Can You Have A Period When You Are Pregnant

When To See Your Health Care Provider

Because it isnt possible to get your period while pregnant, its important to be mindful of any bleeding you do experience during this time. While light bleeding or spotting during the first trimester is usually normal, bleeding that is accompanied by other symptoms may indicate something more serious, and its important to see a health care provider immediately. These symptoms include:

• Cramping and pain
• Passing clots or heavy bleeding
• Severe pain in your pelvis and stomach

Its important to visit your health care provider if your bleeding is bright red in color and is heavy enough to soak through a pad. Pelvic pain and vaginal bleeding in the early stages of pregnancy may indicate an ectopic pregnancy. If you suspect this, see your health care provider as soon as possible.

Theres a lot of discussion surrounding pregnancy and periods, and we want to clear things up. Can you have a period and be pregnant? No. Since your period stops after your body starts producing hCG also known as the pregnancy hormone it isnt possible to experience a true period during pregnancy.

During the early stages of pregnancy, however, some people experience spotting or light bleeding and its usually normal. This bleeding is called implantation bleeding, and it happens when the fertilized egg implants in the uterine lining.

Cycle reports for your doctor

Showing your cycle trends and symptom patterns will help your doctor see the big picture faster.

Can You Get Pregnant On Your Period If You Have An Irregular Cycle

Yes. If you have an irregular period, it can be harder to predict when youll be ovulating and that could cause you to get pregnant accidentally, since it can be harder to avoid having sex close to that time.

Here are a few types of irregular menstrual cycles, and how its still possible to get pregnant:

• You have a short cycle. Some women have cycles as short as 21 days and still ovulate, which means they dont have as much time between when they finish menstruating and when they next ovulate. And since sperm can live in your reproductive tract for a few days, if you happened to have sex during your period and then ovulated the following cycles egg two to three days later, that egg could encounter viable sperm. And you know what that means.
• Your periods last a long time. While your body is slowly shedding that uterine lining, the clock is ticking on ovulation and your next egg shows up while youre still bleeding from the previous months egg. So youre already fertile again which means you can get pregnant on your period.
• You have breakthrough bleeding, or spotting, when you ovulate. Especially if you have light or irregular periods, it would be easy to mistake this bleeding for a true period even though its happening when youre actually most fertile, since youve just ovulated.

Sometimes, however, an irregular period can be a sign that youre not ovulating at all, which is one cause of infertility.

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Other Early Symptoms Of Pregnancy

Pregnancy brings changes in your hormonal balance. And that can cause other symptoms that include:

• Frequent urination. For many women, this starts around the sixth or eighth week after conception. Although this could be caused by a urinary tract infection, diabetes, or using diuretics, if you’re pregnant, it’s most likely due to hormonal levels.
• Constipation. During pregnancy, higher levels of the hormone progesterone can make you constipated. Progesterone causes food to pass more slowly through your intestines. To ease the problem, drink plenty of water, exercise, and eat plenty of high-fiber foods.
• Mood swings. These are common, especially during the first trimester. These are also related to changes in hormones.
• Headaches and back pain. Many pregnant women report frequent mild headaches, and others experience back pain.
• Dizziness and fainting. These may be related to dilating blood vessels, lower blood pressure, and lower blood sugar.

A pregnant woman could have all of these symptoms, or maybe have only one or two. If any of these symptoms become bothersome, talk with your doctor about them so you can make a plan to offset them.

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What About Right After Your Period

Its unlikely though slightly more likely than if you have sex during your period.

If you have sex right after your period and you ovulate early that month, its possible to get pregnant.

This is more likely with people who have a shorter-than-average cycle, because ovulation occurs more frequently.

Your period will only start if the egg isnt fertilized and the cells are reabsorbed.

This causes estrogen and progesterone levels to fall and menstruation to begin.

However, you may experience some spotting during early pregnancy.

One study found that 14 out of 151 participants experienced one day of vaginal bleeding in the first eight weeks of pregnancy.

Furthermore, 15 percent to 25 percent of people may experience spotting during the first three months of pregnancy.

Taking note of the timing and any other symptoms present can help you differentiate between typical menstruation and pregnancy-related spotting.

Implantation bleeding usually occurs 6 to 12 days after conception. Its caused by the fertilized egg attaching to your uterus lining.

This light spotting usually only lasts 24 to 48 hours and is generally much lighter than the average period.

You may also experience spotting as a result of increased blood flow in the cervix. This type of spotting is most common after sex, a Pap test, or a pelvic exam.

If youre experiencing unexpected bleeding, see a doctor or other healthcare provider.

When Should You Seek Help About Ovulating Without Periods

Whilst ovulation without a period is usually no cause for concern, and can indicate a hormonal imbalance, it may also be caused by an underlying medical condition. You should consult your doctor if:

• You have not had a period for three or more months, and are not on any form of birth control.
• You have been trying to conceive for a year with no success, and are under the age of 35, or if you have been trying to conceive for six months, and are aged 35 or over.

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What Are The Signs Of Being Pregnant Vs Symptoms Of Menstrual Periods

So, how do you know if you are pregnant or its just another regular month? You might assume its obvious, but actually it can be confusing! Many of the symptoms of pregnancy are so similar to those of your monthly period, for women who have symptoms of PMS, it can be especially hard to tell!

Some common symptoms of both include:

• Stomach cramps Many women have painful periods and cramp is one of the most common symptoms of menstrual periods. It has been reported that some women can experience very light cramping early on in pregnancy. This is thought to be due to changes in the womb and fluctuating hormones

• Tender breasts Tender breasts are common in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle as progesterone levels are at their highest. If you fall pregnant, the levels of this hormone stay high in order to support the womb and sore breasts are therefore common in pregnancy

• Having low levels of energy Women can feel low in energy in the lead up to their period, this is partly due to high levels of progesterone relative to oestrogen. In the first few weeks of pregnancy progesterone levels stay fairly high in order to support the womb for carrying your baby. During the first trimester your body undergoes massive changes throughout many different systems and this can contribute to you feeling very tired too

Why You Can’t Have A Period While Pregnant

It is possible to have spotting during pregnancy, but any bleeding you may have while you’re pregnant is not actually a period. A true period happens when the uterine lining sheds at the end of a menstrual cycle. When an egg goes unfertilized, levels of the hormones that control the egg’s release drop and cause your uterine lining, which has thickened in the first half of your cycle as it awaited a fertilized egg, to slough off and shed in what we refer to as a period.

If you’re pregnant, an egg has been fertilized and implanted in the wall of the uterus. Pregnancy hormones tell your body to maintain the uterine lining, and since it’s not shedding, you no longer have a period. A missed period is why one of the earliest signs of pregnancy .

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What If You Have A 28

The average menstrual cycle is 28 days, with the first day of menstruation as cycle day 1.

Most periods last two to seven days. Pregnancy is uncommon during this time, because your peak fertility window is still about a week or so away.

Around days 6 to 14 of your cycle, your body will start releasing follicle-stimulating hormone .

This helps develop an egg inside your ovary. Your body will also begin rebuilding the endometrial lining in your uterus.

Pregnancy is slightly more likely during this time. Sperm can live up to five days inside the body, so it could still be present when the egg matures.

Once the egg is mature, your body will release lutenizing hormone , triggering the eggs release from your ovary .

Ovulation usually occurs around cycle day 14. Pregnancy is likely on ovulation day.

That said, ovulation doesnt always happen like clockwork. It can occur anywhere from four days before to four days after the midpoint of your menstrual cycle.

The bottom Line

If you ovulate later in your cycle or start your period sooner than usual, you could become pregnant if you have sex in the days leading up to your period.

Lots of people dont have 28-day cycles. Some have cycles as short as 21 days and others as long as 35 days.

In fact, in one study , only about 30 percent of participants had their fertile window fall within days 10 to 17 of their cycle. Only 10 percent had ovulation fall exactly 14 days before their next period.

You can do this a number of ways, including:

What Happens To Your Menstrual Cycle When You Are Pregnant

A commonly asked question is if you can still have your period when youre pregnant. Technically the answer is no… But, you can experience some bleeding which can be easily mistaken for your period, but technically you arent menstruating.

When you become pregnant, your hormones no longer follow the same pattern as they previously did each month. Instead your hormones are in whole new cycle: a one-off, 9 month cycle, that is! From when you fall pregnant levels of hCH dramatically increase, they peak at around 12 weeks and then drop to lower level for the remainder of the pregnancy. From the time of conception, oestrogen and progesterone levels continue to rise. They get higher and higher, and only decrease after the birth of your baby.

Although you dont have your period, there may be others reasons for losing blood during your pregnancy. Generally you should always get this checked out but there are some possible explanations:

• Implantation bleed In anticipation of your egg become fertilized and implanting in the wall of your womb, the lining of your uterus thickens and becomes a spongy mass of tissue and blood vessels. You may have a small bleed as the egg implants as it disturbs some of this tissue. If you have regular periods this will normally happen approximately a week before your menstrual period would be due

It is advised that you contact your doctor or midwife immediately if you start bleeding and suspect you are pregnant.

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Can You Get Pregnant Without Having A Period

Rachel Gurevich is a fertility advocate, author, and recipient of The Hope Award for Achievement, from Resolve: The National Infertility Association. She is a professional member of the Association of Health Care Journalists and has been writing about womens health since 2001. Rachel uses her own experiences with infertility to write compassionate, practical, and supportive articles.

Brian Levine, MD, MS, is board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology as well as in reproductive endocrinology and infertility.

• If You Do Not Want to Get Pregnant

Can you get pregnant without having a period in months? Yes, its possible, but its not likely. If youre not getting your periods, this is a good reason to see your gynecologist. There are some normaland some not-so-normalreasons this can occur. What could cause you not to get your periods? Could you be pregnant and not know it?

What do your periods have to do with getting pregnant? And, if you want to get pregnant, how can your doctor help you conceive if youre not menstruating?

What Can I Do To Get Pregnant

If you want to get pregnant, its a good idea to talk to your doctor. Many doctors will advise a few lifestyle changes if youre trying for a baby, such as taking a or prenatal vitamin supplements, avoiding alcohol, quitting smoking, and trying to maintain a healthy weight. You may also want to use an ovulation test to help you identify when your most fertile days are. You can see our range of ovulation tests and here to help you maximize your chances of conceiving.

Also, see our tips on .

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Implantation Bleeding Or Spotting

Implantation bleeding happens when the fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus. As the egg burrows into the lining, it sometimes causes some of the lining to shed. A woman might notice light bleeding a week to a few days before her period is due. Implantation bleeding is usually light brown, pink, or red spotting but can be as heavy as a light period. It could conceivably be confused with a light period or an early period.

Causes Of Bleeding During The First Trimester:

During the first trimester of pregnancy, 15 to 25% of women will have a miscarriage. The following are some of the reasons:

Implantation bleeding

This occurs throughout the first trimester of pregnancy. You most certainly havent taken a pregnancy test at this point. When the fertilized egg implants into the uterus, generally around the time your period is due, this sort of bleeding begins. Implantation bleeding is occasionally mistaken for a period, despite the fact that the bleeding is usually light or sporadic.

Ectopic Pregnancy

Bleeding during the first trimester may indicate an ectopic pregnancy, when the fetus starts to grow outside of your womb, usually in a fallopian tube. With an ectopic pregnancy, the amount of bleeding can vary. Unilateral discomfort, dizziness, or lightheadedness are also symptoms. Ectopic pregnancy can be life-threatening if left untreated, so getting a diagnosis as soon as possible is crucial.

Changes in the cervix

The cervix can become softer and more prone to bleeding as a result of regular hormone production during pregnancy. Furthermore, a cervical polyp may develop, causing greater bleeding during pregnancy. Following sexual intercourse or a pelvic examination, spotting or minor bleeding may occur in both circumstances.

Infection

During pregnancy, a vaginal infection can produce spontaneous vaginal bleeding. An abnormal vaginal discharge may accompany the bleeding.

Molar pregnancy

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Trying To Get Pregnant Again After A Chemical Pregnancy

Very early pregnancy losses dont usually require medical intervention, but you can visit your practitioner if you think youve experienced one. They may be able to confirm a chemical pregnancy happened depending on how recently you experienced the bleeding.

Be sure to see your doctor if youve noticed that you tend to have an irregular period or a cycle thats over 35 days long. Your doctor may want to rule out conditions that involve anovulation, like polycystic ovary syndrome , that can make it harder for you to get pregnant. They may refer you to a fertility specialist if necessary.

Its always a good idea to see your doctor if:

• You and your partner are under 35, have no known fertility issues and have been actively trying to conceive for the past 12 months
• Youre over the age of 35 and have been trying to conceive for six months
• Youre over the age of 38 and have been trying to get pregnant for three months
• Youre over the age of 40 or have a personal or family history of infertility

From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You’re Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.

Bleeding During Pregnancy And Miscarriage

You may have heard of

Most miscarriages happen during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. The main sign is bleeding, along with cramping and pain in your lower tummy. If youre having these symptoms its important to contact your doctor straight away. They may send you for tests, such as an ultrasound scan to check on the baby.

Around 1 in 8 pregnancies end in miscarriage among people who know they are pregnant. Many more miscarriages happen before people know they are pregnant.

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