Menstruation during pregnancy: main causes (and what to do)

It is not normal to have menstruation during pregnancy because the menstrual cycle is interrupted during pregnancy. Thus, there is no desquamation of the internal lining of the uterus, which is necessary for the proper development of the baby.

Therefore, blood loss during pregnancy is not related to menstruation, but is in fact bleeding, which must always be evaluated by the obstetrician as it can put the baby’s life at risk.

If you have a period during pregnancy, it is important to go to the doctor to carry out tests that can identify possible changes, such as an ectopic pregnancy or placental abruption, that can cause this bleeding.

Main causes of bleeding during pregnancy

Bleeding during pregnancy can have different causes depending on the length of pregnancy.

The most common causes of bleeding during pregnancy are:

There may also be a small amount of vaginal bleeding after tests such as ultrasound, transvaginal ultrasound and amniocentesis, and after exercising.

How many months can a pregnant woman menstruate?

Pregnant women do not menstruate, as ovulation does not occur and the endometrium, which is the inner layer of the uterus, desquamates, which causes menstruation to begin.

However, at the beginning of pregnancy, a small amount of bleeding may occur, which is common in the first 15 days after conception, due to the implantation of the embryo in the endometrium, and, in this case, the bleeding is pinkish or brownish, lasting about 2 to 3 days, and can cause cramps similar to those of menstruation.

Thus, a woman who is 2 weeks pregnant, but who has not yet taken a pregnancy test, may think she is menstruating, when in fact she is already pregnant. See what the first symptoms of pregnancy are and how to confirm pregnancy.

Is it possible to have a heavy period and be pregnant?

It is not possible to have a heavy period and be pregnant, however, bleeding can occur that can be confused with menstruation.

In these cases, you should seek assistance from an obstetrician immediately to assess the cause of the bleeding and initiate the most appropriate treatment.

What to do in case of bleeding

In case of bleeding during pregnancy, at any stage of pregnancy, you should rest, avoiding any type of exertion and go to the doctor as soon as possible so that he can examine and, if necessary, carry out tests such as ultrasound to identify the cause of the bleeding. bleeding.

Most of the time, a small bleed that occurs sporadically at any stage of pregnancy is not serious and does not put the life of the mother or baby at risk, however, you should go to the hospital immediately when there is:

• Frequent bleedingmaking it necessary to use more than one panty liner per day;
• Bright red blood loss at any stage of pregnancy;
• Bleeding with or without clots and severe abdominal pain;
• Bleeding, fluid loss and fever.

In the last 3 months of pregnancy, it is common for women to experience bleeding after intimate contact, as the birth canal becomes more sensitive, bleeding easily. In this case, the woman should only go to the hospital if the bleeding continues for more than 1 hour.