The absence of menstruation is usually one of the most reliable signs that a baby is growing inside us. However, bleeding can continue to appear during pregnancy. Does it mean that a woman can continue to have her period even if she is pregnant?
We answer all your questions.
Why does vaginal bleeding appear
Once the female fertile stage begins in adolescence with the maturation of the sexual organs, once a month, an egg leaves one of the ovaries and travels through the fallopian tubes towards the uterus, where it will wait for the arrival of a sperm to be fertilized.
If this fertilization does not occur, the endometrium, which had been prepared to receive the fertilized egg, is no longer necessary and the body expels it little by little along with a certain amount of blood through the vagina. And this is what is known as a menstrual period, menstruation or rule.
Therefore, although slight bleeding may appear during pregnancy that confuses the future mother, the truth is that they have nothing to do with menstruation.
Mild causes of bleeding
The US National Library of Medicine explains that up to 1 in 4 women have vaginal bleeding at some point during their pregnancy. He adds that it is most common in the first three months (first trimester), especially with twins.
Thus, bleeding is natural if:
- A small amount of spotting or light bleeding is noticeable 10 to 14 days after conception, on the days when you expect your period to arrive, or perhaps a little earlier. This spotting is caused by the fertilized egg when it attaches to the lining of the uterus. As long as it’s in short supply and doesn’t last long, it’s not a cause for concern. It is known as “implantation bleeding”.
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It occurs after some vaginal test or examination and after having sex. This trauma to the cervix can cause slight bleeding caused by the changes that occur during pregnancy: increased blood flow in the area of the cervix. It is not necessary to consult a doctor.
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During the first weeks of pregnancy, heavy bleeding (as a rule) but without abdominal pain, may be due to an accumulation of blood inside the endometrial cavity. This uterine hematoma usually disappears with rest, the hematoma is reabsorbed and the losses disappear.
More worrying blood losses
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More heavy blood loss (such as menstruation) can be a sign of miscarriage. They are accompanied by abdominal cramps.
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Scanty and brown bleeding but with severe pain, it can be one of the symptoms of ectopic pregnancy or extrauterine pregnancy. It occurs when the embryo implants outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube, and has a very low chance of reaching term. Bleeding may appear several days or weeks before the pain appears.
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During months 4 to 9, the blood may also be caused by a premature detachment of the placenta, a placenta previa, cervical neoplasms or polyps.
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Infections, such as candidiasis or sexually transmitted infections, although they have nothing to do with the pregnancy itself, can also cause losses in the first months.
When to go to the doctor
Blood losses are quite frequent and having them does not mean the loss of the pregnancy. Even so, if you suffer any hemorrhage, even very slight, it is essential to go to the doctor and follow his instructions to the letter, since sometimes they can be serious and indicate that something is not going well. They will evaluate the source of the bleeding by performing a scan and ultrasound. You will need to explain how much blood you expelled, what it looked like, and whether it included clots or tissue.
The Mayo Clinic details when to consult, depending on the gestation trimester in which you are.
First trimester (weeks 1 to 12).
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Tell your gynecologist at your next control visit if you stain your underwear in a slight way that disappears during the day.
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See your doctor right away if the bleeding lasts more than a day, whatever it is.
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If you bleed moderately to heavily, expel tissue from the vagina, or have vaginal bleeding, in whatever amount, accompanied by abdominal pain, cramps, fever, or chills.
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If your blood type is Rh negative and you experience bleeding because you may need a medication that prevents your body from producing antibodies that can be harmful to your future pregnancies.
Second trimester (weeks 13 to 24)
- With a loss of blood, in any amount, that lasts more than a few hours or is accompanied by abdominal pain, colic, fever, chills or contractions.
Third trimester (weeks 25 to 40)
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Vaginal bleeding, it does not matter if it is light or heavy, or that it is accompanied by abdominal pain.
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In the last weeks of pregnancy, pink or bloody vaginal discharge can be a sign of impending labor.
Photos | iStock
In Babies and More | Ectopic pregnancy: what is it, symptoms and risk factors, Warning signs in pregnancy: when should I be concerned?
