Understanding Positive Pregnancy Tests and PMS Symptoms

It sounds like you have your answer. There is a 0% chance that PMS causes a positive home pregnancy test (HPT) six days after missing your period. Let’s break down the facts.

Positive Pregnancy Tests and PMS Symptoms

Even though PMS and early pregnancy symptoms can be very similar, you have a significant clue: the positive pregnancy tests. Combining this with your symptoms, it's clear that your positive pregnancy confirmation is accurate.

Symptoms and PMS vs. Early Pregnancy

Common symptoms associated with PMS, such as bloating, fatigue, headaches, irritability, vaginal discharge, and breast tenderness, are not signs of an impending period. These symptoms are more accurately signs of the hormonal changes after ovulation and leading up to early pregnancy.

The Role of Hormones in PMS and Early Pregnancy

To understand the difference, one must first understand which hormones are responsible for these symptoms and when and why they are present:

Prior to Ovulation

Before ovulation, there are multiple follicles on the ovary, each of which is a fluid-filled sac (follicle) that produces estrogen. The dominant follicle continues to grow, maturing the ovum that will be ovulated. Other follicles stop growing and are reabsorbed by the body.

After Ovulation

After ovulation, the follicle becomes the corpus luteum and begins producing progesterone. Progesterone rises and peaks around day 7, finalizing endometrial preparation for implantation and preventing menstruation. Its peak levels for several days cause the aforementioned symptoms. If pregnancy does not occur, progesterone drops around day 13, triggering an immune response, inflammation, and menstrual bleeding.

Early Pregnancy and hCG

If pregnancy occurs, the forming placenta starts producing hCG, which is absent in the case of a negative HPT. Implantation, when hCG is present, usually occurs between days 8-10. The slight increase in progesterone in early pregnancy can intensify the symptoms commonly associated with PMS.

Understanding Early Pregnancy Symptoms

Bloating can be severe starting between 6-8 weeks, leading women to question if it is their growing uterus. However, the uterus does not rise above the pubic bone until 13-14 weeks. Increased cervical mucus production helps maintain a mucous plug to prevent uterine infection.

Early breast tenderness is another symptom that can only be explained by hormones, becoming pain instead of tenderness at just 12 days past ovulation.

Understanding Nausea in Early Pregnancy

While progesterone and estrogen can cause some nausea, it is not as intense as morning sickness, which is typically caused by high levels of hCG starting around week 7-8. Morning sickness usually subsides during the second trimester.

Conclusion

Based on your positive HPT and symptoms, you are experiencing normal post-ovulation turned early pregnancy symptoms. Understanding the role of hormones in these processes can help clarify why you are experiencing these changes.