Conception That Occurs Close To Menstruation Or Low Progesterone Levels May Cause What Looks Like A Period While Pregnant
Conception may not occur until mere days before your period is due if you have a short cycle or dont ovulate mid-cycle.
For example, lets say youre regularly maintaining a 26-day cycle. Chances are youll ovulate around day 13. Even if fertilization occurred that day, it would still take six to twelve days for the fertilized egg to reach and implant in your uterine lining.
If those hormone levels are insufficient, such as in a situation of low progesterone from luteal phase defect or had already begun to fall, you might have what seems like a lighter than usual period. You might even have what seems like an entirely normal period. In that case, its possible not to have any indication youre pregnant until you are already around eight weeks pregnant.
This type of bleeding is often referred to as break through bleeding, and is the most common type of bleeding mistaken for a period while pregnant. Break through bleeding is usually seen during the first month of pregnancy but may continue in the first trimester if hormone levels stay low.
Its important to note that any bleeding following the first bleed would not occur in a timely, predictable manner like a period. It would be sporadic bleeding with a varying flow. Multiple timely bleeds like a period, whether irregular/light for you or not, are very unlikely to be pregnancy bleeding.
Potential Causes Of Bleeding During The First Trimester
You may experience some spotting when you expect to get your period. This is called implantation bleeding and it happens around 6 to 12 days after conception as the fertilized egg implants itself in your womb. This bleeding should be light perhaps lasting for a couple of days, but its perfectly normal.
Since miscarriages are most common during the first trimester, its normal to worry about bleeding early in your pregnancy. But as Dr. Alexis Svokos, an OBGYN at Geisinger explains, Once a heartbeat is seen on an ultrasound, more than 90 percent of women who experience first trimester vaginal bleeding do not miscarry.
During pregnancy, extra blood is flowing to the cervix. Intercourse or a Pap test, which cause contact with the cervix, can trigger light bleeding.
Can I Get Pregnant Just Before My Period
The probability of conceiving if you have sex two or three days before your period is extremely low. Since your egg lives for around 12 to 24 hours after it is released, this means your fertility window closes soon after you ovulate. However, there is always a risk of pregnancy. Use our tool to calculate the chances of getting pregnant.
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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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Finding Out The Cause Of Bleeding In Pregnancy
To work out what is causing the bleeding, you may need to have a vaginal or pelvic examination, an ultrasound scan or blood tests to check your hormone levels.
Your doctor will also ask you about other symptoms, such as cramp, pain and dizziness. Sometimes it might not be possible to find out what caused the bleeding.
If your symptoms are not severe and your baby is not due for a while, youâll be monitored and, in some cases, kept in hospital for observation.
How long you need to stay in hospital depends on the cause of the bleeding and how many weeks pregnant you are.
Being in hospital allows staff to keep an eye on you and your baby, so they can act quickly if there are further problems.
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What Are Some Less Common Signs Of Early Pregnancy
There are some additional signs of early pregnancy that arent as common. Just like with the most common symptoms, these signs of pregnancy may or may not happen. Its important to remember that everyone is different and experiences signs of pregnancy differently.
Less common signs of early pregnancy can include:
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.
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What Are The Chances I Can Get Pregnant On My Period
The chances of getting pregnant if you have sex during your period are very low. However, if youve had unprotected sex, it is still possible to get pregnant during your period.
To understand how this can happen, you need to know how your menstrual cycle works.
- Your cycle starts on the first day of your period and lasts until the first day of your next period.
- About 10 to 16 days before the start of your next period, you will ovulate, which is when one of your ovaries releases an egg.
- Once youve ovulated, you enter the Luteal phase, when the now empty follicle develops the corpus luteum, which produces the hormone progesterone.
- The lining on your uterus thickens in preparation for a fertilised egg to implant.
- If you have not conceived, then the egg passes into the uterus, hormone levels drop, and the womb lining sheds as you begin your next period.
You can read more about your menstrual cycle and ovulation here.
You are at your most fertile around the time you ovulate. Although the egg lives only for 12 to 24 hours after being released, you can get pregnant even if you have sex days before you ovulate as sperm can live up to five days in your body.
So how likely are you to get pregnant during your period? Well, it depends on a few factors like:
- whether you used contraception or not
- the length of your menstrual cycle
- the length of your period
- when you had sex
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Signs You Need To Take A Pregnancy Test
4 min Read Time
Most over-the-counter pregnancy tests are 99% effective when you take them after a missed period. But how do you know when its time to pee on a stick?
Pregnancy symptoms are different for everyone, and as the levels of the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin rise, your symptoms may increase, says OBGYN Jessica Brown, MD. At four weeks, you may have a little bit of cramping, but classic symptoms like sore breasts, nausea and fatigue may not begin for six or seven weeks, she says.
So, how do you know if your symptoms point to pregnancy? Brown discusses some of the very first symptoms, along with how to ease the discomfort and the best time to take a pregnancy test.
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Patients Question: Am I Pregnant Or Is My Period About To Come
The story begins like this: our patient is a 30-year-old woman who has found the right time in her life to get pregnant and goes to her gynaecologist
PATIENT: Good morning doctor!
DOCTOR: Good morning, Maria, how are you feeling today?
P: I am a little nervous because my period is not coming and we are trying to get pregnant.
D: When was your last period?
P: I am 3 days late, so 31 days ago.
D: How are you feeling?
P: Not very well, its as if my period was about to come.
D: But what are you feeling? Whats going on?P: My breasts are hurting, I can t even touch them. When I brush against my bra, I see stars, I
dont know if its normal. It even seems that my boobs have grown, they are swollen.
D: This breast pain, do you usually have it when youre about to have your period or is it stronger?
P: I think its more painful this time, I mean I cant even touch them.
D: And do you have any other pains?
P: Yes, I feel discomfort in the lower part of my stomach, like in my ovaries as if I were going to have my period!
D: That painful menstrual-like sensation can also occur in the early weeks of pregnancy, Maria, so dont worry. The most important thing is that it isnt associated with bleeding. Have you spotted at some point?
P: No, I havent. The truth is I look at my knickers every time I go to the toilet, in case my period comes, but I havent spotted at all yet.
D: And you dont have any other problems, do you?
Causes Of Bleeding During The First Three Months Of Pregnancy
Weve already mentioned two reasons why you might bleed when youre pregnant, which are not caused for concern. There are, however, four other possible reasons all of which are reasons to get quick medical help. The first is an infection, and the second, a possible miscarriage. If treated properly, there are no other complications from an infection and the miscarriage is stopped, most women go on to have normal pregnancies and healthy babies.
Bleeding, especially heavy bleeding is a sign that something is wrong like when the embryo implants itself outside the womb this is known as an ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancies are quite rare and develop between the 4th and 12th weeks of pregnancy.4 An even more rare cause of vaginal bleeding in pregnancy is if a fertilised egg doesnt properly develop into a separate embryo with a placenta. This is known as a molar pregnancy. The baby will not survive and the pregnancy either ends in a miscarriage or must be terminated.5
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The Uterine Lining Is Expelled Through Bleeding
If no fertilized egg implants in the uterus within the following days, progesterone levels decrease. Since no new life has been created, the nutrients contained within the endometrium are not needed. Consequently, the endometrium, the lining of the uterus, is excreted in the form of blood and small pieces of tissue.
Menstrual bleeding is usually heavier than any breakthrough bleeding.
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 Youre 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.
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Which Pms And Early Pregnancy Signs And Symptoms Are Different
The signs and symptoms of both pregnancy and PMS can be similar and somewhat nonspecific.
- The bleeding of a menstrual period, however, usually is different from that experienced by some women in early pregnancy.
- The bleeding of early pregnancy rarely is as heavy or lengthy as with the typical period. Most bleeding in pregnancy will be less heavy , and often is lighter in color or brownish.
- Implantation bleeding usually is light bleeding or spotting that occurs at the time the fertilized egg implants into the uterine wall. This bleeding takes place around the time of the expected menstrual period so it may be confusing for some women to tell the difference between implantation bleeding and menstrual bleeding.
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Tampons And Pads Arent Your Only Choices
You have more options to help you manage that time of the month.
These products can be cost-savers, since you can reuse them, and they also create less waste. In some cases, they give you more time between changes. For example, you need to change a tampon every 4 to 8 hours, but you may be able to go up to 12 hours with a menstrual cup before you empty it.
There are pros and cons to all these options, just as there are with tampons and pads. But you can find one that works best for you with some trial and error.
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Do All Women Get Early Symptoms Of Pregnancy
Every woman is different. So are their experiences of pregnancy. Not every woman has the same symptoms or even the same symptoms from one pregnancy to the next.
Also, because the early symptoms of pregnancy often mimic the symptoms you might experience right before and during menstruation, you may not realize you’re pregnant.
What follows is a description of some of the most common early symptoms of pregnancy. You should know that these symptoms may be caused by other things besides being pregnant. So the fact that you notice some of these symptoms does not necessarily mean you are pregnant. The only way to tell for sure is with a pregnancy test.
Is This Spotting My Period Or Am I Pregnant
Lets take a deep dive into implantation bleeding and other early signs of pregnancy.
We all know the basics of how conception works: have vaginal intercourse, wait for and sperm and egg to join and create an embryo, the embryo grows into a fetus and voila, hello baby! While this may appear to be a simple process, theres so much more at play here. Lets fill in the gaps a bit, starting with when the sperm meets the egg.
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Can You Feel Pregnant Before You Miss Your Period
Yes, you can feel pregnant before you miss your period. Some people say theyve felt pregnancy symptoms within a week of conception .
Could I have the symptoms of early pregnancy and not be pregnant?
Many of the symptoms of early pregnancy overlap with other medical conditions, as well as your typical menstrual cycle. Premenstrual symptoms can be very similar to pregnancy symptoms. This can make it difficult to tell the difference. You can also miss a period and not be pregnant. This can happen when you lose or gain a lot of weight or are stressed. Breastfeeding can also cause your period to stop.
The best way to know youre pregnant is to take a pregnancy test. Pregnancy tests are available at your local pharmacy or grocery store without a prescription.
What Are The Causes Of Abdominal And Back Pain
Some of the aches and pains experienced during pregnancy are thought to be due to hormonal changes. Large amounts of the hormone progesterone are produced, which are needed to sustain pregnancy. In addition to this, progesterone acts on the muscles, ligaments and joints causing them to become slacker and more flexible. This hormonal effect is thought to be responsible for some of the stitch like pains that some women experience in the lower part of the tummy and in some cases this can be quite severe. The same hormones can be responsible for constipation during pregnancy this can also cause abdominal pain.
The enlarging womb is made up of layers of muscles and is held in place in the pelvis by supporting ligaments. As the womb expands to accommodate the developing baby, it can pull on the ligaments and muscles, to cause these growing pains.
The backache that some women get in early pregnancy is also thought to be due to a hormonal effect, and the supporting muscles are softer.
Abdominal and/or backache can also be a sign of a urine infection. This may also cause burning or stinging when passing urine and the need to pass urine more frequently. You must inform your doctor of these symptoms, so that a urine test can be obtained and treatment given if needed.
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