Is it possible to have monthly bleeding during pregnancy

Keep reading to learn why menstruation stops during pregnancy, as well as other possible causes of spotting during the first, second, or third trimester. A true period is blood loss that occurs at the end of a menstrual cycle as a result of your egg not being fertilized by sperm.

When an egg goes unfertilized, hormones—the ones that control the release of the egg into your fallopian tubes and cause your womb lining to thicken—drop in levels at the end of the month. Your womb lining then disintegrates and is shed in what we commonly refer to as a period. If you're pregnant, an egg has already been fertilized and is growing as an embryo within the walls of your uterus.

Since your womb lining is not being discarded at the end of each month, you no longer have a period. This is why one of the early signs of pregnancy is a missed period. Although you can't have your period and be pregnant, bleeding while expecting—especially in the first trimester—is not uncommon.

According to Dr. Hakakha, women can bleed in pregnancy for a variety of reasons. Other things can also cause bleeding, like a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy when the fertilized egg implants someplace other than in the uterus. An ectopic pregnancy is a medical emergency. If you think you might be pregnant and have pain or bleeding, call the doctor right away.

An egg is only viable for about 12—24 hours after a woman ovulates. If sperm cells are present and able to fertilize the egg, the egg will implant itself in the uterus, resulting in pregnancy. If there is no fertilization, menstruation will occur, and the body will shed the uterine lining so that it can begin making a new one for the next cycle.

Although a woman will not have a period when she is pregnant, she may still experience some bleeding. While bleeding is not necessarily a sign of an underlying problem, it is essential to understand the potential causes and know when to speak to a doctor. Bleeding tends to be more common during the first trimester. Some mild spotting can occur as the placenta implants in the uterus. A woman can also experience changes in the cervical cells during pregnancy, which may cause some light bleeding, especially after having sex.

If a woman does experience bleeding at any stage of pregnancy and is concerned, she should note the color, amount, and consistency of the bleeding and speak to a doctor.

Women should seek emergency medical attention for bleeding during pregnancy if they have additional symptoms that include:. Vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain early in pregnancy may be a sign of ectopic pregnancy, especially if these symptoms occur before an initial ultrasound. Any woman who suspects an ectopic pregnancy should see a doctor as soon as possible. If a woman is bleeding and has symptoms of preterm labor, which is labor before 37 weeks of gestation, she should seek medical attention.

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. 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.

However, again, these usually produce far less blood than a period. The placenta can also be a cause behind the bleeding if it starts to tear or separate a little.

Early in pregnancy, you might see bleeding due to something called a subchorionic hematoma, which is when blood gathers between your placenta and the wall of your uterus, Dr. Schaffir explains. Although the condition can raise your risk for a miscarriage, research suggests that most who have it go on to have a healthy pregnancy.