| "Do you think I'm pregnant?" is the most common e-mail question we receive. We are asked this question thousands of times a year in a thousand different ways. But this is one of the questions that we cannot answer. The only way to be sure of pregnancy early on is to have a pregnancy test. Pregnancy tests are accurate after a missed period — some can even detect pregnancy a few days before a missed period.
To be absolutely sure, it's best to have the test done by a medical professional. They use urine tests to detect pregnancy. Home tests can also detect pregnancy from a urine sample, but make sure to follow directions carefully and correctly. To make an appointment for a confidential pregnancy test with your nearest Planned Parenthood health center, call toll-free 1-800-230-PLAN.
The most obvious symptom of pregnancy is a missed period. Other possible symptoms include
- nausea
- inexplicable fatigue
- sore or enlarged breasts
- headaches
- frequent urination
However, it is possible that any combination of these symptoms could also indicate that a woman is premenstrual, or that she has the flu or some other illness.
Many women, especially young women, have normally irregular periods. These irregularities may include missed periods and other changes in the menstrual cycle. These irregularities can vary from month to month. Although pregnancy is the most common reason for missing a period, irregularity is also caused by illness, travel, worry, or stress.
Pregnancy testing is the only way to be sure. | 
