Pregnancy or Flu Symptoms: Sometimes Hard To Tell

It’s not uncommon for pregnancy and flu symptoms to feel like one in the same. Many women describe early pregnancy as feeling very much like being sick with the flu before they knew they were pregnant.

If you’ve been feeling flu symptoms and suspect that you may be pregnant, this article may answer many of your questions.

The Not-So Telltale Signs

Missed Period: You know that a missed period is a sign of pregnancy, but it can also be a symptom of other things and in rare cases even the flu. A stomach flu which causes vomiting and diarrhea can mess with your cycle and especially so if you are on birth control pills. Vomiting or having a bowel movement immediately after taking your pill can cause your body to miss the dose which can alter your period. If your missed period is also accompanied by morning sickness or tender breasts then there is a good chance that you may be pregnant.

Nausea/Vomiting: Here’s another symptom that is associated with both pregnancy and the flu. While nausea can strike at anytime during a pregnancy it is most common in early pregnancy. And while it can also happen at any time of the day, it commonly occurs in the morning which is what we all know as morning sickness.

Fever: A fever should always be investigated whether you think you are pregnant or not. Having a fever is a sign of infection and is a common symptom of colds and flu’s. A low grade fever is also fairly common in early pregnancy.

Dizziness and Fatigue: Early pregnancy causes both dizziness and fatigue in most women, but so does having the flu. Feeling weak and tired when you have the flu is very common and a bad cold can affect your inner ear and cause dizziness.

What To Do

You don’t need to rush out for a pregnancy test every time you feel nauseas or tired, but if you’ve missed a period then a pregnancy test is not a bad idea. Pregnancy and flu symptoms really can be tough to differentiate sometimes so a little common sense is needed. Have you had unprotected sex recently? If so then you may want to hold off until you’ve had or missed your next period before you start to worry. Are the symptoms severe? Then regardless of whether you think its pregnancy or flu, you need to get to a doctor to find out what’s going on with your health. Have you been around others who have a cold or flu? There’s a good chance that you’ve caught it.

Pregnancy and flu symptoms can be similar,  but knowing what other symptoms and signs to look out for in both pregnancy and flu can help put your mind at ease.