Pregnant despite your period?

Dr. rer. nat. Daniela Oesterle is a molecular biologist, human geneticist and trained medical editor. As a freelance journalist, she writes texts on health topics for experts and laypeople and edits specialist scientific articles by doctors in German and English. She is responsible for the publication of certified advanced training courses for medical professionals for a renowned publishing house.

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Pregnant despite your period - is that possible? Some women do not notice their pregnancy at first because they still have their menstrual period - at least they think so. In reality, however, it is bleeding from various causes. Having the period despite pregnancy is not possible. Read more about the subject of "Pregnant despite your period?"

Pregnant despite your period?

When asked whether you can be pregnant despite your period, there is a clear answer: no. The hormonal balance prevents this:

The female cycle usually lasts 28 days, with fluctuations of plus or minus three days being normal. The processes taking place in the ovaries and uterus during the cycle are regulated by the interaction of various hormones. The follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) from the pituitary gland ensures that so-called follicles (fluid-filled cavities) in the ovaries, which contain undeveloped egg cells and produce the hormone estrogen, mature every month. Usually the egg cell only matures in one of the follicles per cycle (exception: two or more pregnancies). This follicle is particularly large. The other follicles die. In addition to building up the lining of the uterus, the rising estrogen level also causes another hormone, called LH (luteinizing hormone), to rise. This ultimately triggers ovulation: the follicle releases the mature egg cell and the fallopian tube picks it up. The egg is now capable of fertilization for about 24 hours.

The follicle remaining in the ovary changes into what is known as the corpus luteum, which produces the corpus luteum hormone progesterone and (little) estrogen. On the one hand, this triggers a fine-tuned interplay of other hormones. On the other hand, estrogen and the corpus luteum hormone further thicken the lining of the uterus in order to prepare it for a fertilized egg to implant. If fertilization does not take place, the corpus luteum recedes and hormone production stops. The thickened uterine lining then recedes and is excreted from the body with the menstrual period - together with the unfertilized egg. Then the cycle starts all over again.

However, once the egg has been fertilized, the corpus luteum is preserved and continues to produce progesterone. This stops the regular female cycle and the menstrual period necessary for the breakdown of the uterine lining. Pregnancy despite your period is therefore never possible.

Pregnant despite bleeding

Despite pregnancy, bleeding can occur, some of which is similar to menstruation. For example, implantation bleeding can occur at the very beginning - a small amount of bleeding that occurs when the fertilized egg cells implant in the lining of the uterus. Many women consider it to be a somewhat unusual menstrual period and are then surprised when they are obviously pregnant despite having a "period". In some cases, women only find out about their pregnancy after several months - usually through a doctor's visit.

Bleeding is not uncommon in expectant mothers, especially in the first trimester, i.e. the first trimester of pregnancy. Usually it is harmless bleeding that is related to the changes in the body during pregnancy. Heavy bleeding, on the other hand, can indicate a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy, especially if you have abdominal pain at the same time. Since it is difficult for pregnant women to assess the cause of bleeding themselves, they should always seek medical advice.

Even if (light) bleeding during pregnancy is usually harmless, it should always be clarified by a doctor.

Conclusion: pregnant despite your period? No!

Immediately after the egg cell is fertilized, the female body adjusts its hormonal balance so that no pregnant woman can get her period. So it is a misconception that women can be pregnant despite having their periods.

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