Evidence of pregnancy is considered to be a delay in the menstrual cycle. After conception, menstruation no longer begins and no longer occurs throughout pregnancy. This is known to all women and men who are preparing to become parents. But sometimes there are exceptions, which causes questions: Are menstruation possible during pregnancy? Is menstruation in women in the position the norm or is it a pathology?
Normally, pregnant women do not begin menstruation. Therefore, blood discharge from the genitals during the period of bearing a child is considered obstetric bleeding. Sometimes such secretions are considered harmless, but in some cases they can pose a serious threat. Therefore, it is impossible to ignore such secretions, because in most cases menstruation during pregnancy is a symptom of pathology that increases the risk of death of the fetus or mother, and sometimes both at once.
In pregnant women, the hormonal background changes, which makes the uterus very sensitive. In some cases, this can cause minor bleeding that occurs when exposed to the cervix. For example, after sex or a gynecologist’s examination. If such a pathology occurs, there is no need to worry, but it is necessary to inform the doctor about it.
The fertilized egg begins to move to the uterus. It attaches to its wall 6-10 days after fertilization. This is a natural process in which minor damage to the walls of the uterus occurs, which may be accompanied by blood secretions resembling meager menstruation.
In some cases, bleeding can be caused by the natural functions of the body responsible for the regularity of menstruation. Sometimes a pregnant woman may still have her period. They differ from ordinary monthly ones in the scarcity of secretions, but they can be regular. This condition is considered a deviation from the norm and evidence of hormonal disorders, which the doctor will help normalize.
Spontaneous abortion can occur at an early stage of fetal development. In these cases, a woman may not even suspect that she has had a miscarriage and she mistakes the bleeding for menstruation that came with a delay. Miscarriage may occur at a later date. This condition is always accompanied by blood secretions and in case of their occurrence, it is necessary to seek the qualified help of a doctor, which will help stop the bleeding and avoid fetal loss.
If a woman is faced with menstruation, accompanied by severe and sharp pain in the lower abdomen, this may indicate the presence of an ectopic pregnancy. This condition requires an immediate visit to a doctor. The problem is that painful sensations and bleeding can occur only in the eighth week of ectopic pregnancy. In this case, the woman urgently needs hospitalization and surgery.
This syndrome occurs in the case of multiple pregnancies. The woman’s body spontaneously rejects some embryos, which is why a selective miscarriage occurs, accompanied by bleeding. The occurrence of multiple pregnancies is extremely rare. Often, this is a consequence of artificial insemination, when 2-3 embryos are implanted simultaneously.
This pathology occurs in the late stages of pregnancy. False menstruation causes incorrect placenta previa. Most often, this attachment of the placenta causes severe bleeding at the beginning of labor, but sometimes it occurs in the last weeks of pregnancy. Spotting appears unexpectedly and causes rapid blood loss. In case of occurrence of such “monthly” urgent hospitalization is necessary.
During the normal course of pregnancy, the placenta begins to peel off and exit the woman’s body after delivery. But in some cases, an early detachment of the placenta occurs, which causes bleeding, which a woman can take for menstruation. This condition is very dangerous for the fetus, because the placenta is responsible for saturating the baby with nutrients.
Bleeding in pregnant women can occur due to a variety of reasons associated with various pathologies. In some cases, “menstruation” may appear due to the presence of polyps on the cervix, fibroids, oncology and other diseases. Only a doctor can determine the cause of the appearance of blood secretions, after laboratory tests. Therefore, when deciding to become parents, it is important to understand that menstruation in pregnant women is an exception, not the norm.