"Monthly" during pregnancy: how to distinguish them from normal menstruation. Pregnancy without signs: description, features and recommendations of specialists

Every girl knows that menstruation is a sign that conception has not occurred. But it is worth remembering that the body of any girl reacts differently to the onset of pregnancy, so many surprises can be expected. Many are alarmed by the fact that pregnancy symptoms exist, but at the same time, menstruation does not stop and goes on as usual. Could this be? Can you be pregnant if you are on your period? These questions can be answered in this article.

Why do periods occur during pregnancy?

To understand why menstruation began at the time of pregnancy, you need to know the structure of the woman's body. The uterus has a wall that consists of three layers. The first layer is the inner one. The second layer is the endometrium that makes up the uterine cavity. The third layer is the mucous membrane, which consists of blood vessels. The menstrual cycle lasts one month, and in its middle, the endometrium begins to grow, which prepares the uterus for bearing the fetus.

The woman's ovaries then release a follicle containing a mature egg. When the follicle begins to grow, it produces estrogen. Under his work, the inner lining of the uterus increases. When favorable days come for a successful conception, that is, ovulation, a temporary gland and a corpus luteum appear in place of the follicle, which produces progesterone.

Progesterone prepares the endometrium for early conception, and also has the ability to maintain pregnancy and prevent rejection of the fetal egg. When conception does not happen, after a few weeks the corpus luteum becomes smaller and the amount of progesterone decreases. Iron takes on the appearance of scar tissue and disappears after a while.

Then, due to the fact that the amount of the hormone progesterone has decreased, the mucous layer of the uterus begins to exfoliate, in which the embryo should have grown and developed. When flaking occurs in the uterus, it leads to the opening of the blood vessels, which are partially destroyed. As a result, a woman can observe the onset of critical days.

When conception occurs and a girl becomes pregnant, the corpus luteum expands and increases the amount of progesterone. Thus, the girl may well protect the pregnancy and bear a healthy child. When menstruation went during pregnancy, this means that the ovaries do not work well. The amount of production of the necessary hormones is not enough to fully develop the fetus. As a result, you can observe the usual onset of critical days, and therefore a miscarriage occurs.

Due to the failure of the hormonal background, menstruation often occurs in girls at the time of pregnancy. Many doctors believe that such a phenomenon will not affect the development of pregnancy and the birth of a child, but this may be the first sign of pathologies in mother and child. When a woman observes bloody discharge during the period of bearing a child, you need to quickly consult a doctor or call an ambulance, as this is a sign of a miscarriage.

The main symptomatology indicating the presence of pregnancy

To independently determine the presence of such a phenomenon as pregnancy, pay attention to the signals that the body gives us. These symptoms are based on changes in hormones and the individual characteristics of the body as a whole.

It happens that suspicions of successful fertilization may arise early or not be fixed at all.

The whole thing lies in the level of such a pregnancy hormone as hCG. With its increase, changes begin to occur, mood may change, strange taste preferences appear, even menstruation, which is the usual implantation bleeding, can go to pregnancy.

As for such a determination method as a home pregnancy test, it is worth noting that the later you do it, the more reliable the result will be. This is due to the fact that the hCG hormone helps determine pregnancy, and after fertilization it increases every day.

Is menstruation possible during pregnancy?

To decide on the question of how to find out if pregnancy is possible during menstruation, it is worth remembering what the entire reproductive path in a woman's body is.

At a certain period of time per month, one or more eggs mature in the body of a woman, which are waiting for fertilization. But, in the event that, nevertheless, the meeting with the sperm did not happen, menstruation begins, during which the unused endometrium and the remains of a dead egg come out.

But, with successful fertilization, the reproductive organs begin to actively produce the pregnancy hormone progesterone. It controls the development of the embryo and promotes its active growth. Therefore, with a normal cycle, which lasts from 28 to 35 days, such a phenomenon as the possibility of menstruation is almost excluded.

If menstruation came during pregnancy, what could it be?

In the event that menstruation has gone during the bearing of a child, then such a phenomenon cannot be called a full menstruation. If this is not associated with a biological process, then this may be a variant of the pathology of the reproductive organ. Often, blood during pregnancy can go due to the sudden rejection of the fetal egg, which threatens with an unforeseen spontaneous miscarriage.

Therefore, if you suddenly notice that during the bearing of a child there was a sudden menstruation, then you should urgently consult a doctor for advice in order to exclude the possibility of a particular pathology or the loss of a long-awaited child.

During pregnancy, bleeding is often observed due to the fact that the blood of the expectant mother contains little of the hormone progesterone. Therefore, it threatens with a miscarriage and this condition should be corrected with the help of drugs that contain this hormone.

In the event that no measures are taken, the uterus will begin to reject the embryo and everything will end with severe bleeding and rejection of the fetus. But, with a timely appeal for help, such a threat is suspended, and the mother continues to lead a normal life. Sometimes, in the most severe conditions, a woman is recommended to spend the entire period before the birth of a baby in a hospital.

Cases are often recorded when, being pregnant for a short period, a woman notices severe bleeding, which is accompanied by pulling pain. This may indicate that an ectopic type pregnancy is developing in the body, which can be dangerous both for the reproductive and general health of a woman, and for her life. In the event that you managed to get pregnant by an ectopic route, you should consult a doctor so that he quickly terminates the pregnancy. Only a highly qualified specialist knows how to identify and eliminate this phenomenon without consequences.

In the case of multiple pregnancies, there is a possibility that menstruation can go to a woman in an interesting position. Thus, if blood can come, then there is the possibility that one of the fetal eggs is rejected from the uterine wall.

How to determine that pregnancy has occurred if menstruation is coming?

Can menstruation occur during pregnancy - it depends both on the characteristics of the female body and on whether the woman has any pathology of the reproductive system.

The following symptoms may indicate that a lady is pregnant:

the presence of toxicity. Nausea may indicate that conception has occurred;
if discharge can come during a long-awaited pregnancy, then you can measure the basal temperature in the rectal zone;
how to find out the presence of pregnancy can be determined by the abundance of discharge. In most cases, such blood smears are scanty;
the woman's breasts are greatly enlarged and become very sensitive.

All these signs can help a woman independently determine the presence of pregnancy during menstruation. This can happen often, so you should initially listen to the signals of the body.

In the event that deviations from the norm are recorded, it is worth seeking help from a specialist who will help solve all the problems that have arisen.

Pregnancy is a physiological process in which a new human organism develops in the uterus of a woman, resulting from fertilization.

Pregnancy in women lasts on average 280 days(40 weeks, which corresponds to 9 calendar months or 10 lunar months). Pregnancy is also usually divided into 3 trimesters of 3 calendar months each.

Signs of early pregnancy

In the early stages, the diagnosis of pregnancy is established on the basis of doubtful and probable signs.

Doubtful signs of pregnancy- various kinds of subjective sensations, as well as objectively determined changes in the body, outside the internal genital organs: taste whims, changes in olfactory sensations, easy fatigue, drowsiness, pigmentation of the skin on the face, along the white line of the abdomen, nipples and areola.

Possible signs of pregnancy- objective signs from the genitals, mammary glands and when setting up biological reactions to pregnancy. These include: the cessation of menstruation in women of childbearing age, an increase in the mammary glands and the appearance of colostrum when squeezed out of the nipples, cyanosis of the mucous membrane of the vagina and cervix, a change in the shape and consistency of the uterus, an increase in its size.

You can first verify the presence of pregnancy at home using a rapid test for the content of the hormone chorionic gonadotropin in the urine of a woman (the test is carried out from the first day of delaying the next menstruation).

Confirm the fact of pregnancy allows.

Changes in the body of a pregnant woman

Numerous and complex changes occur in a woman's body during pregnancy. These physiological changes create conditions for intrauterine development of the fetus, prepare the woman's body for the birth act and breastfeeding of the newborn. Menstruation stops, mammary glands increase in volume, nipples darken.

Many pregnant women in the first trimester experience nausea, sometimes vomiting - these symptoms are commonly called. Weakness, drowsiness, heartburn, drooling, changes in taste, and frequent urination often occur. These disturbances of well-being are characteristic of a healthy and normal pregnancy.

Particularly large changes occur in the female genital organs. The uterus increases with each, the blood supply to the internal and external genital organs increases. The tissues swell, acquire elasticity, which contributes to their better stretching during childbirth. In the mammary glands, the number and volume of glandular lobules increase, their blood supply increases, they become tense, from the nipples. There is a sharp increase in the amount of gonadotropic hormones, as well as estrogens and progesterone, produced first by the corpus luteum (a temporary gland formed at the site of the follicle from which the mature egg came out) and then. Hormones secreted by the corpus luteum (progesterone and, to a lesser extent, estrogens) contribute to the creation of conditions for the proper development of pregnancy. The corpus luteum undergoes reverse development after the fourth month in connection with the formation of the hormonal function of the placenta.

For the management of pregnancy, it is necessary (3-4 weeks after the delay of menstruation), where the doctor conducts an examination and examination of the external and internal genital organs, and, if necessary, additional examinations are prescribed.

Sex organs during pregnancy

Uterus. During pregnancy, the size, shape, position, consistency and reactivity (excitability) of the uterus changes. The uterus gradually enlarges throughout pregnancy. The increase in the uterus occurs mainly due to hypertrophy of the muscle fibers of the uterus; at the same time, there is a reproduction of muscle fibers, the growth of newly formed muscle elements of the mesh-fibrous and argyrophilic "frame" of the uterus.

The uterus is not only a fetal place that protects the fetus from adverse external influences, but also a metabolic organ that provides the fetus with enzymes, complex compounds necessary for the plastic processes of a rapidly developing fetus.

Vagina during pregnancy, it lengthens, expands, the folds of the mucous membrane protrude sharper. The external genitalia loosen during pregnancy.

Lifestyle of a pregnant woman, regimen, nutrition and hygiene

The developing fetus receives all the necessary nutrients from the mother. The well-being of the fetus depends entirely on the health of the mother, the conditions of her work, rest, the state of the nervous and endocrine systems.

Pregnant women are exempt from night duty, heavy physical work, work associated with body vibration or adverse effects on the body of chemical agents. substances. During pregnancy, sudden movements, heavy lifting and significant fatigue should be avoided. A pregnant woman needs to sleep at least 8 hours a day. Walking before bed is recommended.

A pregnant woman must be carefully protected from infectious diseases that pose a particular danger to the body of the pregnant woman and the fetus.

During pregnancy, it is necessary to carefully monitor the cleanliness of the skin. Cleanliness of the skin contributes to the removal of metabolic products harmful to the body with sweat.

A pregnant woman should wash her external genitalia twice a day with warm water and soap. Douching during pregnancy should be administered with great caution.

During pregnancy, you should carefully monitor the condition of the oral cavity and make the necessary.

The mammary glands should be washed daily with warm water and soap and wiped with a towel. These methods prevent cracked nipples and mastitis. If, then they should be massaged.

maternity clothes should be comfortable and free: you should not wear tightening belts, tight bras, etc. In the second half of pregnancy, it is recommended to wear a bandage that should support the stomach, but not squeeze it.

A pregnant woman should wear shoes with low heels.

Women are often concerned about the question: can menstruation go during pregnancy? This is of interest to both those who plan to become a mother, and those who do not want to give birth. Usually, girls begin to worry if spotting has passed after a delay, that is, some time after the expected next menstruation. It is not clear: could this be pregnancy or just a cycle failure?

First, let's define terminology. Physiological female processes are arranged in such a way that menstruation stops if conception occurs. Therefore, doctors give an unambiguously negative answer to the question of whether menstruation can go during pregnancy.

But not everything is so simple. After conception, especially in the early stages, blood can really bleed, and this condition can be easily confused with menstruation. Sometimes it is abnormal bleeding that requires urgent medical attention.

Quite often, women find themselves in an incomprehensible position. It happens that a woman is sure of her pregnancy, but she starts spotting. It happens that conception is unlikely, but menstruation came after a delay, it is unusual in nature (for example, too weak or started earlier than usual). In this case, you need to do a pregnancy test during menstruation, which is in doubt.

Now the main thing is to establish the fact of the presence (or absence) of pregnancy as quickly and accurately as possible. For this, an express test is carried out to determine the concentration of hCG in the morning portion of urine. This is the same test that is sold in any pharmacy. Since it is spotting that causes a flurry of questions, many take a pregnancy test during menstruation, while worrying about how reliable the results will be.

How to use the test

With a monthly test, it can show the same as in their absence. In order to get a real result, follow the rules for its implementation:

on the eve of drinking less liquid, especially in the evening - to increase the concentration of morning urine. This is especially important in the very early stages;
before the first morning urination, thoroughly wash yourself and insert a tampon into the vagina;
collect the first portion of urine in a sterile container;
make sure that the test has not expired, and it has a complete package;
lower the test strip only to the level indicated in the instructions, not deeper;
observe the time of evaluation of the result.

As a rule, a pregnancy test during menstruation is negative. Often premenstrual syndrome in its symptoms is similar to the first signs of conception. And a woman is mistaken, taking PMS for pregnancy.

Rarely, but another option is possible: conception did occur. But on the first day of menstruation, the test has not yet shown it, because the period is too short. You can re-test a little later, which can show pregnancy after menstruation, since with an increase in the period in the urine, the concentration of hCG increases. But, we repeat, then this is no longer menstruation, but a completely different bleeding (more on that below).

A positive test result is the best answer to the question of how to distinguish between menstruation and pregnancy for those who dream of a baby.

Since the test can be wrong, especially if it is done on the first day of menstruation, you can donate blood for the presence of hCG. This analysis is able to determine conception - already in the first month of pregnancy, approximately 10-15 days after fertilization.

Types of spotting

Girls who do not have hormonal disorders usually know when their period should begin, how many days it can go, and what is the total length of the cycle and the normal type of discharge. Therefore, it is easier for them to suspect signs of pregnancy during false periods. The rest have to focus on general knowledge.

Vaginal spotting is evaluated according to several criteria.

In count:

smearing,
scarce,
normal,
plentiful.

By color:

brown;
dark ("black periods");
red;
bright scarlet.

By consistency:

liquid;
with particles of the inner lining of the uterus;
thick - when a significant blood clot can be detected.

By duration: every woman knows her usual cycle - for some, menstruation is short and ends in three days, for others it lasts more than seven days.

Menstrual-like bleeding may differ from normal periods. A change in the nature of the usual discharge may indicate pregnancy during menstruation (more precisely, during bleeding). Pay special attention if:

menstruation started prematurely;
went meager menstruation;
ended faster than always: it happens that menstruation goes one day;
the discharge had an unusual color, the so-called black periods, brown or pink;
the consistency of the secretions has changed. There were signs of menstruation with clots or discharge, on the contrary, the discharge became too liquid;

Scanty or spotting discharge is observed with:

hormonal disorders,
inflammatory processes,
taking hormonal contraceptives,
use of intrauterine contraception,
traumatization of the mucous membrane of the neck and vagina during aggressive sexual intercourse, medical or hygienic manipulations.

In addition, if after a delay there is a brown spotting discharge, accompanied by pain in the abdomen, a deterioration in the general condition, they may be a manifestation of an ectopic pregnancy.

Abundant discharge that appeared suddenly is difficult to confuse with menstruation, they should alert the woman, since heavy bleeding is a direct threat to life.

Discharge during uterine pregnancy

When a fertilized egg implants in the wall of the uterus, a small amount of blood is released. This is implantation bleeding, it is often confused with scanty menstruation and it is believed that menstruation has come ahead of schedule. There is very little blood, usually just a few drops of pink or brown. Implantation bleeding is normal and does not threaten pregnancy.

Bloody discharge, which is similar to menstruation during early pregnancy, is a sign of hormonal imbalance. With a lack of progesterone, the hormone that maintains pregnancy, the body may decide that it is necessary to normalize the menstrual cycle and start it. Then there may be menstrual bleeding. A strong contraction of the walls of the uterus at this moment can prevent the full attachment of the embryo, and then the woman may not even know about her conception, considering her periods to be normal.

Is pregnancy possible after menstruation, how to find out, a gynecologist will tell you. Most likely, the doctor will send the patient for a blood test and ultrasound. For your part, listen carefully to your body in a doubtful period. A woman herself can determine the signs of pregnancy if menstruation occurs:

bursting pain in the mammary glands, their increase and the release of colostrum when pressing on the areola;
frequent urination;
taste and olfactory changes, craving for unusual food, inedible substances;
drowsiness, fatigue, irritability;
the appearance of acne and pigmentation on the skin.

Yes, it could be pregnancy. This condition usually encourages those who really want to get pregnant. But in reality, it often turns out to be a sign of PMS during normal menstruation. If menstruation has not gone, you should not guess for a long time how to distinguish PMS symptoms from pregnancy, it is better to do a home express test and contact a specialist at the clinic.

The probability of fertilization depending on the day of the cycle

The menstrual cycle of women is a very variable process. There are girls whose periods go “like clockwork”, but this is rare, many factors influence the timing - climate, stress, illness. Under such conditions, the egg can mature for conception at almost any time. This is unlikely on the first day of menstruation, but in the last days it is quite possible. Therefore, the situation when fertilization can occur in the early stages after menstruation is not so rare.

It is important to understand that pregnancy that began during menstruation is a variant of the norm. And bleeding that occurs after conception, the so-called pregnancy through menstruation, is a sign of a pathology, possibly serious, which can threaten the health and life of mother and baby.

Therefore, all doubts and questions about how to distinguish pregnancy from hormonal dysfunctions, whether there can be periods during pregnancy and how to distinguish them from ordinary ones, should be asked to the gynecologist at an in-person consultation. The doctor will indicate what other tests, analyzes and examinations should be taken in order to sort out the ambiguous situation.

You should not engage in self-diagnosis and, moreover, prescribe treatment, it is dangerous for both a pregnant woman and one who does not plan to have a baby. If the bleeding is severe, if there is pain, you should call an ambulance or immediately consult a doctor on the first day of menstruation.