How likely is it to have your period while pregnant

It is not possible to have a true menstrual period during pregnancy. Your hormone levels during pregnancy will change to prevent you from menstruating, and it is not possible for your body to shed its entire uterine lining while maintaining a pregnancy.

Table of Contents Show

Decidual and Implantation Bleeding
Causes of First-Trimester Bleeding
Causes of Second or Third-Trimester Bleeding
When to Contact Your Doctor
What causes early bleeding?
If you see spotting
If tests are needed
Warning signs
Questions you may be asked
Monitoring your pregnancy
Can you bleed like a period in early pregnancy?
How likely is it to still get your period while pregnant?

It is, however, possible to have menstrual-like bleeding for a variety of reasons during pregnancy.

Decidual and Implantation Bleeding

Women who report having periods during an otherwise normal pregnancy are usually experiencing a phenomenon that is sometimes called decidual bleeding, in which a small part of the uterine lining might shed for the first few months of early pregnancy at the time that the woman would otherwise have had her period.

Decidual bleeding is not a true menstrual period, but it can look similar enough to cause women experiencing it to not realize that they are pregnant until fairly far along in the pregnancy.

Another possible explanation for having bleeding that looks like a period in very early pregnancy is implantation bleeding, which is spotting that may occur around the time of the first "missed" menstrual period. Implantation bleeding would occur only during the first month of pregnancy, however.

Note, however, that bleeding during pregnancy should always be reported to a doctor in order to rule out miscarriage or other complications. Decidual bleeding does occur in some women but is fairly rare. Implantation bleeding usually lasts only a day or two. So seeing a doctor is your best bet for ruling out miscarriage and figuring out the reason for your bleeding during pregnancy.

Note that "decidual bleeding" is not a common medical term; your doctor may simply refer to this bleeding as "first-trimester bleeding."

Causes of First-Trimester Bleeding

Bleeding during the first trimester is understandably dismaying. Fortunately, many women who bleed early on during pregnancy go on to deliver healthy babies. Nevertheless, it's scary to see blood while you're pregnant.

Here are some common causes of first-trimester bleeding:

Cervical infection, growths in the cervix or inflamed cervix
Ectopic pregnancy
Implantation bleeding, which typically happens about 2 weeks after conception
Miscarriage
Molar pregnancy

Causes of Second or Third-Trimester Bleeding

Here are some possible causes of bleeding experienced later during pregnancy:

Cervicitis
Incompetent cervix, or premature opening of the cervix
Miscarriage
Placental abruption
Preterm bleeding
Uterine rupture

A little bit of bleeding can also occur at the very end of pregnancy and serve as a sign that you are about to deliver. This blood is often mixed with mucus and called bloody show.

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.

By Krissi Danielsson
Krissi Danielsson, MD is a doctor of family medicine and an advocate for those who have experienced miscarriage.

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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.

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.

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.

How likely is it to still get your period while pregnant?

Can you still have your period and be pregnant? After a girl is pregnant, she no longer gets her period. But girls who are pregnant can have other bleeding that might look like a period. For example, there can be a small amount of bleeding when a fertilized egg implants in the uterus.