Q&A: What are the early symptoms of pregnancy?

Women who are trying to get pregnant may be super sensitive to physical changes or early signs of pregnancy. For those who experience a surprise or unexpected pregnancy, the symptoms at first may be unnoticeable or chalked up to fatigue or PMS. When fertilization occurs and the embryo implants in to the wall of the uterus, hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin, the hormone of pregnancy) begins to rise. This hormone—in addition to another key pregnancy hormone, progesterone—is responsible for many of the early symptoms women experience in the early weeks of pregnancy.

The most common symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Missed period (not always a definite sign of pregnancy)
• Frequent urination
• Nausea (morning sickness—which can last all day long—is usually worst during the first trimester)
• Tender, enlarged breasts (as your body adjusts to pregnancy, this will improve)
• Odor aversion (up to 40 percent of women experience this)