Can I Get Pregnant on My Period
Theoretically, it is not possible for a pregnant woman to continue having her period. At the end of a normal menstrual cycle, the level of progesterone in your body will decline and this will cause your uterus tissue to shed – this is your period. After a fertilized egg embeds itself into the uterus lining, human chorionic gondatrophin (hCG) hormone is released, which maintains the level of progesterone in your body. The high level of progesterone will ensure that the uterus lining does not shed to support a growing baby.
However, there are incidents where pregnant women continue having ‘periods’ after conception. These are not true period bleeding but may be due to other reasons, such as:
Break through bleeding
Some pregnant women report having vaginal bleeding close to the time fo their periods. Although experts are unsure of the exact cause of this type of bleeding, they speculate that it could be due to the lower levels of progesterone in a pregnant woman’s system right after implantation. After implantation of the fertilized egg unto the uterus lining, the level of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone released may rise slowly, by then progesterone level might have dipped slightly in preparation for the next menses before the hCG hormone can have its full effect on progesterone level. That could explain why these ‘periods’ are usually much lighter than ones normal menses. This bleeding have been reported to occur throughout the first trimester but simple observation and assurance by doctors should suffice.
Implantation bleeding
As the name suggest, ‘implantation bleeding’ is caused by fertilized egg burrowing itself into the blood vessel rich lining of the uterus. This bleeding usually manifest as spotting or light bleeding and should last only for a day or two.
Pathological bleeding
Sometimes, bleeding or spotting can be a sign of something more sinister. It may be the first sign of miscarriage, an ectopic pregnancy (implantation of fertilized egg occurs outside of the uterus lining), low lying placenta or cervical injury. Bleeding can also occur occasionally post-sexual intercourse. A simple examination and ultrasound scan should be able to help identify the cause.
It is only natural to be worried if you bleed during pregnancy. Please consult your doctor as soon as possible. Sometimes the bleeding stops and women disregard the incident, but a proper evaluation by your doctor is important to rule out any serious problems.
References:
- http://www.acog.org/-/media/For-Patients/faq038.pdf
- http://www.msdmanuals.com/professional/gynecology-and-obstetrics/symptoms-during-pregnancy/vaginal-bleeding-during-early-pregnancy
- http://www.miami-obgyn.com/5-reasons-why-a-woman-might-bleed-during-early-pregnancy-other-than-miscarriage/
- http://www.lifewithgremlins.com/period-while-pregnant/