Can You Get Your Period And Be Pregnant

Can A Female Who Has Never Had A Menstrual Cycle Get Pregnant

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Can a female who has never had a menstrual cycle get pregnant?

Yes. Although its uncommon, its possible for a woman who hasnt yet had her period to become pregnant. Thats because young women ovulate release eggs from their ovaries before they have their first period. Pregnancy occurs when a fertilizes egg attaches to the lining of the uterus, so as soon as a woman has begun ovulation, she can become pregnant.

Tags:pregnancy, menstruation, periods

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Early Signs Of Pregnancy

If you have a regular monthly menstrual cycle, the earliest and most reliable sign of pregnancy is a missed period.

In the first few weeks of pregnancy you may have a bleed similar to a very light period, with some spotting or only losing a little blood. This is called implantation bleeding.

Every pregnancy is different and not everyone will notice all of these symptoms.

You Can Get Pregnant During Your Period

Have you ever told a partner, “We don’t have to use any birth control this time, I’m on my period?” Well, please STOP IT FOREVER. Because you absolutely can get pregnant on your period. Also, the decay of our bodies as we age is inevitable, 99.9 percent of all species that have ever lived on Earth are now extinct, and you will never be able to afford to live in an enormous apartment in New York City with your best friend Monica while you work as a waitress, no matter how many adorable chunky highlights you get in your hair. EVERYTHING IS AWFUL! SORRY!

So how exactly can you get pregnant during your period? This is primarily a risk for people with shorter cycles. Ovulation typically comes at the mid-point of your cycle so, if you have a 30-day cycle, you’d ovulate 15 days in. The egg only survives for 24 hours following ovulation, so in this scenario, becoming pregnant during your period is not a major risk.

However, if you have a shorter cycle one that lasts for, say, 21 days the risk increases. This is because ejaculated sperm can live inside the human body for several days. Because of this, according to the American Pregnancy Association, if you have a short cycle, having unprotected sex towards the end of your period could mean that live sperm are still hanging around a few days later, when you ovulate.

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Your Period Does Not Necessarily Protect You Against Pregnancy

There is no timeframe that entirely eliminates the chance of getting pregnant. This also applies to your period and other intermenstrual bleeding.

Many women have relatively regular cycles. Perhaps you do, too. This does not guarantee perfect predictability, as the menstrual cycle can be easily affected by many circumstances.

• Our tip: If you are wondering whether you could be pregnant, despite having had sex while on your period, you may want to try our free Online Pregnancy Test. After describing your personal observations and symptoms, you will receive a detailed and personal evaluation.

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Why You May Experience Bleeding While Pregnant

There are many reasons why you may experience bleeding while pregnant, with causes ranging from minor to urgent. Bleeding very early on may occur when the pregnancy implants in the uterus, says Kate White, MD, MPH, OB/GYN, author of Your Guide to Miscarriage and Pregnancy Loss. Known as implantation bleeding, this can often seem very similar to a period, especially due to the timing. This bleeding may be lighter than a period but often occurs around the same time that you would menstruate, approximately 10 to 14 days after conception, says Dr. Roskin.

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You Can Be Pregnant And Still Think You’re Getting A Period

OK, so maybe you didn’t bother to listen to the previous section of this article AT ALL. You had sex without protection, spent the rest of your cycle quietly praying to the deity of your choice, and when you finally got your period, you publicly rejoiced, throwing a tiny parade in honor of your empty womb .

But don’t start that dance party yet, cowboy. While you can’t get your actual period while pregnant, according to Dr. Janelle Luk, MD, reproductive endocrinologist and medical director/co-founder of Generation Next Facility, you can experience bleeding that may look extremely similar. A “common and harmless reason for vaginal bleeding during pregnancy is implantation bleeding, when an embryo is implanting into the endometrium,” Luk tells Bustle. According to the American Pregnancy Association, though this bleeding may be lighter than your average period, it may occur around when you normally experience your period, leading many pregnant folks to get confused and mistake it for a period/ confirmation that they’re not pregnant.

I don’t say all of this to scare you OK, that’s actually a total lie, I am definitely telling you this to scare you. Because accidental pregnancy is scary as hell! Getting knocked up even though you thought you were kinda, sorta taking precautions is a terrible, terrible feeling. And I’m sure you already have enough things in this life to feel terrible about .

The Easiest Method To Check For An Irregular Period

A one-off occasion of a late or early period should not cause concern. To check, record the last day of the last period to the first day of the first period. Repeat for at least three months. A significant difference over the timeframe means a possible irregular period. To be safe, schedule an appointment with a gynecologist.

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Is It Bad To Suddenly Stop Taking Birth Control

People can safely stop using oral contraceptives anytime they wish. There is no need to wait until a period begins or to seek approval from a doctor. However, those who stop taking birth control pills should be aware of the increased likelihood of becoming pregnant.

Will I get my period if I stop taking birth control?

It can take a while for your periods to come back after you stop taking the pill. Most women will have a period around 2 to 4 weeks after stopping the pill, but this depends on you and what your cycle is normally like.

Has anyone got pregnant right after stopping the Pill?

The contraceptive pill stops your body from ovulating, but as soon you stop taking the pill this process kicks back into action. So it is possible to get pregnant as soon as you come off the pill. As many as 84 out of 100 of couples will get pregnant within a year starting to have regular sex without contraception.

When to stop taking the birth control pill?

If the home pregnancy test is positive, stop taking the pill. If taking a home pregnancy test isnt possible, stop taking the birth control pill until the pregnancy is confirmed or ruled out. In the meantime, use another method of birth control such as condoms.

Can you get pregnant if you miss a birth control pill?

When Should You Seek Help About Ovulating Without Periods

Whilst ovulation without a period is usually no cause for concern, and can indicate a hormonal imbalance, it may also be caused by an underlying medical condition. You should consult your doctor if:

• You have not had a period for three or more months, and are not on any form of birth control.
• You have been trying to conceive for a year with no success, and are under the age of 35, or if you have been trying to conceive for six months, and are aged 35 or over.

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Questions You May Be Asked

Bleeding early in pregnancy isn’t normal. But it is common. If youve seen any bleeding, you may be concerned. But keep in mind that bleeding alone doesnt mean something is wrong. Just be sure to call your healthcare provider right away. They may ask you questions like these to help find the cause of your bleeding:

• When did your bleeding start?

• Is your bleeding very light or is it like a period?

• Is the blood bright red or brownish?

• Have you had sex recently?

• Have you had pain or cramping?

• Have you felt dizzy or faint?

Right After Your Period Ends

Many women look forward to having contraception-free sex right after their period ends. Its true that its unlikely youll get pregnant a day or two after menstruation stops, but given the lifespan of sperm and the challenges around predicting ovulation exactly its not at all impossible.

This is especially true if you ovulate earlier than you usually do, or if you have a naturally short menstrual cycle of around 21 days.

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How Common Is Period

This epidemiological study looked at the pregnancies of 4,539 women and found that 27% of women without miscarriage reported experiencing some form of bleeding during pregnancy. The most common time for bleeding to occur was 5 8 weeks of gestation .

Of those women:

• About 15% experienced bleeding at the same time as their next expected period.
• Only 2% experienced a heavy flow that lasted 3 or more days and could be mistaken for a regular period.
• No women experienced bleeding episodes that followed their regular monthly cycle, including typical period length and heaviness.

Check Your Basal Body Temperature

Its also a good idea to pay attention to the signs that your body is ready to ovulate. Checking your basal body temperature is one way to do this.

The BBT is your temperature first thing in the morning. Just after you ovulate, it rises slightly sometimes by less than a degree and stays higher until your period starts. If you record your temperature every day, you can spot the subtle changes that mean one of your ovaries has released an egg.

To take your BBT, you need to:

Use a basal body thermometer. Its more sensitive than a standard one and will show temperature changes down to a fraction of a degree. You can get them at many pharmacies for less than $20.

Take your temperature at the same time each morning. Always do it before you get out of bed. Even getting up to go to the bathroom can affect your body temperature. So can smoking, drinking, or getting a bad nights sleep.

Remember, your BBT wont tell you exactly when youve ovulated, and it may take a couple of months before you start to see a pattern. Youre most likely to get pregnant 2 or 3 days before your ovary releases an egg, and then another 12 to 24 hours after that. When your temperature has spiked for 3 days, your chances of conceiving drop.

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Trying To Get Pregnant Again After A Chemical Pregnancy

Very early pregnancy losses dont usually require medical intervention, but you can visit your practitioner if you think youve experienced one. They may be able to confirm a chemical pregnancy happened depending on how recently you experienced the bleeding.

Be sure to see your doctor if youve noticed that you tend to have an irregular period or a cycle thats over 35 days long. Your doctor may want to rule out conditions that involve anovulation, like polycystic ovary syndrome , that can make it harder for you to get pregnant. They may refer you to a fertility specialist if necessary.

Its always a good idea to see your doctor if:

• You and your partner are under 35, have no known fertility issues and have been actively trying to conceive for the past 12 months
• Youre over the age of 35 and have been trying to conceive for six months
• Youre over the age of 38 and have been trying to get pregnant for three months
• Youre over the age of 40 or have a personal or family history of infertility

From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When Youre Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.

Other Early Symptoms Of Pregnancy

Pregnancy brings changes in your hormonal balance. And that can cause other symptoms that include:

• Frequent urination. For many women, this starts around the sixth or eighth week after conception. Although this could be caused by a urinary tract infection, diabetes, or using diuretics, if youre pregnant, its most likely due to hormonal levels.
• Constipation. During pregnancy, higher levels of the hormone progesterone can make you constipated. Progesterone causes food to pass more slowly through your intestines. To ease the problem, drink plenty of water, exercise, and eat plenty of high-fiber foods.
• Mood swings. These are common, especially during the first trimester. These are also related to changes in hormones.
• Headaches and back pain. Many pregnant women report frequent mild headaches, and others experience back pain.
• Dizziness and fainting. These may be related to dilating blood vessels, lower blood pressure, and lower blood sugar.

A pregnant woman could have all of these symptoms, or maybe have only one or two. If any of these symptoms become bothersome, talk with your doctor about them so you can make a plan to offset them.

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What Are The Causes Of Vaginal Bleeding During Pregnancy

According to a study published in the Annals of Epidemiology, 25% of pregnant women may experience spotting during their first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

There are a variety of causes for vaginal bleeding during pregnancy. The causes of vaginal bleeding are often dependent on the trimester youre in. The below table categorizes what bleeding may mean during different trimesters.

In the first trimester, bleeding can occur about one-to-two weeks after fertilization when the pregnancy implants into the uterus, says Demosthenes. The cervix also has some changes in pregnancy which may lead to some slight bleeding after intercourse, a pap smear, or pelvic exam. All of this bleeding is scary but harmless.

Although light vaginal bleeding may not be cause for concern in the first trimester, spotting or bleeding during your second trimester may be a sign of a medical emergency.

During the second half of pregnancy, bleeding can mean something serious so should always be checked out, says Demosthenes. Bleeding, pelvic pressure and a mucous discharge can signal something called an incompetent cervix this is more common in the second trimester.

If youre experiencing vaginal bleeding of any kind while pregnant, you should seek immediate medical attention as it could indicate something more serious such as an impending miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.

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Pregnant Again After Giving Birth Now What

A second pregnancy within the first year of giving birth usually causes major emotional upheaval . This may be what you are going through right now. Your baby is only a few months or weeks old and now you are pregnant againmany women caught in this situation begin asking themselves how they will be able to manage another pregnancy and an additional child so soon.

• Sometimes I feel overwhelmed.

We want to encourage you to keep looking forward and to keep sight of your strengths. Solutions are out there. Lets find them together!

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What Can I Do To Get Pregnant

If you want to get pregnant, its a good idea to talk to your doctor. Many doctors will advise a few lifestyle changes if youre trying for a baby, such as taking a or prenatal vitamin supplements, avoiding alcohol, quitting smoking, and trying to maintain a healthy weight. You may also want to use an ovulation test to help you identify when your most fertile days are. You can see our range of ovulation tests and here to help you maximize your chances of conceiving.

Also, see our tips on .

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Serena Williams Says She Had A Period While She Was Pregnant

Whether you’re trying to become pregnant or trying your hardest to avoid it, you can usually take your period as a sign that you don’t have to think about a baby anytime soon. But, in a new interview with InStyle, Serena Williams says she actually got a period during the early stages of her pregnancyand she was completely floored to find out that she was actually pregnant.

In the interview, Williams says that she didnt think it was even possible that she could be pregnant. She hadnt seen her now-husband Alexis Ohanian in like four weeks and literally had a cycle just before. Williams says she took the test just to shut my friend up and was completely surprised when it was positive. She was even more shocked when her doctor told her she was seven weeks along. Oh, and she was playing in the Australian Open at the time.

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