Do tender nipples mean I’m pregnant?

Dear Hannah, I think that I may be pregnant but I’m really not sure.  I know that doctors say that your breasts begin to get swollen or tender when you’re pregnant, but it’s really my nipples that are tender.  I’m supposed to get my period around next week, but my doctor’s appointment isn’t until next month. I was wondering, should I wait until my period ends (if it comes) or just wait to go to the doctor? Also, I was wondering, is it possible for me this early to start experiencing the signs of pregnancy in the same week?  Thanks! Melina

Dear Melina,

Excellent questions.  Nipple tenderness doesn’t necessarily mean that you may be pregnant. It is believed to be caused by an excess or imbalance in the female hormones estrogen, progesterone or prolactin. Women experiencing it say it tends to get worse with emotional stress or prolonged activity. Excessive amounts of salt, fat & caffeine can also aggravate it. Many people experience nipple and/or breast tenderness on a regular basis around the time of ovulation.

If your tenderness doesn’t disappear in two weeks, then I would begin getting concerned that it might be a symptom of being pregnant, though other causes are still possible. Since you haven’t missed you period yet, I wouldn’t be too concerned just yet.

If I were you, I’d wait until your regularly scheduled doctor’s visit. You could always purchase an over-the-counter pregnancy test kit and try that. And, yes, it is possible to experience the signs of pregnancy during the first week (though many don’t know until they’ve missed their first period).  In a future post, we’ll go over the basic symptoms of early pregnancy.

Hannah