The female body is a real mystery. The ability to endure and show the world another person is an amazing gift, but often we do not fully know all the processes associated with reproductive function. The menstrual cycle and the changes associated with conceiving a child is an important topic for a woman.
Often the question arises, is pregnancy possible during menstruation? You can hear many stories about women you know for whom menstruation is the best method of contraception. Gynecologists, on the contrary, argue that menstruation is not protection against pregnancy, and sexual intercourse itself on critical days is fraught with many infections.
Anatomy and physiology of the female body
Nature prepares a girl to be a mother even during fetal development. Many eggs are laid in the ovaries, and after puberty, every month one of them goes on a journey - to meet the sperm. In case of fertilization, the fertilized egg descends through the fallopian tube to the uterus, where it is implanted, this moment is considered the beginning of pregnancy.
If this does not happen, the destruction of the egg occurs and the separation of the inner layer lining the uterus. All this is excreted along with the blood, menstruation begins. There may be such an option as pregnancy during menstruation. The implant was successful, but part of the endometrium still flakes off, causing bleeding.
Possibility of conception on critical days
Contrary to popular belief that pregnancy during menstruation is impossible, there are many living examples that prove the opposite. The complexity of the female body and the instability of the hormonal background also complements the vitality of spermatozoa. They can remain active and fertile for up to 8 days, as you understand, during this time the menstruation will have time to end and a new egg may come out.
In modern life, stress, malnutrition, various diseases and many other factors contribute to the failure of the hormonal background and disruption of the cycle, which means that it is almost impossible to accurately calculate when ovulation occurs.
Safe days - can this method be trusted
Often we get important information from unreliable sources. So the girls tell each other that on critical days (as well as on the last before them) they are reliably protected from conception by nature itself. This is fundamentally wrong. Pregnancy the day before your period is just as possible as it is during it.
Only the first day, when menstruation is especiallyplentiful, are relatively safe. But often a woman's well-being is not conducive to sexual intercourse on this day.
It is safer to use suitable contraception all the time than to rely on chance.
Are menstruation and conception mutually exclusive
Theoretically, these concepts are incompatible, but in practice, pregnancy during menstruation is possible, and spotting (in rare cases) can accompany a woman throughout the entire period of bearing a child. We can divide all cases into two categories:
- A woman knows about her interesting position, and suddenly begins to bleed.
- The expectant mother does not suspect that she is not alone, menstruation is regular, on time, without suggesting such thoughts.
If the first case requires urgent medical intervention, then the second is more difficult. They give rise to numerous questions for expectant mothers - are there periods during pregnancy? This phenomenon occurs, but occurs infrequently, usually in the first trimester. Only an examination by your gynecologist will help eliminate the cause for alarm, so do not neglect the consultation.
If a woman carefully monitors her cycle, she will surely notice the difference between normal menstruation and discharge during pregnancy. They differ in a number of ways: duration, abundance, color, smell.
Normal periods or spotting
From the point of view of physiology, the usual menstruation is incompatible with pregnancy. Because if it goesrejection of the inner lining of the uterus, into which the embryo is implanted, means there is a threat to his life. Therefore, gynecologists call any discharge during pregnancy more correctly - bleeding.
Why does spotting start right on time, according to the usual cycle? It's all about hormones: somewhere the pituitary gland has failed and, according to old memory, starts the usual process. Because of this, some women cannot recognize pregnancy, their stomach hurts, how menstruation begins, all the sensations during PMS and pregnancy may also coincide (weakness, drowsiness, nausea, breast swelling), but a test or examination by a doctor will put everything in its place.
What do such periods mean
Often, bleeding during pregnancy does not pose a threat to the life of the mother and child. But a woman needs to focus primarily on her well-being. The absence of pain, cheerfulness and a good appetite say that everything is fine with both of you, and a small hormonal shift is not a problem at all.
However, be very careful, heavy bleeding, too dark or watery discharge, especially if accompanied by acute pain - this is a reason to immediately call an ambulance. These symptoms may indicate a threatened miscarriage, severe inflammation, or an ectopic pregnancy.
Causes of menstruation in this difficult period
Whether there are monthly periods during pregnancy, or not - this does not mean that your baby cannot be born full-term andhe althy. What could be causing it?
- The very first thing that can be assumed is an error in the calculations. That is, the last critical days are included in the period of pregnancy, although it came immediately after them.
- Implantation bleeding is the moment of direct attachment of the embryo to the uterine wall. Usually only a few drops of blood are released, which are mistaken for the beginning of critical days.
- The first period during pregnancy can occur due to the fact that the egg was fertilized at the very end of the cycle, and by the time it was implanted in the uterus, the process of menstruation was started automatically.
- Rarely enough, another scenario happens. Of the two mature eggs, only one was fertilized, however, according to the laws of physiology, both return to the uterus, where one is implanted and the other is destroyed, causing menstrual bleeding.
- Mechanical damage to the cervix during intercourse.
- Serious hormonal failure, decreased estrogen levels.
The pace of modern life, constant stress, hormonal drugs make any of these reasons possible. Therefore, only a gynecologist can find the only one, yours.
Menstruation in the first months after conception
Usually this problem concerns the first trimester, when the body has not had time to properly respond to pregnancy. Menstruation has begun, but the fetus continues to develop in the uterus, and by the next month the hormonal background will even out, which will not allow a repetition of the mistake.
Failure oftencycle, for example, menstruation began ahead of schedule. Pregnancy at the same time goes on as usual, although the mother does not yet suspect it. If bleeding continues at a later date, then the doctor should choose a program to correct the hormonal background.
Do menstruation during pregnancy threaten the fetus
As noted earlier, bleeding during this period is not something out of the ordinary. Mom needs only to soberly assess the situation. So, discharge, in strength and duration comparable to menstruation, in almost 100% of cases means the loss of a child. The same can be said about bleeding with severe, cramping pains.
Scanty discharge, even appearing with enviable regularity, does not pose a threat to the life of the fetus, but still is the reason for a visit to the gynecologist. There are unique cases when menstruation goes on throughout the entire period, and everything ends with the birth of a he althy child, but this is more an exception than a rule. Why is this happening? The body, according to old memory, monthly creates a hormonal background that is critical for bearing a child.
Menstruation during early pregnancy is a fairly frequent phenomenon that does not harm either mother or baby.
What to do if you are pregnant and your period starts?
Assess the nature of the discharge and how you feel. If they are minor and you feel great, you can ask about the reasons during the next consultation. At the slightest change for the worse, call an ambulance, do not take risks without special need. Let the doctors evaluate yourcondition.
Sharp pain, bright scarlet copious discharge - all this indicates immediate hospitalization. Usually prescribed hormonal drugs, treatment of existing infections and long-term maintenance therapy.
Important date, last period before pregnancy
The doctor will ask this question first of all when registering. With the help of this date, obstetricians calculate the date of birth of the child and the release of the mother on maternity leave. If menstruation continues during pregnancy, then it will be determined based on the results of the examination.
The gestational age for the last menstruation is calculated from the first day of the last menstruation. This is easy to do, it is enough to know this date and the duration of pregnancy, namely 280 days or 40 weeks. Count 40 weeks from her and get the date of birth of the baby.
Even easier to calculate using Nagel's formula, add 9 months and 7 days to the date of the first day of your last period, subtract 3 months and add 7.
What to do if the pregnancy has already begun, and the critical days are still going on? It will help to determine the duration of the ultrasound, and with greater accuracy than the calculation of the last menstruation. In addition, by waiting for the first movement, you can confirm the date of the birth of the baby. You just need to add 20 weeks to this day.
Summarize
A woman can get pregnant on any day of the cycle, the complexity of the reproductive system and its close relationship with hormones do not allow for reliablecalculate safe days. In the early stages of pregnancy, it is not uncommon to experience bleeding that is different from normal menstruation, which can be considered normal. But if it appears in the later stages (more than 12 weeks), you need to see a doctor.
If bleeding is comparable to menstruation, it cannot be considered acceptable during pregnancy - this is a myth. It endangers the lives of women and children. Even the slightest bleeding requires a competent study, the search for its causes. Abundant and prolonged discharge (as during normal menstruation) indicates an abortion.
If, against the background of the development of your baby and good general well-being, regular spotting (menstruation) continues, then your body categorically does not want to say goodbye to its hormonal regimen. At the same time, you fall into the number of unique women, and here, no matter how many doctors say that this does not happen, the main criterion is how you feel.
Regularly visit a gynecologist, take the necessary tests and listen to yourself. A good mood and an optimistic attitude will only benefit you and your unborn child.
