Period Cramps vs Early Pregnancy Cramps: How to Tell the Difference

Every month, many women experience that familiar *pang* or *gnaw* in their abdomens. However, if you’re trying for a baby, those twisty-turny cramps may not be a visit from Aunt Flo—they could be a first sign of pregnancy.

Stomach cramps can be one of many common menstruation symptoms or early pregnancy symptoms, much like discharge before a period vs early pregnancy. While they may feel similar, there are some distinct differences between these two types of cramps—some which may help you identify whether you’re expecting or not.

In this blog, we’ll unknot the topic of period cramps vs. early pregnancy cramps, including their sensations, causes, and symptoms.

Period Cramps—What, When, and Why

If you menstruate, you’ve likely had dysmenorrhea—a.k.a., period cramps. In fact, about 4 out of 5 women experience period pain at some point during their menstrual years.

Everyone’s period cramps may feel slightly different, from minor stomach pangs to day-stopping back aches. However, there are a few similarities that differentiate period cramps from those related to pregnancy symptoms.

What are period cramps?

Every month, your body prepares for a potential baby by building up its uterine lining, a mix of tissue and blood that acts as a soft landing pad for a fertilized egg. However, if no fertilized egg arrives, the uterus then sheds its lining in preparation for a new cycle. To help this process, the body releases the chemical prostaglandin that causes the uterus to contract, which releases the lining—but may also create cramps.

This shedding phase is just one part of a woman’s menstrual cycle. Over the course of 21 to 35 days, the menstrual cycle follows four reproductive phases dictated by rising and falling hormones:

1. Menstruation (Days 1 to 7) – The first day of your menstrual cycle kicks off your period, triggered by a sudden drop in progesterone and estrogen. This phase is the most likely to come with cramps because when your uterus contracts to shed its lining, its blood vessels are compressed. This causes your uterus’ blood and oxygen supply to be cut off temporarily, resulting in the release of pain-triggering chemicals.
2. Follicular phase (Days 7 to 14) – Once your period ends, the hormones estrogen and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) start to rise. This stimulates the growth of a new egg in the ovaries.
3. Ovulation (Days 10 to 14) – Once your estrogen and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels peak, a mature egg is released out of an ovary (a process known as ovulation). Some women may experience ovulation pain (or light cramps) during this phase. Since these light cramps are caused by the release of an egg from one of your ovaries, this pain will usually only occur on one side of the lower abdomen.
4. Luteal (Days 15 to 28) – Once an egg is released, the empty egg follicle (now called a corpus luteum) emits progesterone, which tells your body to build up the uterine lining. If no fertilized egg implants, your high levels of estrogen and progesterone suddenly fall. This may trigger uterine cramps and will eventually kick off the next menstrual phase.

What do period cramps feel like?

“Cramping” is a vague term. Does it mean a twist? A punch? A pull? A tightening? In the case of period cramps, it can be all of the above—and then some.

Period cramps are no one-size-fits-all scenario. For some women, period cramps feel like light gas. For others, period cramps are much more painful, and can make it hard to complete everyday tasks. While period cramps may feel different from cycle to cycle, most women will have similar period cramps across their life. Alongside these cramps, most women will also bleed anywhere from 2 to 7 days during their period.

So, why do some women suffer a little more around the red wave? Unfortunately, there’s no easy answer. The severity of your period cramps can depend on a number of health factors, such as:

• Genetics
• Hormonal imbalances
• Medical conditions (like pelvic inflammatory disorder or endometriosis)
• Intrauterine devices (IUDs)

What other symptoms come with period cramps?

When deciphering between period and pregnancy cramps, one of your strongest guides is your body—i.e., the other symptoms that come with the cramps.

Many women experience additional symptoms around their premenstrual week and period. In fact, up to 95% of women experience PMS symptoms, with 5% having debilitating symptoms that interfere with their quality of life. Besides cramping, these symptoms may include:

• Abdominal bloating
• Non-abdominal pain (lower back, pelvis, etc.)
• Breast tenderness
• Fatigue
• Constipation
• Headaches
• Mood changes (depression, irritability, anxiety, etc.)
• Fatigue
• Acne

Early Pregnancy Cramps—What, When, and Why

If you’re trying to get pregnant, any sign of mild cramping may strike disappointment or fear—but don’t panic. Mild cramps, and even light bleeding, could be a sign that you’re right on track towards the stages of prenatal development. Let’s explore the types, causes, and symptoms of early pregnancy cramps.

What are early pregnancy cramps?

During the first trimester (weeks 0 to 13), women may experience cramping for a few reasons. While some cramps may be directly related to a growing baby, others may hint at a pregnancy-related health condition that requires serious attention.

A few causes of early pregnancy cramps include:

• Implantation bleeding – When someone says “early pregnancy cramp”, they usually mean implantation cramps. For a successful pregnancy, a fertilized egg must implant (or latch) onto your uterine wall. This action can create mild abdominal cramps and light vaginal bleeding—usually nothing more than 1 to 2 days of spotting. Up to 20% of pregnant women experience implantation bleeding.
• Ectopic pregnancy – In North America, nearly 2% of pregnancies become an ectopic pregnancy. This condition occurs when a fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus, creating a very dangerous (and possibly fatal) situation for the mother. Most ectopic pregnancies develop symptoms around weeks 6 to 8, such as severe vaginal bleeding, one-sided cramping, dizziness, or shoulder pain.
• Miscarriage – The majority of miscarriages happen before the 12th week of pregnancy. Up to 20% of pregnancies end in miscarriage, often bringing symptoms like vaginal bleeding and cramps in the abdomen or lower back.

What do early pregnancy cramps feel like?

Just like PMS cramps, early pregnancy cramps can range from mild to debilitating—it all depends on the cause of your cramps.

For most women, early pregnancy cramps are usually caused by implantation. These cramps tend to be milder and shorter overall, with qualities like:

• Minor abdominal pain
• Prickling or tingling sensations
• Light spotting or bleeding with pink or light brown blood
• Thin and watery discharge

Just remember—if you experience severe cramping or bleeding that’s abnormal to your period, you should contact your doctor immediately. The more severe the cramps, the more likely they may signal dangerous conditions, like an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage.

What other symptoms come with early pregnancy cramps?

Most women don’t escape early pregnancy without experiencing a few physical changes. While these symptoms may be bothersome (hello, morning sickness!), they can also work as signals that you might be expecting.

Beyond implantation cramps, about 88% of women experience at least two pregnancy-related symptoms during the first trimester, such as:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Vulvar itching
• Vaginal bleeding
• Breast tenderness
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Food cravings or aversions
• Moodiness
• Changes to the nipples or areolas

How to Differentiate Period Cramps vs. Early Pregnancy Cramps

So, do you need a pregnancy test to decide if your cramps mean “Aunt Flo” or “mom-to-be”? To know for sure, yes you do. However, you can still make an educated guess by evaluating the main differences between these two types of cramps:

• Location –Early pregnancy cramps usually stay around the lower abdomen. However, period cramps can “radiate” beyond the lower abdomen, traveling into the pelvic area, lower back, or thighs. The more painful the period cramps, the more likely they will radiate to different body areas.
• Timing – Period cramps always arrive within the same time window—a few days before and during menstruation. Implantation cramps occur up to 10 days after ovulation, slightly earlier than menstruation. However, cramps from an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage can occur well into the first trimester after your period stops.
• Duration – Here’s where things get a little tricky. Some women only have period cramps for a day or two, which is very similar to implantation cramps. However, the duration of your bleeding will determine if any short-lived cramps are period-related (2 to 7 days) or pregnancy-related (1 to 2 days). If your bleeding extends beyond 7 days, it may be related to an ectopic pregnancy or other health condition.
• Other symptoms – Your best bet to differentiating between these two types of cramps? Your other symptoms. Periods often come with headaches, fatigue, and bloating. Early pregnancy may have these symptoms as well, but it can also cause symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and very tender breasts.

Navigate Early Pregnancy with SneakPeek

Whether a period or pregnancy symptom, cramps never feel great. However, early pregnancy cramping may be a sign that something brighter is on the way—your little baby. Understanding the differences between these two types of cramps can help you feel prepared for any possible pregnancy in the future.

And once you feel ready? SneakPeek is here to answer more of your questions.

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