Introduction
A woman who is pregnant ceases her ovulation and experiences no menstruation. Non-pregnant individuals exclusively experience periods. Although some bleeding may occur during pregnancy, it is not related to the menstrual cycle for women. While nursing, some women also experience irregular menstruation.
But shortly after the delivery, ladies could still start ovulating again; consequently, if a woman does not want to become pregnant while nursing, her doctor may advise using some type of birth control. To aid in pregnancy, the menstrual cycle occurs. The first day of menstruation marks the start of the cycle, which concludes on the first day of the next menstrual cycle.
How Does the Menstruation Cycle Work?
Hormones in the body regulate menstruation. Ovulation is the ovaries' process of releasing eggs when the body's estrogen hormone levels rise. The womb prepares for pregnancy during the second half of the cycle, when progesterone hormone levels rise. Progesterone and estrogen levels will fall in the absence of pregnancy. A woman gets her period due to this hormonal shift that sheds the uterine lining.
The release of an egg from the ovaries is known as ovulation. Monthly releases of one egg will occur during the menstrual cycle. After ovulation, an egg has a 24-hour lifespan—pregnancy results from the meeting and fertilization of the egg by a male's sperm.
Sperm can survive in the fallopian tubes for up to five days following a sexual encounter. Women are most fertile during ovulation, which occurs in the middle of the menstrual cycle. This is referred to as the "fertile window." The cycle's duration will determine this. Usually, it occurs 14 days or so before the onset of the period.
What Are the Causes of Periods in Pregnancy?
Bleeding is not always an indication of a deeper issue; it is important to recognize the possible causes,
1. First Trimester
During the first trimester, bleeding usually occurs more frequently. When the placenta implants in the uterus, there may be some minor spotting. Additionally, during pregnancy, a woman may have changes in her cervical cells, which could result in mild bleeding, particularly after sex.
Additional factors that can result in bleeding during the first trimester of pregnancy include:
-
Ectopic pregnancy is a serious health concern that occurs when a fertilized egg implants elsewhere than the uterus.
-
Miscarriage or loss of pregnancy.
-
Subchorionic hematoma, also known as subchorionic hemorrhage, is the term for bleeding between the placenta and the uterine wall.
-
The extremely rare disorder known as gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) can mimic pregnancy by resulting in a tumor that may contain aberrant fetal cells.
2. After 20 Weeks
Cervical Examination: A doctor may examine the cervix to look for any anomalies. There may be some slight bleeding after this procedure. When a woman's placenta implants on top of or near her cervical opening, she develops placenta previa.
Preterm Labor: To assist in lowering the fetus, the uterus contracts, and the cervix dilates during labor. There may be some bleeding as a result.
Sexual Activity: Due to the heightened sensitivity of the cervical and vaginal tissues, most pregnant women can continue having sex unless their doctor advises against it. However, they may have some spotting and bleeding at this time.
Uterine Rupture: A medical emergency that occurs when the uterus tears during childbirth. Although uncommon, a woman's risk of developing this illness increases if she has undergone uterine surgery or a cesarean section in the past.
Abruption Placental: In this situation, the placenta starts to separate from the uterus before the baby's birth. In addition, it is a medical emergency.
Bacterial Vaginosis (BV): Studies have demonstrated that lower genital tract infections, such as bacterial vaginosis, can induce bleeding during the early stages of pregnancy and result in preterm birth. Pregnant women are routinely screened for bacterial vaginosis since the infection poses a risk to the developing fetus.
PCOS - PCOS stands for polycystic ovarian syndrome. It is an imbalance in reproductive hormones that can cause irregular menstrual periods and abnormal bleeding in the uterus.
Oral Contraceptives: Planned Parenthood states that when taken as directed, oral contraceptives are 99 percent effective. Furthermore, studies have demonstrated that irregular bleeding might result from missing or not taking oral contraceptives.
Is There Any Medical Emergency if Women Have Periods in Pregnancy?
In addition to bleeding during pregnancy, women experiencing any of the following symptoms should seek emergency medical attention:
-
Strong pain in the stomach and pelvis.
-
Cramps.
-
Lightheadedness.
-
Passing clots.
-
Vomiting.
-
If bleeding turns bright crimson and soaks a pad, a lady should also visit a doctor.
The menstrual cycle is interrupted in pregnant women. However, other bleeding disorders mimic menstruation. When a fertilized egg implants in the uterus, for instance, there may be a little bleeding. Often occurring at the same time a girl would typically have her period, this is known as implantation bleeding. Ectopic pregnancy (when the fertilized egg implants somewhere other than the uterus) and miscarriage are two more conditions that can also result in bleeding. It is a medical emergency when an ectopic pregnancy occurs.
What Is Implantation Bleeding?
The term "implantation bleeding" refers to a normal indication of an early pregnancy, usually appearing as light spotting or a tiny amount of bleeding that happens 10 to 14 days after conception. Following fertilization by a sperm, an egg implants itself into the uterine lining to become an embryo, which results in some bleeding throughout the implantation process. As this typically occurs during the menstrual cycle, people may mistake implantation bleeding for mild menstruation and fail to recognize that they are pregnant.
Conclusion
Pregnancy-related bleeding does not always mean that a woman is menstruating. Periodic changes in the body that occur throughout pregnancy may occasionally cause bleeding. Throughout the menstrual cycle, vaginal secretions fluctuate. They become more slender and elastic around ovulation, resembling raw egg white. Excessive bleeding could be a sign of a medical problem that needs to be addressed. A pregnant woman who has bleeding should seek advice from a medical practitioner.
