During the first trimester of pregnancy, symptoms such as bloating or water retention, breast tenderness, appetite changes, and constipation are experienced. This is partly due to a high level of progesterone hormone. This hormone is produced by cells in the ovary which used to surround a mature egg. The human egg once released leaves behind a cluster of cells that used to be its “shell.” This shell is called the corpus luteum. This structure is responsible for progesterone hormone production after ovulation or egg release. Should a pregnancy occur in the same cycle—meaning the egg released was fertilized, the corpus luteum continues to produce progesterone because it supports an early pregnancy up to the 8th to 10th week until such a time that a placenta is formed which will supply nutrients to the fetus. If no pregnancy happens in that cycle, the corpus luteum dies and progesterone hormone production stops. This progesterone withdrawal produces the monthly bleeding known as our menstrual period.
The corpus luteum is already present in the latter half of a regular menstrual cycle since ovulation occurs midway. To illustrate, if one has a 28 day cycle (the interval measured starting the first day or Day 1 of the previous period to the first day of the subsequent period) then ovulation may occur at Day 14 or 15. After this time, progesterone is already produced by the corpus luteum and the woman will start feeling the symptoms it causes.
Should one have a short interval—for example, 21 days from the first day of the previous menstrual period to the first day of the next menstrual period—then ovulation might occur as early as Day 7. If the woman has her menstrual bleeding lasting four to six days, then she may already experience progesterone effects right after her bleeding or menses end. Hence, it is possible that the woman perceives herself as having “pregnancy symptoms” right after her menstruation.
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