most common symptoms of pregnancy are flu like symptoms, unexplained fatigue, unusual cravings and tender or swollen breasts.  Some women also experience light spotting that lasts for one to two days and often mistake it for a light period, during the implantation period.  

Smoking, drinking alcohol and consuming caffeine can all not only hinder your ability to become pregnant, but they can harm an unborn fetus as well.  For these reasons, it is advised that you avoid these items if you suspect that you are pregnant or are trying to conceive.