Like so many pregnancy symptoms, sore and tender breasts and nipples are due to surging hormones. The hormones estrogen and progesterone, as well as prolactin (the brain hormone associated with lactation) boost blood flow to the breasts and cause changes in breast tissue to prepare for breastfeeding.
You may notice soreness in your breasts and nipples as soon as one to two weeks after conception.
Nipple pain that occurs after ovulation that gets worse, or nipple pain that does not go away around the time a person expects their period, may signal pregnancy. The only way to know with a high degree of certainty is to take a pregnancy test. Early in pregnancy, HCG levels start low and quickly rise.
The hormonal changes that occur as part of menstruation can cause breast tenderness and sore nipples. Most cases of breast or nipple tenderness occur just before menstruation begins (in the days just before your period). This is because estrogen and progesterone cause your breast tissue to swell.
While your breasts may feel tender during PMS, they can be tender during early pregnancy as well. “You may also be pretty fatigued,” Giles added. “The key difference between the two, however, is that with pregnancy, your period doesn't occur.”
Breast sensitivity: Your breasts may become sensitive in case of both PMS and pregnancy. But in this one, you can spot the difference by the type of sensitivity. If your breasts get sore, you may be pregnant. Whereas, if they have swollen up and are only tender, chances are that you are only experiencing PMS.
How soon can I take a pregnancy test? Pregnancy tests work by detecting a certain level of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) in your pee. You can take a pregnancy test as soon as you've missed your period. However, it's best to wait at least one week after you've missed your period to get the most accurate results.
Some early pregnancy tests, such as the Clearblue® Early Digital Pregnancy Test and the Clearblue Early Detection Pregnancy Test, can tell you whether you are pregnant as early as 6 days before your missed period (5 days before you expect your period)1.
The nipples and the area around the nipples (areola) become darker and larger. Small bumps may appear on the areola. These bumps will go away after you have your baby. You may notice a yellowish discharge, called colostrum, from your nipples as early as the 16th to 19th week.
If you feel tenderness in your breasts you may be experiencing a typical side-effect of PMS. Other non-pregnancy sources of tenderness include medical conditions like infection or cysts. You may even be feeling sore from wearing an ill-fitting bra or pulling a muscle around the chest wall.
However, you don't need to stress too much about taking a pregnancy test at a specific time of day. Using urine later on when it's less concentrated may only “hypothetically delay a positive result by only 12 to 24 hours,” advises Dr. Flanagan.
In a twin pregnancy, there are elevated levels of hCG, making it possible to have a very early positive result. However, home pregnancy tests won't confirm if twins are present, only the presence of hCG. It takes around 2 weeks after conception for hCG to be detected in a hCG pregnancy test.
You cannot detect pregnancy at week one since the hormonal changes detected by the at-home pregnancy tests haven't started happening in your body yet.
Your growing uterus is pulling and straining the muscles that support it. You may feel sharp pains or just a mild pulling sensation. It often occurs when you cough, sneeze, stand up, sit down, roll over, or during sex.
One of the more common PMS symptoms is breast tenderness or breast pain. This sore and dull ache can begin around two weeks before your period and can be a cause for daily discomfort and unease.
Many women notice their nipples are very sensitive (and even painful at times) in the early weeks of pregnancy. If you're experiencing this, don't worry; it will pass after a few weeks. Some pregnant women also start to notice darkened and enlarged nipples as early as two weeks past conception.
Your levels of progesterone peak during the week before your period. Progesterone causes your milk glands to swell, resulting in breast pain and tenderness. Experiencing premenstrual breast pain a week before your period is completely normal and nothing to worry about.
Breast tenderness is often one of the earliest symptoms of pregnancy. According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development , breasts may become sore, heavy, or tingly as early as 1–2 weeks after conception. The nipples may also feel sensitive or even painful to touch.
There's only one way to find out for sure if you're pregnant: take a pregnancy test.