Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
Steven Doerr, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Doerr received his undergraduate degree in Spanish from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He graduated with his Medical Degree from the University Of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, Colorado in 1998 and completed his residency training in Emergency Medicine from Denver Health Medical Center in Denver, Colorado in 2002, where he also served as Chief Resident.
Women in the early stages of pregnancy may experience a number of different
symptoms that may signal a pregnancy. While a missed menstrual period is often
the characteristic sign of pregnancy, women who do not have regular menstrual
cycles may not recognize that a menstrual period has been missed. In some cases,
breast tenderness or other symptoms are the first sign of pregnancy. Still other
women may not experience any particular symptoms at all during early pregnancy
and may not be aware of their condition. The experience of pregnancy symptoms is
highly individualized and differs among women. In fact, a woman may experience
different symptoms in a second or subsequent pregnancy than she did in her first
pregnancy.
Early Pregnancy Symptoms and Signs
Many women have questions regarding the early symptoms of pregnancy and may
wonder if their symptoms are suggestive of pregnancy. This article focuses on
the most common symptoms a woman might experience in the first trimester of
pregnancy. In addition to a missed period, these include breast tenderness,
nausea and
vomiting, food cravings, fatigue, abdominal cramping and
bloating, frequent
urination, elevated basal body temperature, changes in nipple color, darkening
of the skin, mood swings, and headaches.
AmenorrheaAmenorrhea, the absence of menstrual bleeding, can be either primary or secondary. Causes of amenorrhea include problems with the hypothalamic, pituitary, ovari...learn more >>
DizzinessDizziness may be a minor problem, or could be something life-threatening. Causes of dizziness include high blood pressure, low blood pressure, heart problems, ...learn more >>
Ectopic PregnancyEctopic pregnancy is a condition in which a pregnancy develops outside of a woman's uterus. Causes of ectopic pregnancy include previous Fallopian tube infectio...learn more >>
A pregnancy calendar is a chronological depiction of changes in a pregnant woman and the embryo/fetus during the 40-week course of pregnancy. Pregnancy calendars usually describe development and growth of the fetus and changes in the mother's body at weekly intervals. The calendar is calculated based upon the date of the woman's last menstrual period (LMP) and include the predicted date of birth (due date), sometimes referred to as the EDC, or estimated date of confinement.
