Can You Have Your Period While Pregnant

Serena Williams Says She Had A Period While She Was Pregnant

Whether you’re trying to become pregnant or trying your hardest to avoid it, you can usually take your period as a sign that you don’t have to think about a baby anytime soon. But, in a new interview with InStyle, Serena Williams says she actually got a period during the early stages of her pregnancyand she was completely floored to find out that she was actually pregnant.

In the interview, Williams says that she didnt think it was even possible that she could be pregnant. She hadnt seen her now-husband Alexis Ohanian in like four weeks and literally had a cycle just before. Williams says she took the test just to shut my friend up and was completely surprised when it was positive. She was even more shocked when her doctor told her she was seven weeks along. Oh, and she was playing in the Australian Open at the time.

Can You Get Pregnant Without Having A Period

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?

How Not To Get Pregnant

If you want to get pregnant, plan to get frisky halfwaybetween periods for the best chances. But if pregnancy is what youre trying toavoid, there are much, much better methods than using your period as a guide.

The best way to prevent pregnancy is to use a reliable form of birth control, Dr. Stephens says.

Yeah, you probably already knew that. But now you know the whole story.

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What Causes Early Bleeding

The cause of bleeding early in pregnancy is often unknown. But many factors early on in pregnancy may lead to light bleeding or heavier bleeding. These include:

• Having sex

• When the embryo implants on the uterine wall

• Bleeding between the sac membrane and the uterus

• Pregnancy loss

• The embryo implants outside of the uterus

Get A More Accurate Test At Your Doctors Office

Even though your trip to the bathroom has made you pretty certain youâre pregnant, getting it confirmed by a medical professional is critical.

Most doctors are able to offer patients both urine tests and blood tests to check for pregnancy. While the results of the urine test are typically available within just a few minutes, lab results may take several hours or days to get back. Unlike a simple urine test, blood tests are able to give you and your doctor a better sense of where youâre at in your pregnancy and how things are developing. Itâs possible your physician asks you to do more than one of these tests over the course of your pregnancy to determine how things are changing over time.

The Source has clinics across Texas and provides free pregnancy tests. Click the button below to schedule a 30-minute appointment with one of our doctors today.

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If You Want To Get Pregnant

Doctors usually recommend trying to conceive for one year before getting a fertility evaluation. However, this doesnt apply if you have signs or symptoms of a fertility problem. That would include amenorrhea.

If youre not getting your periods, you may be dealing with infertility. Make sure that you andyour partner are evaluated. There may be more than one reason you arent conceiving, and male infertility is more common than you may realize.

Depending on why you arent ovulating, and if there are other fertility problems, treatment possibilities include lifestyle change, weight loss or gain, or medication change. You may also need treatment for an underlying medical condition, or fertility treatments.

Getting Pregnant With The Patch Ring Or Shot

There are a few more options when it comes to birth control, and these include the patch, the vaginal ring and the Depo-Provera shot. Black says the failure rate for typical use of the patch and the ring is the same as the pill: eight percent. The Depo-Provera shot has a failure rate of just six percent with typical use.

With all three types of contraception, adherence is the biggest risk factor. They need to be used as directed to work effectively. Costescu says with the patch, which you replace once a week , one issue is that it may accidentally fall off. With the ring, he explains that replacing it on time is key. And it can only be removed for short periods of time if you want it to remain effective. Some women choose to remove the NuvaRing when theyre sexually active, and we recommend that it only be removed for up to three hours so, it cant be taken out, for instance, for an overnight date, he says.

Black adds that the same medications that make the pill less effective would have a similar effect on the patch and ring.

With Depo-Provera shots, Costescu notes, you must visit a health-care provider every three months to get the shot. He also says that the shot may be a good option if youre on anti-seizure medication, as the high dose of hormones that come with this type of birth control means those medications may not interfere with its effectiveness.

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That Said There Are Several Situations That Can Cause Period

If you get your period at the usual time, it lasts for the usual amount of days, and the amount of blood that you see is pretty typical for you, its pretty unlikely that youre pregnant, G. Thomas Ruiz, M.D., lead ob-gyn at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California, tells SELF. But you could have bleeding in early pregnancy that just so happens to coincide with when your period is due, Dr. Schaffir says. In fact, up to 30 percent of pregnant people have some form of bleeding in early pregnancy, according to the American Pregnancy Association.

For instance, you might experience implantation bleeding, which is light spotting or bleeding that can happen when the embryo burrows into your uterine wall, and can also be a cause of bleeding in early pregnancy. But Dr. Ruiz says its unlikely this would be mistaken for a normal period because it tends to be much lighter.

Or you might have a cut or tear in your vagina, inflammation of your cervix, or irritation of your cervix from an infection that causes bleeding, Dr. Schaffir says. It can even be caused from sex: Sometimes women have blood vessels close to the surface of the cervix and, during sex, the friction causes a little bleeding, he explains. However, again, these usually produce far less blood than a period.

How Do Doctors Diagnose The Cause Of Spotting

The cause of vaginal bleeding or spotting requires a thorough history of the symptoms .

• A pelvic examination is usually a first step to diagnosis.
• A pregnancy test is performed for women of reproductive age.
• Special tests like a Pap smear or cultures may be ordered.
• In some cases, blood or urine tests are ordered.
• Imaging studies such as vaginal or abdominalultrasound may be useful in diagnosing the cause of spotting or bleeding.

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When To Call The Doctor

David McKenna, MD, a Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist with Perinatal Partners, advises calling your doctor if you see any sign of bleeding during pregnancy and have not yet talked to your doctor about it. This is especially the case for women who are pregnant for the first time. Explain whats happening to your doctor. Talk about your next steps and if and when you should call back, he says.

So Superfetation Is Different Than Carrying Twins Right

Correct. Superfetation might be mistaken for a twin pregnancy in an ultrasound because it also involves seeing two babies, but its not the same thing.

There will be a difference in gestational age with a double pregnancy, because the two babies were conceived at two different times . There may also be a gap in the size of the fetuses, but this is also common in regular twins when one twin takes more nourishment than the other, according to research. Twins can also simply grow at different paces, Dr. Minkin notes.

And, Dr. Minkin points out, twins are from two eggs released at the same time, with the same father. A double pregnancy could technically result from two different sexual encounters with two different people. But superfetation can of course be from the same father, and just conception happening at different times, says Dr. Minkin. Again, that would have to rely on a woman ovulating multiple times within a cycle, or ovulating once already pregnant, and the second pregnancy taking successfully.

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Your Period Changes Throughout Your Life

Just when you start to feel like you can predict exactly when your period is going to show, everything can change. For that, you can thank the hormone shifts that happen throughout your lifetime.

Once you get your very first period, your cycles may be longer, meaning more time may pass between when one period starts to the next. A typical cycle for a teenage girl may be 21 to 45 days. Over time, they get shorter and more predictable, averaging about 21 to 35 days.

Hormone changes that happen during perimenopause — the years before menopause when your body starts to make less estrogen — can throw you for a loop. The time from one period to the next may get shorter or longer, and you may have heavier or lighter bleeding during your period. This phase can last up to 10 years before you start menopause and stop getting your period for good.

Gradual life changes are normal, but sudden, unusual issues like very heavy bleeding or missed periods are not. Talk with your doctor if you notice that something seems off.

Benefits Of Having Sex On Period

Having sex during your period has a few advantages including:

• Relief from menstrual cramps Having an orgasm is a great way to get relief from menstrual pain. During an orgasm, the muscles of your uterus contract. Then they release, bringing some relief from menstrual cramps. Whats more, orgasms release endorphins that make you feel good.
• Less need for lubrication Introducing lube into your bedroom can result in more pleasurable sex, as many people dont produce sufficient natural lubricant. However, when you have period sex, blood acts as a natural lubricant.
• Shorter periods Having sex can shorten your period. The contracting of the uterus during an orgasm can speed up the shedding of your uterine lining.
• More enjoyable sex For many people, having sex during their period can be even more pleasurable than at other times of the month. This is because of the changes in your libido that occur throughout your menstrual cycle as a result of hormonal fluctuations.

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Getting Pregnant After Miscarriage

You can ovulate and become pregnant as soon as 2 weeks after a miscarriage, but many healthcare providers recommend waiting a bit longer. Abstaining from sex for a few weeks after a miscarriage due to a risk of infection is also a good idea. Ask your doctor whats best for you.

If you experience two or more consecutive miscarriages, your doctor might recommend testing to determine if theres an underlying cause. A simple blood test can be used to detect potential issues with your hormones or immune system. Other blood tests can be done on you and your partner to see if genetics are a factor. Testing for uterine problems may also be recommended.

You Might Be Pregnant Heres How To Tell For Sure

Your last period shouldâve started a week ago, and youâre starting to get worried. Are you just a little late, or is it possible a baby is on the way?

Having a child of your own is a big responsibility, and being overwhelmed at the thought of parenthood is common. In fact, more than a few women enter into denial and intentionally avoid taking a test to confirm their pregnancy. But knowing youâre pregnant for sure is the first step before seeking out the information, resources, and relationships youâll need to thrive during this next season of life. So before you start narrowing down baby names, what are the signs you might be pregnant?

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When To Contact Your Doctor

Once again, many women who experience some bleeding during pregnancy go on to have uneventful births and normal babies. However, bleeding during pregnancy should be treated as a pressing concern.

You must immediately contact your OB-GYN as soon as you notice any bleeding during pregnancy. Furthermore, you must tell your physician whether bleeding during pregnancy is accompanied by any other worrisome symptoms, such as cramping, fever, contractions, or chills.

Please remember that your physician is there to help you in a compassionate and comprehensive manner and must know about all the issues that you’re experiencing. Sometimes bleeding during pregnancy can be life-threatening for the mother and the baby.

Scanning In Early Pregnancy

An ultrasound scan is used during pregnancy for a number of reasons. In the first three months of pregnancy it can be used to check the presence of the babys heartbeat, which can be reassuring if you have experienced a problem, such as vaginal bleeding or pain. A scan will also be used to check to see if the pregnancy is in the correct place and to accurately predict the estimated date of delivery by measuring the end points of the embryo or fetus.

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