Can I Get A Period And Still Be Pregnant

Can You Get Your Period While Pregnant

A period will not be the cause of any bleeding during pregnancy.

When a woman is pregnant, she does not continue to ovulate and will not have a period. Menstruation only occurs when a person is not pregnant.

Although it is possible for women to experience some bleeding during pregnancy, this will not be due to their menstrual cycle.

Some women also do not have any periods while breast-feeding. However, they may still begin to ovulate again soon after giving birth. Therefore, doctors may recommend some form of birth control while a woman is breast-feeding if she does not wish to get pregnant.

The menstrual cycle occurs to facilitate pregnancy. The cycle begins on the first day of a persons period and ends on the first day of the following period.

Ovulation, when the ovary releases an egg, occurs midway through the cycle.

An egg is only viable for about 1224 hours after a woman ovulates. If sperm cells are present and able to fertilize the egg, the egg will implant itself in the uterus, resulting in pregnancy.

If there is no fertilization, menstruation will occur, and the body will shed the uterine lining so that it can begin making a new one for the next cycle.

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How Can You Increase Your Chances Of Becoming Pregnant

If you want to become pregnant tuning into your menstrual cycle and understanding whats going on in your body can really help you. Here are my top tips:

  • Get to know your cycle and when ovulation is likely to occur Keeping track of your menstrual cycle is always a good thing. It not only prepares you for your period appearing but it also means you can figure out when you are likely to ovulate. You generally ovulate in the middle of your cycle, so, if you have a 28 day cycle youll ovulate around day 14. Day 1 of your cycle is the first day of you period. Try keeping a diary for a few months so you can calculate the length of your cycle. You can also buy an ovulation test which can be more accurate. Take note of any symptoms you experience around the time of your period too as this could signal a hormone imbalance. A hormone imbalance could affect ovulation and your chances of falling pregnant

First published in 2016, updated in January 2022.

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If You Do Not Want To Get Pregnant

If you dont want to get pregnant, you shouldnt rely on your lack of menstrual cycles as birth control. This is true even if youve been previously diagnosed as infertile .

As mentioned above, depending on why youre not getting your periods, its possible to ovulate and not get a period first as an indication that youre fertile again. Talk to your doctor about the best contraceptive choice for you.

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When Should I Test

Home pregnancy tests can be very accurate , especially if you wait to test until after your period is officially late. Some tests claim to accurately detect pregnancy up to a week before your missed period, so if youre experiencing some pregnancy symptoms and are champing at the bit, go for it.

Youre more likely to get an accurate test result if you wait until your period is late, according to the Mayo Clinic, because the hormone thats detected in home pregnancy tests, hCG, doubles every two to three days after an embryo attaches to your uterus, meaning theres more to detect in your urine if you wait a few days.

Because this hormone can sometimes take a while to build up, false negative results arent uncommon in early pregnancy. Its much more rare to get a false positive. If you get a positive test result, you are very likely pregnant, or experienced a recent pregnancy loss, and can confirm the pregnancy through a blood test or ultrasound.

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The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

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My Menstrual Cycle Is Still Irregular Has The Pill Affected My Fertility

Its unlikely the pill has caused any fertility problems, but it can sometimes cover up problems you already have, such as missing periods or PCOS .This is because the pill prevents the ovaries from releasing an egg , so although its normal to experience period-type bleeding on the pill, you dont have a real period.

Contact your GP if youre still having irregular periods 3 months after stopping contraception.

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If Your Pregnancy Test Is Negative

A positive test result is almost certainly correct, as long as you have followed the instructions correctly.

A negative result is less reliable. If you get a negative result and still think you may be pregnant, wait a week and try again.

If youâre pregnant, use thepregnancy due date calculator to work out when your babyâs due.

Find maternity services near you

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When Should You Take A Pregnancy Test

Wait until the first day of your missed period to take a home pregnancy test.

But if you can wait a little longer, taking the test one week after the date of your missed period may produce the most accurate result.

If you have an irregular cycle, wait one to two weeks after you had sex to take the test.

This will allow your body to develop high enough human chorionic gonadotropin levels to be detected by the test.

If you get a positive result, you might want to check again in a day or two since its possible to get a false positive. Then reach out to a medical provider to confirm the results.

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What Can I Expect After The Birth

In the first few days after birth, its normal to have some period-like bleeding as your uterus contracts back to the size it was before pregnancy. Bleeding immediately after birth can be fairly heavy. It can also be bright red for the first couple of days, but gradually becomes a brownish colour before it stops after about 2 months. Bleeding might be heavier in the morning when you get up, after breastfeeding or after exercise.

Uncontrolled heavy bleeding after birth, called a postpartum haemorrhage, can be a serious concern.

If you’ve given birth more than 24 hours ago, contact your doctor or midwife immediately if you notice:

  • blood that soaks more than one pad every 1 to 2 hours
  • a sudden increase in blood or large clots
  • blood which suddenly turns bright red in colour
  • dizziness, weakness or trouble breathing
  • anything else that seems unusual about your post-birth bleeding

What Are The Chances A Woman Can Get Pregnant On Her Period

A womans likelihood of getting pregnant can rise and fall throughout her ovulation cycle. While the average females monthly cycle may be 29 days, others may have a cycle that varies from 20 to 40 days, or longer.

The likelihood that a woman will get pregnant one to two days after she starts bleeding is nearly zero. But the likelihood starts to increase again with each successive day, even though shes still bleeding.

At roughly day 13 after starting her period, her chance of pregnancy is an estimated 9 percent.

While these numbers may be low, it doesnt mean a woman can ever be 100 percent assured that she wont get pregnant on her period.

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Implantation Bleeding Could Be Mistaken For A Light Period

Many women also mistake implantation bleeding for a period while pregnant. Following the same example above, if you often have a light period, and had spotting on day 23, you might mistake that spotting as your period a day or two early.

Bleeding varies from woman to woman, but a heavy flow is almost never implantation bleeding. You can read a full article or try our quiz on telling the difference between implantation and your period here.

Top Reasons Your Vaginal Bleeding May Not Be A Period

One of the biggest margins for error while using fertility awareness as a method of birth control comes from a misidentified period. Not all vaginal bleeding is a period. A woman may bleed from a hormonal imbalance, cervical lesion, recent trauma and even pregnancy.

If you are tracking your menstrual cycle and the bleeding is consistent in terms of heaviness, color and timing, then you can likely count on it being your period, Harper said. However, there are many women that find it difficult to track their period because irregular bleeding can be due to illness or another underlying cause.

If you are having difficulty or need help starting, talk with your OB-GYN or primary care provider.

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Can I Do The Test Wrong

Its important you read the instructions that come with your test carefully and follow them. This way you can be sure you can trust the result. Some tests are easier to read than others for a test that gives a result in words such as pregnant or not pregnant, is clear whereas visual tests where you have to interpret lines can be harder to read and can leave you wondering whether youre pregnant or not. If you doubt youre reading the result correctly and the uncertainty makes you feel anxious, then get a test that is easy to read, like the Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test, so you can be sure of the result you see.

You can see what a negative pregnancy test result looks like in our infographic below.

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Faq: Can You Get A Full Period And Still Be Pregnant

What does discharge look like after ovulation if pregnant?

It is one of the main components of vaginal discharge, it is typically clear or white, and it may have a faint odor. In early pregnancy, there may be noticeably more of this mucus than usual. It may also have a runny, watery consistency.

How does your tummy feel in early pregnancy?

The pregnancy hormone progesterone can cause your tummy to feel full, rounded and bloated. If youre feeling swollen in this area, theres a possibility you could be pregnant.

How does your belly button feel in early pregnancy?

You might feel a soft lump around your navel thats more noticeable when you lie down, and you might see a bulge under the skin. You might also have a dull achy pain in the belly button area that becomes more noticeable when youre active, bend over, sneeze, cough or laugh hard.

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How Do You Know If Your Period Is Late

Whether youre busy or just have a lot on your mind, its easy to forget when you should expect your period to start. But if youre not sure when to expect your period, its hard to know if its late.

A period tracking app like Flo can help. By logging your usual menstrual cycle dates, Flo can predict when you can expect your period. This information can also be very useful if you need to go to your health care provider when you miss your period. Having information about your cycle can help them understand whats happening inside your body.

Ovulating Without Getting Your Period

If you are not getting your periods, you are probably not ovulating regularly. There are a number of reasons this may occur . However, this doesnt mean you wont suddenly ovulate without getting a period first.

As mentioned above, menstruation marks the end of one cycle. If ovulation occurs, and you dont conceive, you will get your period. But lets say you are currently not having regular cycles. You could, depending on the reason why youre not menstruating regularly, suddenly start a menstrual cycle.

The end of your cycle is marked by your period starting, but there are no obvious signs that your body has begun a cycle. You can ovulate and not know it.

You will only know you ovulated if you get your period or, if you had sexual intercourse within your fertile window, you get pregnant. You may not realize youre pregnant for a while, though, since you havent been getting your periods. You wont have a period to be late if you havent been getting one.

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How Long Will Spotting Last During Pregnancy

Unlike your menstrual period, spotting during pregnancy only lasts about 1 to 2 days. If this spotting is implantation bleeding, it likely occurs a few days sooner than your next expected period. It will be much lighter and not require you to change a pad. Implantation bleeding doesnt require treatment and stops on its own. Even if you just think youre having implantation bleeding, be sure to call your healthcare provider to let them know.

Im Passing Blood Clots During Pregnancy Is Everything Okay

Compared to light spotting during pregnancy, passing blood clots during pregnancy can be a sign of something potentially serious.

If youre passing blood clots during pregnancy at any point it doesnt always mean its a sign of pregnancy loss.

But you should still check in with your healthcare provider, because it could be an indicator of preterm labor, ectopic pregnancy, placenta issues, or something else.

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Bleeding During Early Pregnancy

If youve had bleeding early in your pregnancy, youre not alone. Many other pregnant women have early bleeding, too. And in most cases, nothing is wrong. But your healthcare provider still needs to know about it. They may want to do tests to find out why youre bleeding. Call your provider if you see bleeding during pregnancy. Tell your provider if your blood is Rh negative. Then they can figure out if you need anti-D immune globulin treatment.

How Does Conception Occur

The ability to conceive is miraculous. It requires the meeting of a males sperm with a females egg. Once a womans ovary releases an egg, the egg lives for only between 12 and 24 hours. The male sperm can live for about three days.

The typical female cycle is 28 days. Day 1 is when she starts her period. A woman typically ovulates around day 14 .

Ovulation is when a womans ovary releases an egg for fertilization. If a sperm is available in the uterus, pregnancy can occur.

Ovulation can vary based on a womans cycle. Some women have a longer cycle of around 35 days between periods. Ovulation would then happen around day 21. Women with a shorter cycle of 21 days ovulate around day 7.

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When Can You Get Pregnant After Your Period

Chapel Hill Obstetrics & GynecologyFertility & Family Planning, Infertility Treatments, Pregnancy

Understanding your menstrual cycle is crucial to defining when you ovulate and calculating when you are most likely to get pregnant.

Women should be aware that if they have an irregular period, it can make the ovulation days difficult to determine. Said Dr. Martinelli. When examining fertility, its important to realize that an egg can survive for about 24 hours after ovulation, and sperm can live inside a womans body for three daysthough sometimes its possible for them to survive for five days.

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Can I Get Pregnant The Day Before My Period And Still Have A Normal Period

This is a question Flo users often ask, maybe because of the misconception that its not possible to get pregnant during a period.

You cant get pregnant a day before your period, as ovulation will have occurred 10-16 days before the period .

Regardless of when conception happens, periods stop.

Nevertheless, some people experience spotting during ovulation and mistake it for period blood. In fact, ovulation is the most fertile day of a cycle. Having unprotected sex during ovulation spotting can result in pregnancy.

Sometimes, people may also mistakenly assume implantation bleeding is just a period. Actually, implantation bleeding is an early sign of conception.

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Get A Pregnant Result As Fast As 1 Minute From The Day You Miss Your Period

Clearblue Rapid Detection Pregnancy Test has been designed to offer you the easiest pregnancy testing experience, with the accuracy you expect from Clearblue and a result as fast as 1 minute.

A pregnant result may appear in 1 minute when testing from the day of the missed period. Wait 3 minutes to confirm a not pregnant result.

Feeling Sick During Pregnancy

You may feel sick or be sick. This is commonly known as morning sickness, but it can happen at any time of the day or night.

Morning sickness symptoms usually start when youre around 4-6 weeks pregnant

If you’re being sick all the time and cannot keep anything down, see a GP.

You may have hyperemesis gravidarum, a serious condition in pregnancy that causes severe vomiting and needs treatment.

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