Pregnancy symptoms can start as early as about 1–2 weeks after conception, but many people do not notice anything until around the time of a missed period (about 4–5 weeks pregnant).

Typical timing

• Some very early symptoms (like breast tenderness, fatigue, or a heightened sense of smell) can appear within a few days to a couple of weeks after conception, sometimes even before a missed period.

• Light spotting from implantation can occur roughly 6–12 days after conception in some people, though not everyone gets this.

• For many, the first clear sign is a missed period, which is usually about 4 weeks after the first day of the last period.

Common early symptoms

• Missed period, breast tenderness or enlargement, fatigue, and needing to pee more often are among the earliest common signs.

• Nausea or “morning sickness” often starts a bit later, around 5–6 weeks of pregnancy, though it can start earlier or not at all.

Testing and when to see a doctor

• Home pregnancy tests are most reliable from the day your period is due or after; testing too early can give a false negative even if you are pregnant.

• If you think you might be pregnant, or have symptoms like severe pain or heavy bleeding, contact a healthcare provider or clinic promptly for evaluation.