The short answer: No. Despite all the claims you read on social media or hear from gossips, it’s not possible to get your period while you are pregnant.
If the bleeding is long and heavy enough to fill a tampon or sanitary pad, or it really resembles your period, then it’s a sign you’re probably not pregnant.
However, you may experience some spotting or bleeding during a pregnancy. Read on further to know what are the possible causes.
How are periods and pregnancy connected?
During the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, the hormone estrogen thickens the lining of the uterus (or endometrium) in preparation for a possible pregnancy. This will nurture an embryo if the egg cell gets fertilized and result in a pregnancy.
If the egg cell is not fertilized during the ovulation phase, the thickened endometrium will shed and exit the body as menstrual blood. But if a sperm cell was able to fertilize the egg cell, the egg cell will implant itself to the endometrium, then become an embryo.
This is why a pregnant person does not menstruate because they don’t ovulate for the entirety of the pregnancy. Menstruation only occurs when a person is not pregnant.
What are the causes of bleeding during a pregnancy?
Some people claim that they menstruate while they are pregnant, or they menstruate but later find out that they’re actually pregnant.
Menstruation is not possible during a pregnancy, but some bleeding may occur. It’s not necessarily a sign of something serious. However, it will be helpful to know the potential causes and when it’s best to seek medical attention immediately.
Bleeding during the first trimester
- implantation bleeding
- ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy outside the uterus)
- molar pregnancy (formation of a mass or tumor)
- an infection
- miscarriage, or pregnancy loss
- subchorionic hemorrhage (bleeding between the uterine wall and the placenta)
- gestational trophoblastic disease (formation of tumors during an abnormal pregnancy)
Bleeding during the second and third trimester
- term or preterm labor or cervical dilation
- miscarriage
- placenta previa (a condition where the placenta implants close to or on the cervical opening)
- placental abruption (a condition where the placenta begins to separate from the uterus before the baby is born)
- uterine rupture (the uterus tears during labor)
- vasa previa (blood vessels that connect the umbilical cord to the placenta are over or near the cervical opening)
Any bleeding that occurs during the second and third trimester must be given medical attention immediately.
Bottomline
It’s not possible to menstruate during a pregnancy, but you may experience some bleeding. It’s difficult to tell whether the bleeding is nothing serious or a sign of an emergency. As a rule of thumb, always consult a doctor if bleeding occurs at any stage of pregnancy.
Sources:
Cherney, K. (March 11, 2019). Can You Get Your Period and Still Be Pregnant?. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnant/period-and-pregnant#:~:text=Intro,or%20dark%20brown%20in%20color
Nall, R. (July 27, 2018). Can you have a period while pregnant?. MedicalNewsToday. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322598
Hirsch, L. (October 2016). Can You Still Have Your Period If You’re Pregnant?. Nemours Teens Health. https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/period-pregnancy.html
