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Pain in early pregnancy
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025

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For a woman, the first signs of pregnancy are the first reason for joy. There are 10 earliest signs that will "signal" that you are pregnant at a fairly early stage. Some women note 1 or 2 of the first "symptoms" of pregnancy, others - several at once. If you have one or more of the 12 signs of pregnancy, you should think about visiting a doctor to make sure that you are pregnant. During this period, the hormonal background begins to change dramatically, and the body "reacts" to these changes. Pain may occur in the early stages of pregnancy.
Diseases that cause pain in early pregnancy
- In early pregnancy, women usually suffer from lower back pain. But this pain may completely disappear after the 20th week of pregnancy. Most women suffer from lower back pain in early pregnancy due to softening of the discs and supporting ligaments and an increase in the level of the hormone progesterone. If a pregnant woman has any kind of urinary bladder infection, this can also cause lower back pain. Constant lower back pain in pregnant women occurs because the center of gravity of the abdomen, in which the baby is located, changes.
- Pain in the lower abdomen in early pregnancy may be a sign of spontaneous abortion.
The following stages of abortion are distinguished: threatened, initial, abortion in progress, incomplete abortion and complete abortion. If the abortion is threatened, a feeling of heaviness or a slight pulling pain in the lower abdomen and in the sacrum area is noted. If the woman is in late pregnancy, cramping pains may appear. Bloody discharge is insignificant or absent. The cervix is not shortened, its external os is closed, the uterus is in increased tone. The volume of the uterus corresponds to the gestational age.
- The abortion that has begun is manifested by cramping pains in the lower abdomen and bloody discharge, which is more pronounced than in the process of a threatened abortion. The fetal egg is detached in a small area, so the volume of the uterus is related to the gestational age. The cervix is preserved, its canal is closed or slightly open.
- Abortion in progress is characterized by cramping pains in the lower abdomen, severe bleeding. The fertilized egg is located in the cervical canal, its lower pole sometimes protrudes into the vagina. Abortion in progress can end in incomplete or complete abortion.
- In case of incomplete abortion, a part of the fertilized egg is expelled from the uterine cavity, cramping pains in the lower abdomen and bleeding of varying intensity are observed. The cervical canal is opened, a finger can be easily inserted during vaginal examination, the uterus has a soft consistency, its volume is less than the determined gestational age. As a rule, the membranes of the fertilized egg, the placenta or part of it remain in the uterus.
- In case of a complete abortion, the fertilized egg leaves the uterine cavity, the uterus contracts, and bleeding stops. If the contractions of the uterus that occur after the death of the fertilized egg are insufficient to expel it, a slow detachment of the fertilized egg is observed, which can be accompanied by prolonged, mild uterine bleeding, which leads to the development of anemia. In the early stages of pregnancy, there is a possibility of a cervical abortion. In this case, the external os of the uterus does not open, and the fertilized egg, having completely detached, descends into the cervical canal due to uterine contractions, its walls stretch, and the cervix takes on the shape of a barrel. This type of spontaneous abortion should be distinguished from a cervical pregnancy, when the fertilized egg is strengthened in the cervical canal.
- In case of spontaneous abortion, microflora from the vagina can penetrate into the uterine cavity, which leads to the development of an inflammatory process. An abortion complicated by infection (febrile) can cause some generalized septic disease. In this case, leukocytosis, tachycardia, fever are observed, the uterus can be too large, pain can be felt during palpation, purulent discharge from the genital tract appears. If the infection spreads, the condition of the pregnant woman worsens, pain, chills, dysuric and dyspeptic phenomena, changes in the blood formula occur: increased leukocytosis, increased ESR, diseases such as purulent salpingitis, parametritis, pelvic peritonitis, sepsis can develop.
Thus, if you feel pain in the early stages of pregnancy, immediately contact your gynecologist. This way, you will be able to protect yourself and your future child and identify undesirable phenomena in time.
12 Signs of Pregnancy
- Delayed menstruation. If pregnancy occurred before the start of your menstrual cycle, then you will probably not be able to "wait" for your period this month. Although minor bloody discharge may occur during pregnancy, its color should be pinkish or brownish, and it should also be scanty.
- Frequent urination. This is one of the earliest "symptoms" of pregnancy. Changes in hormonal levels, which are caused by the presence of the embryo in the uterus, usually cause frequent urination.
- Elevated Temperature. A slightly elevated body temperature during ovulation is considered normal. But if the temperature remains elevated after ovulation has ended and remains elevated until the onset of menstruation, it may be one of the earliest "symptoms" of pregnancy.
- No menstruation. If you have missed your period for one month, this is one of the surest signs of pregnancy. However, if your cycle is fairly regular, then the absence of menstruation may indicate pregnancy.
- Fatigue. Energy deficiency is also considered one of the first "symptoms" of pregnancy. However, this type of fatigue is quite difficult to distinguish from other types of exhaustion. Increased fatigue and poor health are the results of changes in a woman's hormonal background. At the same time, such fatigue usually disappears when the body adapts to the new hormonal background.
- A pulling pain in the lower abdomen. The uterus can contract regularly and frequently. Sports, orgasm and various types of movements - all this can provoke uterine cramps and pain in the early stages of pregnancy.
- Nausea. Women usually define it as morning sickness. Women rarely consider nausea and vomiting to be the first signs of pregnancy. Of the 12 signs of pregnancy, only 50% of all women may experience nausea.
- Increased sensitivity of the breasts and nipples. This is also one of the earliest signs of pregnancy. Increased sensitivity disappears when the body gets used to the new hormonal background.
- Darkening of the areolas. The area around the nipples takes on a darker shade within a week after conception. They become more distinct and dark.
- Constipation. Early in pregnancy, you may experience some changes in your bowel movements. Your digestive system may work more slowly due to changes in your hormonal levels.
- Lower back pain. Pain in early pregnancy may affect the lower back. It should be noted that mild pain may periodically appear throughout the entire pregnancy.
- Migraine and headache. A sharp increase in hormonal levels in the body can provoke such pain in the early stages of pregnancy. Among other causes, one can name dehydration, lack of caffeine, PMS ( premenstrual syndrome ), significant eye strain, and a number of other diseases can cause headaches of a periodic or chronic nature.