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 or later.

Typical timing

• Some people report subtle symptoms (fatigue, breast tenderness, mild cramping or spotting) as early as 5–7 days after conception, which is around the time the fertilized egg implants in the uterus.

• More commonly, noticeable symptoms such as nausea, stronger breast changes, or frequent urination begin between the 4th and 6th week of pregnancy (around or shortly after a missed period).

• A significant number of people do not feel clear symptoms until several weeks into the first trimester, and some have almost no early symptoms at all.

Common early symptoms

• Missed period, breast tenderness or swelling, fatigue, light spotting or cramping, bloating, and more frequent urination are among the earliest common signs.

• Nausea or “morning sickness” often starts a bit later, typically around 6 weeks of pregnancy, although it can begin earlier or not appear at all.

Testing and next steps

• Because early symptoms can overlap with premenstrual symptoms or illness, a home pregnancy test after a missed period (or about 2 weeks after suspected conception) is the most reliable first check.

• If a test is positive or symptoms are worrying (strong pain, heavy bleeding, severe nausea), contacting a health professional is important for confirmation and guidance.