Can you start your period while pregnant

If you’ve had bleeding early in your pregnancy, you’re 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 you’re 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.

Table of Contents Show

What causes early bleeding?
If you see spotting
If tests are needed
Warning signs
Questions you may be asked
Monitoring your pregnancy
Can you get a full period and still be pregnant?
Can you bleed like a period in early pregnancy?

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 (called spotting) or heavier bleeding. These include:

Having sex
When the embryo implants on the uterine wall
Bleeding between the sac membrane and the uterus (subchorionic bleeding)
Pregnancy loss (miscarriage)
The embryo implants outside of the uterus (ectopic pregnancy)

If you see spotting

Light bleeding is the most common type of bleeding in early pregnancy. If you see it, call your healthcare provider. Chances are, they will tell you that you can care for yourself at home.

If tests are needed

Depending on how much you bleed, your healthcare provider may ask you to come in for some tests. A pelvic exam, for instance, can help see how far along your pregnancy is. You also may have an ultrasound or a Doppler test. These imaging tests use sound waves to check the health of your baby. The ultrasound may be done on your belly or inside your vagina. You may also need a special blood test. This test compares your hormone levels in blood samples taken 2 days apart. The results can help your provider learn more about the implantation of the embryo. Your blood type will also need to be checked to assess if you will need to be treated for Rh sensitization.

Warning signs

If your bleeding doesn’t stop or if you have any of the following, get medical care right away:

Soaking a sanitary pad each hour
Bleeding like you’re having a period
Cramping or severe belly pain
Feeling dizzy or faint
Tissue passing through your vagina
Bleeding at any time after the first trimester

Questions you may be asked

Bleeding early in pregnancy isn't normal. But it is common. If you’ve seen any bleeding, you may be concerned. But keep in mind that bleeding alone doesn’t mean something is wrong. Just be sure to call your healthcare provider right away. They may ask you questions like these to help find the cause of your bleeding:

When did your bleeding start?
Is your bleeding very light or is it like a period?
Is the blood bright red or brownish?
Have you had sex recently?
Have you had pain or cramping?
Have you felt dizzy or faint?

Monitoring your pregnancy

Bleeding will often stop as quickly as it began. Your pregnancy may go on a normal path again. You may need to make a few extra prenatal visits. But you and your baby will most likely be fine.

Is it period while you’re pregnant, First of all,

It is normal for around a third of pregnant women to experience spotting or light bleeding. This is not a period.
When you become pregnant, you hormones will prevent ovulation and therefore you will not have periods.

Is it a myth that pregnant women don’t have periods?

In short, no!

You cannot get period while you’re pregnant.

Both your period and pregnancy cause fluctuations in hormones. Because both events can bring on their own unique set of challenges, it’s easy to wonder if you can expect to get your period—or something like it—while you’re pregnant.

About 25-30 percent of women will have light bleeding in pregnancy. These can be from various reasons including implantation bleeding, cervical issues, placenta abnormalities, ectopic pregnancies, and miscarriages. In general, you will not get your period while you are pregnant. There is a small percentage of women who could have longer-than-usual periods and may continue to bleed, but will also be ovulating at the same time. If this occurs, you could technically be pregnant while on your period. However, you would not typically know at this stage because it would be extremely early (as in 1-3 days) into your pregnancy.

With this exception, you will not get your period while you are pregnant. This is due to the fact that your body has a menstrual cycle when you have not conceived and when you do become pregnant, the hormone shift prevents ovulation and therefore any further periods.

What causes bleeding during pregnancy?

Many women experience bleeding when they are pregnant and can mistake this for a period. It is important to be aware of all the reasons you could experience vaginal bleeding while pregnant. Then notify your physician if you think your bleeding is cause for concern. Possible causes of bleeding include:

Implantation Bleeding. This occurs when the fertilized egg implants in the uterus.
Ectopic Pregnancy. This is a life-threatening event where a fertilized egg implants in another location instead of the uterus. The degree of bleeding can vary but is often accompanied by pain on the right or left side of your lower abdomen, dizziness, and lightheadedness.
Miscarriage. A miscarriage or threatened miscarriage is a pregnancy that ends on its own without carrying to term. A miscarriage causes bleeding, which possibly has large blood clots in the blood. A woman will also experience uterine cramping.

Other times, you may experience some mild spotting with brown or light pink blood throughout your pregnancy. This bleeding is typically very light. This could be due to cervical irritation or infection. Talk with your physician immediately if the bleeding starts to worsen.

If you are pregnancy or think you might be pregnant and experience bleeding with pain, it is recommended to consult a healthcare professional immediately.

___

Nabta is reshaping women’s healthcare. We support women with their personal health journeys, from everyday wellbeing to the uniquely female experiences of periods, fertility, pregnancy, and menopause. You can track your menstrual cycle and get personalised support by using the Nabta app.

Get in touch if you have any questions about this article or any aspect of women’s health. We’re here for you.

Sources:

American Pregnancy Association
Am I Pregnant?
Health
MYTH: You Can’t Get Your Period During Your Pregnancy. KidsHealth https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/period-pregnancy.html
Can You Still Have Your Period If You’re Pregnant?
Parents
Can You Be Pregnant and Still Get Your Period?

Can you get a full period and still be pregnant?

The short answer is no. Despite all of the claims out there, it isn't possible to have a period while you're pregnant. Rather, you might experience “spotting” during early pregnancy, which is usually light pink or dark brown in color.

Can you bleed like a period in early pregnancy?

Spotting or bleeding may occur shortly after conception, this is known as an implantation bleed. It is caused by the fertilised egg embedding itself in the lining of the womb. This bleeding is often mistaken for a period, and it may occur around the time your period is due.