What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Pregnancy While Taking Birth Control?

Correctly using birth control can give you a sense of control over your body and sex life. Many forms of birth control now boast over 90 percent effectiveness in preventing pregnancy. Planned Parenthood notes that an average of less than 1 in 100 women will become pregnant while using the most effective forms of birth control (vasectomy, female sterilization, intrauterine device (IUD) and implant). However, even with a highly effective form of birth control, there is no way to guarantee you will not become pregnant if you are having sex.

  1. Mood Swings

    • The Labor of Love website notes that pregnancy symptoms are not affected or altered by the use of birth control. You may experience normal changes in mood (particularly irritability) in the early stages of pregnancy due to the increase in hormones. You may find yourself becoming emotional over situations that would not normally irritate you, or you may feel more sensitive overall.

    Fatigue

    • Every woman experiences pregnancy differently. This is why fatigue is often a symptom that goes without suspicion--everyone has long days at work and family and other obligations that may leave them feeling more tired then usual. Pregnancy-related fatigue may cause you to long after an afternoon nap or to need to go to bed earlier at night to feel rested the next morning.

    Nausea

    • A common indicator of pregnancy is a constant feeling of nausea (by itself or accompanied by vomiting). The What to Expect When You're Expecting website notes that nausea (or morning sickness) may be caused by a combination of pregnancy hormones, stress on your body, and your body's reaction to your soon-to-be baby.

    Missed Period

    • A missed period may be what triggers you to go out and purchase a home pregnancy test. Even still, there are many non-pregnancy related reasons you may miss your period including: depression, sudden change in weight, stress, medications or other health conditions. Home pregnancy tests are fairly accurate at detecting HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), a hormone created during pregnancy. If your period is late by more than a week, and a home pregnancy test comes back negative, speak to your practitioner about scheduling an appointment to see what the cause of your missed period may be.

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