Could tenderness in my breasts mean I'm pregnant?

I am a 38-year-old female. I have had breast tenderness for two weeks. My breasts feel swollen and I have a tingling sensation when I wear a bra. If I take my bra off the tingling sensation subsides. My last period started 26 days ago and it was normal, but I had sexual intercourse seven days after it started. If I am pregnant this is great news for me and my husband, but I'm concerned that this could be something involving my breasts.

Yes, you might be pregnant. Breast tenderness, tingling, or swelling is often the first sign of pregnancy. And many women notice this shortly after conception, long before they miss a period.

Sperm can survive for up to five days after intercourse. Healthy sperm will swim up the vaginal canal, through the cervix, into the uterus to the Fallopian tube and wait for an egg. After ovulation, an egg can survive for only about 24 hours.

This means that if you had unprotected sex on the seventh day of your cycle (day one being the first day of your period), the sperm would be capable of fertilizing an egg anytime through day 12 of your cycle. As long as you ovulated by day 12, you might be pregnant. When trying to conceive, the best time for intercourse (the most fertile period) is just before ovulation and up to one day afterward.

What could this be if you're not pregnant? There are several possibilities. To begin with, breast symptoms can be related to starting certain medications, such as birth control pills or hormones. And some women notice this when they start new vitamins or nutritional supplements. Breast tenderness and enlargement also occur with rapid weight gain. Additionally, women with fibrocystic breasts may notice more tenderness than usual after a marked increase in caffeine intake.

Home pregnancy tests are very reliable and can help answer your question. These tests are accurate as early as seven to ten days after intercourse. If you're pregnant, congratulations! If your pregnancy test is negative, and your symptoms persist after your period, I suggest you discuss this with your physician and have a thorough breast exam.

Good luck and stay well!

Labels: Getting pregnant