In the early stages of pregnancy, menstruation began. What is a blister? How to distinguish between menstruation and bleeding during pregnancy

Pregnancy and menstruation - these concepts are closely related to each other in the understanding of a modern woman. To some extent there is a connection, of course. But there are a huge number of myths about which, perhaps, it is worth telling doctors to your patients in order to avoid unpleasant situations. That's what we'll talk about.

It is no secret to anyone that the absence of menstruation on time in a woman who is sexually active without a reliable method of contraception is the most obvious sign that conception may have occurred. The reason for buying a test in a pharmacy, visiting a gynecologist or ultrasound of the uterus. Can pregnancy and menstruation go hand in hand? That is, can a future mother have her period? Any doctor will answer this question that this is impossible. Uterine bleeding in pregnant women really happens, but this is not called menstruation, but the threat of miscarriage, and perhaps even an abortion in progress. In general, there are only 2 options: a woman has a miscarriage or there is a threat that it will happen soon; or there is simply no pregnancy - sometimes even experienced gynecologists register non-pregnant women (this can happen if a blood test for hCG and ultrasound of the uterus is not done). Periods during pregnancy and in the first 6 weeks after childbirth (at least) are always absent.

Another question, no less relevant, is when, on what day after the last menstruation, conception can occur. After all, a woman can not conceive every day ... This day is called ovulation, and ovulation occurs approximately in the middle of the cycle, that is, on average, 12-16 days from the start of bleeding (namely, the beginning, not the end!). Is pregnancy possible during menstruation, that is, can sexual intercourse during menstruation be considered safe, “infertile”? Not always. If the cycle is short - 22-24 days, then ovulation can be at the end of menstruation, of course, that this is possible if the bleeding is long - up to 7-8 days. When conception occurs, sooner or later, it doesn't really matter. However, we still would not recommend using the calendar method now, when a wide range of various contraceptives is presented in pharmacies.

And the last atypical, but sometimes occurring situation is when menstrual flow is unusually scarce, dark, almost black and ends quickly. Sometimes this is a sign of the disease endometriosis, and in some cases it indicates that the woman is in position. After all, spotting at the beginning of pregnancy is not uncommon. And therefore, it will not be superfluous to do a test or go to an appointment with a gynecologist.

Sometimes women in position find signs of menstruation, i.e., vaginal spotting. Can there be menstruation during pregnancy, is it dangerous or quite acceptable? What do experts in gynecology and obstetrics say about this?

Physiologically, the appearance of menstruation in pregnant women is by no means a characteristic symptom. After all, in fact, menstruation is an exfoliating endometrium that grows on the uterine wall in the first half of the cycle. If conception does not occur, then it breaks up and comes out in the form of menstrual flow. If fertilization occurs, then the endometrium, on the contrary, is strengthened to provide the baby with additional protection. Therefore, menstruation does not occur during pregnancy. If, however, menstruation during early pregnancy nevertheless began, then the woman is frightened, since the symptom indicates a spontaneous interruption. And if the spouses have been waiting for conception for a long time, then such a circumstance is seriously frustrating and unsettling.

Usually, menstruation is presented by patients as any vaginal discharge, which is not entirely true, because the source of bleeding can be different. How do periods come? Under the influence of the progesterone hormone, or rather, against the background of its decrease, towards the end of the cycle, it begins to exfoliate, menstruation begins. Every month the menstrual cycle repeats, the endometrial layer grows again and again comes out with menstruation.

Therefore, if a pregnant woman has menstruation, that is, the endometrium has begun to come out, then it is impossible to talk about the normal development of the fetus. But in practice, it often happens that patients learn about conception only at 3-4 months, because their menstruation had gone on time before that. Why do periods occur during pregnancy?

Origin of bleeding

In fact, menstruation during early pregnancy, or rather, uterine bleeding, can begin for a variety of reasons.

  • The threat of an impending miscarriage;
  • The death of the embryo;
  • Development of an ectopic pregnancy;
  • Features of the uterine structure, for example, bicornuate, etc.

The threat of miscarriage is accompanied by mostly scanty, dark discharge, which is complemented by pulling soreness, similar to premenstrual pain. If the death of the embryo occurred, then there may be no signs for a long time. A positive factor is the appearance of symptoms that help to notice problems with pregnancy early. Similar signs of menstruation during early pregnancy include acute pain and smearing dark discharge, softening of the mammary gland, etc.

The ectopic location of the embryo is also accompanied by pain at the site of implantation of the fetal egg, and with physical exertion and movement, the pain, as a rule, only intensifies. In such cases, there are not very heavy periods during pregnancy with dark blood. If the bleeding is strong and prolonged, then this may indicate the beginning of the process of spontaneous detachment of the embryo. It is also impossible to exclude the possibility that the unusual structure of the uterus can become the cause of bleeding. For example, with a bicornuate structure of the uterus, the fetus is implanted in only one part of it, while the other continues to menstruate monthly. Of course, this state of affairs cannot be considered normal, but menstruation in the early stages of pregnancy with such a feature is quite understandable.

Another situation may also occur when a woman had sexual intimacy, and soon menstruation came, then there was no unprotected contact, but the woman was able to become pregnant. This is possible if pregnancy has already occurred at the time of menstruation, this happens with late ovulation. Hormonal processes do not yet have time to start, so bleeding begins on the scheduled days. It was just that the fertilized cell was sent to the uterus when menstruation began in early pregnancy. Which is quite understandable, because the completed conception is considered the time during the implantation period, when the cell is fully fixed in the uterine wall, and not the moment of fertilization of the cell by sperm.

If the fact of pregnancy has already been confirmed by tests and ultrasound, then any menstruation at the beginning of pregnancy and even a slight spotting of blood should be considered as a serious deviation requiring a doctor's examination.

Heavy menstruation with clots in pregnant women

Usually, cases associated with menstruation during pregnancy, whatever they may be, indicate a threat of interruption or a miscarriage that has already begun. Rejection can be caused by various factors such as:

In such situations, they do not say that menstruation occurs during pregnancy, since we are talking about uterine bleeding. If a pregnant woman has profuse bleeding with impurities of blood clots or there is only one large clot, brown dark scanty periods appear during pregnancy, then you need to call an ambulance. Similar manifestations of pregnancy can begin with the threat of spontaneous abortion, ectopic fixation of the embryo or its death. For a long time, such a clinical picture indicates placental presentation or detachment. Pathological bleeding is accompanied by intense pain and hyperthermia, malaise and nausea.

Pregnant women have menstrual flow after sex

Classical sexual intimacy is not dangerous and cannot cause a miscarriage. But in some patients, brownish discharge may begin after this. These are not ordinary periods, but bleeding due to more abundant blood flow to the small pelvis, due to which the mucous tissues become much more sensitive, therefore they are easily damaged during sexual contact. Usually, such smears are not dangerous, but it is still worth talking with a gynecologist about this. If noticeable bleeding occurs after each intimacy, then you will have to abstain from sex for the time being.

You should undergo a gynecological examination, find out if there are deviations, whether sexual intercourse is possible during further gestation, etc. If the obstetrician-gynecologist does not reveal any pathologies, then you can resume sexual life. In such a situation, it is better to use panty liners to understand the color of the discharge and its abundance. The doctor will need this information to more accurately assess the condition. But the use of tampons should be abandoned. If, in addition to blood, large clots and pieces of tissue are released from the vagina, nausea-vomiting attacks and dizziness, severe pain in the uterus, immediate medical intervention is required.

Menstruation with ectopic

With an ectopic location of the fetal egg, implantation most often occurs in the fallopian tube. In fact, conception occurs, therefore, hormonal processes also start, the content of chorionic gonadotropin increases. Therefore, the menstruation also stops. But the first weeks may be disturbed by a bloody brown daub, which a woman mistakenly takes for menstruation. The outcome of such an ectopic pregnancy can be reduced to spontaneous detachment of the fetal egg and abortion, or rupture of the fallopian tube. Can menstruation occur during pregnancy? In such a situation, any outcome is accompanied by profuse bleeding, the consequences of which can be sad. This is why identifying early pathology is vital.

It often happens that bleeding coincides with the next menstruation, which prevents a woman from noticing an interesting situation in time. After all, she believes that menstruation began during pregnancy, which she does not know about. But an ectopic can be recognized by other signs:

  • Hypotension;
  • Weakness;
  • Frequent fainting and dizziness;
  • Attacks of severe pain in the region of one of the tubes, reflected by lumbar and rectal pains;
  • There may be periods during pregnancy outside the uterus, but they become scarce.

If there are suspicions of ectopic gestation, it is necessary to be examined, undergo ultrasound diagnostics, and pass laboratory tests for the determination of hCG. These measures will help determine if pregnancy is possible.

Features of bleeding during gestation

To distinguish uterine bleeding from menstrual bleeding, you need to know for sure which periods are typical for pregnancy. Being confident in the absence of conception, the patient should be alert for any deviation from the norm. For example, the duration of menstruation noticeably increased, the nature of the discharge changed, they became plentiful or scarce, or began to occur between menstruation, etc. Such signs are accompanied by severe pain, poor health, which requires a mandatory visit to the doctor.

You can have periods during pregnancy. They can be distinguished from bleeding in several ways. For example, they are usually sparse and smearing, brown in color, often have a watery consistency with bloody streaks. Such allocations begin with delays, often quite long. Uncharacteristic signs may be present, for example, before menstruation there were painful sensations, but now they are absent. The difference with bleeding lies in how long menstrual flow can last. Real menstruation in pregnant women can be observed only in the early periods of gestation, when the patient does not yet know about the position. Such periods last no more than 2-3 cycles, although exceptions are possible.

What are the dangers of menstrual flow in pregnant women

Are there periods during pregnancy, we have already figured out. True menstruation for pregnancy does not threaten anything, but bleeding can seriously harm maternal health and the viability of the fetus. Self-diagnosis with bleeding that has appeared is inappropriate, therefore, any hints of such a symptom require urgent treatment in the LCD. Unfortunately, today pregnant women often seek advice on various forums or ask their mother or girlfriends for advice. Such stupidity leads to the fact that time is wasted and it is no longer possible to save the pregnancy.

Therefore, any changes in the patient's condition should not be ignored by the patient, whether it be the occurrence of unusual discharge, painful ailments, etc. You should immediately consult a doctor if symptoms such as:

  1. Scarlet or bright red spotting;
  2. Adverse bleeding symptoms in the form of nausea and vomiting and severe sharp pains in the uterus or on the side of it;
  3. Pieces or clots present in the composition of the secretions;
  4. Excessive pallor and dizziness, marked weakness or fainting, headaches, etc.

The presumptive diagnosis for such manifestations may be pathologies such as ectopic pregnancy, cystic drift, spontaneous abortion, etc.

When there's nothing to worry about

Any bleeding, if a woman is in a position, cannot be the norm, but still there are situations when there is nothing to worry about. Minor bloody smears can occur with hormonal disorders and during the implantation of a fertilized egg, during pregnancy immediately before menstruation, etc. In addition, a similar phenomenon is possible in cases where two cells have matured and come out during ovulation, and only one has been fertilized.

Also, a brownish spotting may appear due to excessive levels of androgens or progesterone deficiency. Such violations are generally not dangerous, but how long they last is of no small importance; in case of serious deviations, they need to be corrected. Implantation of the ovum into the uterine walls can last quite a long time, about a couple of weeks. With such a long advance of the cell into the uterus, the hormonal status does not have time to adjust to the pregnant mood, so menstruation begins. In obstetric practice, there are enough patients who had menstruation in the first trimester.

Is it possible to get pregnant during menstruation or late ovulation

Many people think that getting pregnant during menstruation is absolutely impossible. But this opinion is not entirely correct, because experts do not exclude such a possibility at all. This is also acceptable before menstruation, when the egg, by definition, can no longer be fertilized. But this is possible due to the late onset of the ovulatory period, just before menstruation. In such a situation, the delay is observed only in the second month of gestation, and immediately after conception, normal periods will come.

Therefore, the myths regarding whether menstruation can go in the early stages are debunked. This is quite real, however, it is important to distinguish them from uterine bleeding, which is incredibly dangerous for the fetus and mother. Menstruation in the first and sometimes the second cycle is considered safe. A longer presence of spotting in pregnant patients already indicates the pathological nature of bleeding.

If this happens, keep your mind and calmness. Analyze the events of recent days, whether there was sexual intimacy, physical activity, etc. Perhaps the reason is too passionate sex. Then it is worth discussing these issues with your spouse in order to avoid undesirable consequences. And be sure to consult with an obstetrician-gynecologist to exclude the pathological origin of bleeding.

  • Such cases, of course, are not frequent. The presence of menstruation during pregnancy depends on the duration and health of the woman's hormonal system. Sometimes bleeding tends to be confused with menstruation, when the presence of pregnancy is still unknown.
  • To deal with such a difficult problem as the presence of menstruation during pregnancy, it is necessary to consider various causes and situations.

Is it possible to have periods in early pregnancy?

  • From an anatomical point of view, menstruation during pregnancy is impossible. It is necessary to remember the course of anatomy in order to understand that a full period in the presence of a fertilized egg in the uterus is fraught with miscarriage
  • However, on the other hand, the process of pregnancy does not occur instantly. It takes 7 to 14 days for a fertilized egg to reach the uterus
  • So, if the egg is still “making its way”, and menstruation should begin according to the schedule, then in principle, this is quite possible
  • In fact, you will not yet be pregnant during this period. The egg will get to the right place already before the bleeding stops
  • In rare cases, menstruation occurs during pregnancy if two eggs have matured, and only one has been fertilized.

Why do menstruation occur during pregnancy?

  • Quite often, menstruation is simply confused with bleeding. This happens especially often in the early stages, when pregnancy is unknown.
  • In the first month of pregnancy, menstruation is quite acceptable. Further, it is simply impossible
  • In late pregnancy, there are also spotting from the vagina. This is not menstruation, but only discharge from damaged vessels
  • Sometimes discharge can begin due to hormonal failure in the body.

Why do menstruation clots during pregnancy?

  • Excessive bleeding with blood clots is abnormal for pregnancy. This indicates serious violations in the course of pregnancy.
  • A miscarriage is often accompanied by heavy bleeding with clots, as well as severe pain in the lower abdomen.
  • Another pathology is the death of the embryo due to a lack of development or other pathologies.
  • An ectopic pregnancy can sometimes be accompanied by bleeding and severe pulling pain in the abdomen.
  • Placental presentation during pregnancy also causes bleeding


Abundant periods during pregnancy

  • Menstruation during pregnancy from 2 months is no longer normal
  • To find out exactly the cause of the appearance of profuse bleeding, you need to consult a doctor.
  • If the pregnancy test shows a negative result, but the menstruation has changed (color of discharge, pain), then you should also consult a doctor. Very often the test is negative in ectopic pregnancy

How long are periods during pregnancy?

  • Pregnancy and the presence of bleeding during the first period of gestation is quite a common problem. However, if you do not adjust the hormonal background, then there may be tragic consequences.
  • At a later date, the presence of bleeding is already a dangerous sign - this can pose a serious threat to miscarriage
  • There are no full periods during pregnancy. Bleeding during pregnancy differs in color, texture and pain


Periods and ectopic pregnancy

  • An ectopic pregnancy is a pathological course of pregnancy. It carries the loss of the fetus and a number of complications for the mother.
  • In the early stages, it is very difficult to recognize an ectopic pregnancy. She either does not manifest herself in any way, or proceeds as a normal pregnancy.
  • The essence of an ectopic pregnancy is that the fertilized egg did not reach the uterus, but attached to the fallopian tubes
  • In the future, an ectopic pregnancy leads to an inflammatory process, internal bleeding, and often to infertility.
  • Full menstruation, even with an ectopic pregnancy, is impossible. The discharge that will appear is just a little bleeding
  • Discharge during an ectopic pregnancy will occur spontaneously, and not on time with menstruation. In addition, they are often accompanied by severe pain in the lower abdomen.

  • Quite often, women themselves confuse menstruation with bleeding.
  • This happens due to irregular visits to the gynecologist and not monitoring your menstrual cycle.
  • If the pregnancy test showed a negative value (and this happens quite often), then the woman may not be aware of her situation.
  • Sometimes a woman is quite fat, and her position is not detected until 4 - 5 months of pregnancy
  • There are quite a few such cases in medical practice. Therefore, in order to avoid this, regular examination by a gynecologist is necessary.


How to distinguish between menstruation and bleeding during pregnancy?

  • By color. Menstruation usually has a darker burgundy hue. And the color of bleeding is scarlet
  • By pain. With bleeding, the pain is usually much more noticeable than with menstruation.
  • By consistency. Menstruation is thicker than blood when bleeding
  • Menstruation and bleeding differ in the way they occur. As a rule, menstruation has 1 day, when the discharge is small. Bleeding usually starts spontaneously

Why induce menstruation during pregnancy?

  • The main purpose of calling menstruation during pregnancy is to interrupt it.
  • However, this process is not as simple as it seems at first glance. Moreover, it is not harmless. It is fraught with great health complications for a woman.
  • As a rule, menstruation is caused by special preparations under the supervision of a doctor. This is a kind of medical abortion. Possible in early pregnancy
  • There are also folk ways to induce menstruation during pregnancy. But by no means should they be used.


  • Anatomically, menstruation during pregnancy is impossible
  • During pregnancy, periods are often confused with bleeding or discharge.
  • Menstruation in the first month of pregnancy is possible with a long journey of the egg to the uterus and with a short menstrual cycle (21 days)
  • Bleeding is abnormal at any stage of pregnancy. If you have them, you need to see a doctor
  • If you are not sure about the absence of pregnancy, and your menstruation has changed its character, be sure to be examined by a gynecologist
  • The presence of bleeding during pregnancy is fraught with miscarriage and a number of health complications
  • To induce menstruation during pregnancy means to stop it

Video: Menstruation during pregnancy

The symptoms of the birth of a new life and the approaching menstruation are very similar. And most women begin to suspect that they will soon become mothers when they do not have “critical days”. However, it is sometimes possible pregnancy through menstruation, signs which every lady should know.
The content of the article:


If a woman needs to find out if she is in an “interesting position” despite the fact that menstruation has begun, there are the following signs for this:

  1. Positive pregnancy test. A little more than a week after conception, a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin is produced in the body of the expectant mother. And menstrual bleeding is not only not an obstacle to the test, but it can also give a real result. It is better to use the first portion of urine obtained in the morning (the vagina must be closed with a swab). You should drink less water the night before, and also ensure the hygiene of the genital organ and the test container before the procedure.
  2. Basal temperature exceeding 37 degrees, which does not subside for several weeks.
  3. The presence of toxicosis (heartburn, vomiting, nausea, weakness throughout the body, dizziness, increased formation of gases in the intestines).
  4. Frequent desire to visit the toilet.
  5. Increasing the level of secretions, including thrush.
  6. The chest becomes full and sore.
  7. Mood swings occur.
  8. There is a change in appetite.
  9. The lower abdomen starts to hurt.


Many ladies are sure that it is impossible to get pregnant three days before the "critical days", during them and in the first 7 days after they end. However, gynecologists say that this can still happen if you do not protect yourself. Even ovulation tests and other methods for identifying safe days do not guarantee that conception will not occur. The statistics are as follows: 17% of women became pregnant by practicing unprotected intercourse in the first days after menstruation.

Most often, conception occurs on days 12-15 of the cycle, but it can also occur a few days before the end of menstruation, when an egg is released from the ovary due to stress, illness or other reasons, which can be fertilized. However, pregnancy rarely occurs at the beginning of "critical days" due to heavy bleeding and a negative environment for sperm.

In the case of a short menstrual cycle (from 22 to 24 days), ovulation may occur in the last few days of the monthly bleeding, especially if it lasts 7-8 days. Because of this, the representatives of the beautiful half of humanity, who have an unstable or small cycle, should not use the calendar method of contraception, but some other one (you can consult a gynecologist). Women with a normal cycle are less likely to become pregnant after menstruation due to the lack of spontaneous ovulation. However, they need to keep in mind that a trip to another country, as well as a change in climate or time zone, can change the hormonal background and lead to an unwanted pregnancy.

If the pregnancy is 4 to 5 weeks, then doctors believe that menstrual bleeding is allowed. This is due to the fact that conception happened in the middle of the cycle, but after that the egg has not yet reached the reproductive organ. That is, two weeks have not passed, the level of hormones is the same, so the usual “critical days” appeared. This is no longer happening in the new month.

Now a stable hormonal background is rare in women, so there are women who are pregnant, but their periods come for another 3-4 months. And also medicine knows cases when two eggs mature at the same time, but only one is fertilized, and the other is rejected, causing menstruation.

Bleeding from the vagina may indicate that the fetus is attached to the uterine wall and causes implantation bleeding (the endometrium that lines the uterus separates and leaves the female body). Moreover, pregnancy at this time can be interrupted due to a strong contraction of the muscles of the reproductive organ and bleeding. And if at the same time the fetal egg takes root, then the lady will still think that she has a normal menstruation. However, after the end of menstruation, the symptoms of the development of a new life in a woman's body may become more obvious.

Here are some signs of pregnancy that may be noticeable a few days after your period:

  1. Scarcity of menses. They also turn brown, look like daubs, and disappear quickly. Such "bleeding" can occur for several months, until a large belly with a moving baby inside is clearly visible.
  2. Swelling and tenderness of the chest, pain in it. The veins become more visible. The areolas become darker, later Montgomery's nodules (sweat glands that have increased in size) form on them. So the mammary glands begin to prepare for the production of milk.
  3. Change in eating habits. The desire to eat something special (strawberry, chocolate, pickle) becomes irresistible. The feeling of hunger does not leave, even at night a pregnant woman can eat until she feels full.
  4. A state of depression, lethargy, irritability, fatigue. I want to sleep all the time.
  5. Constipation is possible.
  6. Increased susceptibility to infectious diseases, as immunity is suppressed. Because of this, a cold often occurs, stuffy nose.
  7. Pimples and acne appear.
  8. Sensation of the taste of metal in the mouth.
  9. There is swelling of the extremities.
  10. Decreased libido.

If these signs are found, you can measure the basal temperature for several days, how to measure the basal temperature correctly. When it is 37 degrees or more, then the probability of an “interesting position” is high. But this method is not very reliable, because errors and non-compliance with the rules of measurement are possible. Therefore, a test should be applied (a large assortment of such products is sold in pharmacies).

After that, you need to contact the antenatal clinic, where the gynecologist:

  • Examine the patient on the chair;
  • Will issue a referral for blood donation to determine the level of human chorionic gonadotropin;
  • Order an ultrasound.

All women should keep in mind that if the symptoms of pregnancy do not disappear with the advent of menstruation, then a test should definitely be done. If the pain in the lower part of the abdominal cavity becomes stronger and the discharge becomes red again, you should immediately call an ambulance or consult your doctor, as situations leading to a miscarriage are possible:

  1. Violation of the production of the hormone progesterone by the female body;
  2. Ectopic pregnancy;
  3. Unsuccessful attachment of the fetus due to fibroids or endometriosis in the expectant mother;
  4. Anomalies of intrauterine development of the child;
  5. High levels of male hormones;
  6. First, two embryos appeared, but one of them develops in accordance with the norm, and the second woman's body rejects it for some reason.

In the event of the onset of normal menstruation, but the presence of doubts, after the completion of menstruation, it is better to visit a gynecologist.

Video on the topic " »

Menstruation is cyclic menstrual bleeding. They occur at the beginning of the menstrual cycle, if the fertilization of the egg (conception) did not occur during the period of ovulation. Menstruation and pregnancy can be considered incompatible concepts that contradict the physiology of the female body. Bloody discharge from the vagina during the period of gestation, including in the early stages, is a dangerous symptom that requires timely diagnosis and treatment. In everyday life, they are called menstruation, but in essence, such discharges have nothing to do with cyclic bleeding. However, there are rare situations when menstruation during pregnancy does not harm the health of the fetus and the expectant mother - they are a normal physiological process.

And now let's dwell on this in more detail.

Physiology of the menstrual cycle

To understand why menstruation cannot occur during pregnancy, let's take a brief look at the anatomy of the uterus and the physiology of cyclic bleeding in women. The uterus consists of three layers: outer (perimetrium), middle (myometrium) and inner (endometrium). Myometrium is a muscular layer that protects the fetus during fetal development and is involved in the process of labor. The endometrium is the inner lining of the uterus, which is cyclically renewed every 21-35 days.

In the first half of the menstrual cycle, the endometrium thickens and accumulates nutrients. If an egg is fertilized during ovulation, the fertilized egg descends from the fallopian tubes into the uterine cavity and attaches to the inner layer. Before the formation of the fetal placenta, the endometrium serves as a nutrient and protective environment for the intensively developing embryo.

In the event that conception has not occurred, the mucous layer is rejected, blood flows out of the damaged blood vessels - this is the beginning of a new menstrual cycle or menstruation. In the next month, the same physiological processes will occur until the onset of menopause in a woman. Thus, it is clear that menstruation cannot occur during the period of gestation.

Types of menstruation during pregnancy

Menstrual bleeding during pregnancy can be physiological and pathological. With physiological bleeding from the vagina, one should not be afraid of undesirable consequences for the health of the expectant mother and child. Such discharge occurs only during the first month of pregnancy - this is an important point that must be taken into account. If menstruation occurs in subsequent months, then this is always associated with the pathology of pregnancy. Even with physiological bleeding, it is better to consult a gynecologist at the antenatal clinic for a correct diagnosis. It is quite difficult to independently determine the safety of menstruation for health during the period of gestation, there is a big risk of making a mistake and not noticing the threat of abortion.

Situations in which physiological bleeding (true menstruation) occurs in the first month of pregnancy.

  1. Implantation of the fetal egg to the inner layer of the uterus (endometrium). During the penetration of a fertilized egg into the uterine mucosa, the integrity of the blood vessels is disrupted and there is scanty bleeding from the vagina. Implantation of the fetal egg can occur without the appearance of bleeding.
  2. The onset of menstruation after conception, but before the implantation of the fetal egg into the uterine wall - occurs with late ovulation and conception a few days before the onset of menstruation, as well as with a protracted implantation process for 7 to 15 days. In this case, the hormonal restructuring of the woman's body, characteristic of the period of gestation (increased synthesis), does not occur, and menstruation begins on time. The cessation of menstruation occurs only after a month, when the concentration of the hormone in the blood slows down the process of rejection of the endometrium.
  3. The maturation of an egg in each ovary. In rare cases, the egg matures in both the right and left ovaries. If one of them is conceived, the other dies, which causes the onset of menstrual bleeding.
  4. Minor hormonal imbalance at the beginning of pregnancy. At the earliest stages of gestation in the blood of a woman, there may be an insufficient concentration or an increased level of male sex hormones - androgens. This leads to the appearance of scanty bleeding. A healthy endocrine system evens out the imbalance in the hormonal background on its own, or a pregnant woman is prescribed a course of hormonal drugs.

In other cases, pathological spotting (false menstruation) occurs, which threatens the health of the woman and the life of the fetus.

Causes and symptoms of menstruation during early pregnancy

Pathological spotting from the vagina, which is commonly called menstruation, poses a danger to the normal development of pregnancy. When the first discharge with an admixture of blood occurs, it is necessary to contact a gynecologist to determine the cause and prescribe adequate therapy. The threat of miscarriage is a dangerous condition for the health and life of the unborn child; if medical care is not provided in time, it leads to the death of the fetus and termination of pregnancy.

Causes that cause the threat of miscarriage.


Symptoms of threatened miscarriage:

  • pulling and in the lumbar region;
  • cramping pain in the abdomen;
  • aching pains in the right and left side, which are aggravated by physical exertion and movement (in case);
  • nausea;
  • dizziness;
  • scanty or profuse spotting, brown leucorrhea (smearing) from the vagina.

In the event of spotting and abdominal pain, it is necessary to seek the advice of a doctor; in case of massive bleeding, call an ambulance team.

Features of menstruation during pregnancy

If physiological bleeding occurs during gestation, a woman may notice changes in the volume and color of discharge, the duration of menstruation. Usually, menstrual flow is scanty, of an atypical color (pink, brown, black), and lasts no more than 2-3 days. Changes in the nature of menstruation often indicate that pregnancy has occurred, but the concentration is not enough to prevent endometrial rejection.

With the threat of a miscarriage, they arise from the vagina (scanty, brown), the terms of which usually do not coincide with the first day of the expected menstruation. Abundant bleeding against the background of cramping pains in the lower abdomen indicates the onset of spontaneous abortion.

Minor bleeding from the vagina may occur in the following cases.


Bloody discharge, similar to menstruation, occurs with a rare pathology of pregnancy - which occurs more often in women over 35 years old. The disease is characterized by bloody brown color with blood clots and pieces of tissue containing blisters (small cysts). The condition is accompanied by nausea, increased heart rate, sweating, pain in the lower abdomen.

What is menstruation during pregnancy

The appearance of menstrual bleeding during pregnancy in most cases indicates in favor of pathological conditions that are dangerous for. In the case of physiological bleeding, there is no danger for bearing a child. However, it will not be superfluous to contact a gynecologist to make sure that the diagnosis is correct. Alertness about menstruation against the background of gestation allows you to timely identify pathological conditions and take therapeutic and preventive measures aimed at maintaining pregnancy.

Menstruation during pregnancy indicates the occurrence of the following conditions:

The cause of menstruation during pregnancy is determined by the gynecologist after a survey, examination, diagnostic examination, familiarization with the woman's medical records.

Is menstruation dangerous for a baby during pregnancy?

Physiological bleeding during the period of gestation, which is observed in the first month of pregnancy, is not dangerous for the embryo and does not cause complications. Such conditions are rare and are considered a variant of the norm. Menstruation ends quickly without undesirable consequences for the health of the expectant mother and the life of the fetus.

Pathological uterine bleeding during pregnancy does not in itself cause a danger to the health of the child. The causes and consequences of this condition are dangerous, which increase the risk of spontaneous abortion and intrauterine death of the fetus.

Menstruation during pregnancy, regardless of the cause, should be under the supervision of a doctor. The specialist will promptly identify a threat to the health and life of the child, prescribe treatment to maintain pregnancy until childbirth.

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