Menstruation during pregnancy (how to distinguish from the usual): can they go in the early stages

The main symptom of the birth of a new life inside a woman is the absence of regular menstruation, according to which any representative of the fair sex will be able to guess her own interesting position. But medical practice shows that after conception, girls do not always have bloody discharge completely on the usual days of the cycle. Sometimes this signals the presence of problems with gestation and requires urgent medical attention. So can menstruation go during pregnancy, and how to determine that fertilization has nevertheless occurred, despite the release of a bloody secretion from the vagina - it is worthwhile to understand this in more detail.

Features of the cycle or how conception occurs

In order to understand whether menstruation can be observed during pregnancy, it is important to understand how the female reproductive system functions, and why menstruation stops immediately after conception. The menstrual cycle of a woman of childbearing age consists of several phases, which follow each other from month to month until the onset of menopause:

Follicular

For the beginning of this phase, the first day of the last menstruation is taken, which normally last from three to four to seven days. While the particles of the rejected endometrium (the inner layer of the genital organ) leave the uterus, the process of maturation of new follicles has already begun in the ovaries. These are sacs, in one of which (dominant) the egg cell ready for fertilization will develop. The growth of Graaf's vesicle occurs under the influence of follicle-stimulating hormone.

Duration follicular phase averages 14 days, but can be shorter or longer (from 7 to 21 days), depending on the duration of a particular woman's cycle.

Ovulatory

Under the influence of luteinizing hormone, the dominant follicle is opened. A mature egg comes out of it, enters the fallopian tube, where it can immediately be fertilized by a sperm in case of sexual intercourse the day before. With the help of the villous layer of the tube, the gamete begins to move towards the uterine cavity.

The duration of ovulation is from 1 to 2 days, less often the egg retains the ability to fertilize for three days.

If fertilization has occurred, the fertilized egg will invade the wall of the uterus, and the pregnancy will continue. In the absence of conception, the gamete will dissolve in the uterine layer and come out along with the bloody contents during menstruation.

Luteal

At the site of egg rejection in the epididymis, a corpus luteum is formed - its function is to increase the production of progesterone. The hormone is necessary for high-quality implantation of the ovum into the wall of the uterus and maintaining gestation. If conception does not occur, the corpus luteum is scarred and atrophied, the concentration of progesterone decreases, and menstruation begins.

The stage lasts about two weeks.

The sequence and logical onset of one phase after another explains the fact that there can be no critical days during pregnancy. As the fetus is entrenched in the uterus, the maturation of follicles, eggs and endometrial rejection stops until the end of delivery.

In order for the pregnancy to proceed safely, the level of the hormone progesterone must be constantly maintained.

The monthly cycle will be restored only at the end of breastfeeding, if the woman is feeding the baby, or after 2-3 months from childbirth, if the baby is artificially fed.

Can there be menstruation at the onset of conception?

The reason that menstruation continues during pregnancy in the first month of gestation and even longer may be a physiological feature of the female body - the so-called two-horned uterus. With this congenital malformation, the genital organ is divided into two parts, which are connected to each other in the cervical region. Pathology may not worsen a woman's condition or cause infertility, miscarriage, cycle disorders, etc. In the event of pregnancy, one part of the organ is fertilized, and the second continues to function as usual, due to which during the first few months of the gestation period may be observed menses.

In other cases, the appearance of critical days with completed fertilization is an almost impossible phenomenon.

During the normal course of menstruation in the absence of conception, the gamete dissolves in the uterine wall and exfoliates along with the endometrium, coming out with bloody contents, and in its place should soon a new one will appear.

The fact that menstruation stopped going during gestation is explained by the action of the hormone progesterone. It inhibits the contractile activity of the genital organ until the very birth, as a result, the fertilized egg is in the body and does not leave the uterus. Pregnancy with a complete absence of bloody discharge is the only true condition for the growth of an embryo in the womb.

Causes of bleeding in the first months after conception, similar to menstruation

On many women's forums, menstruation is discussed that appear already during pregnancy in its early stages, and doctors confirm that that a small amount of blood may indeed be secreted, but such secretion has nothing to do with the true menstruation.

Such bleeding has certain signs:

• the amount of blood secreted is scanty;
• the duration of the discharge is 1–2 days;
• the cycle time is much shorter than usual;
• the shade and consistency of the secreted secretion are very different from ordinary menstruation.

What most girls take for the critical days that come during gestation, many call "washing the fetus."

Implant bleeding

After 7-10 days from the fertilization of the egg by the sperm, the embryo is implanted into the wall of the uterus. Such a time interval is required for the gamete to descend into the cavity of the genital organ, making its way from the epididymis through the fallopian tube. If fertilization took place near the ovary itself, the stage of advancement of the ovum can take up to 14-15 days.

When the gamete finally reaches the uterine cavity, under the influence of progesterone, it begins to implant into the organ wall. The cell grows together with the blood vessels, through which nutrients will be supplied to the fetus for its growth and development, until a full-fledged placental layer is formed. Before the embryo is introduced, the endometrial layer looks voluminous and loose - a large number of capillaries are concentrated in it. During implantation, part of the vessels ruptures, which is why a woman can observe an abundant bloody discharge for one to two days.

If the monthly cycle is standard, it is 28-30 days, then implantation bleeding in terms of timing occurs at the beginning of the expected critical days.

That is why the introduction of the ovum into the uterine wall in many women manifested itself as another menstruation, although it is excellent in duration, blood volume, its color and consistency.

Failure of hormonal levels

Despite the statement by many women that they regularly had spotting on the days of their regular periods, and this did not affect the course of gestation in any way, you should definitely visit a gynecologist in case of a similar symptoms.

The fact whether menstruation can go on with the onset of pregnancy and how long they will last depends on from the cause of the symptom - the main factor of such a violation is the lack of hormone production progesterone.

If the concentration of a substance in the blood is at a normal level, the endometrioid layer abundantly grows inside the uterus, which is necessary for the full attachment of the embryo to it. Thanks to progesterone, the uterus does not contract, and the ovum remains inside, the threat of rejection disappears. With a lack of hormone, a woman may notice spotting on days that are usual for menstruation, in which fragments of endometrioid tissue are noticeable.

It is impossible to ignore false periods, since simultaneously with the cleansing of the uterus, the rejection of the ovum may begin.

When the bloody discharge stops, the gynecologist will prescribe the patient with low levels of progesterone drugs with its content, and they should disappear in the next 2-3 weeks.

Injury to the vaginal mucosa

Immediately after the onset of pregnancy, not only the structure of the inner uterine layer changes, but also the mucous tissue of the vagina. It becomes swollen, changes color, a large number of capillaries are concentrated in it.

If a woman does not yet know about the accomplished conception, continues to actively engage in sex, or comes to an appointment with a gynecologist, where the doctor examines her with an instrument, weak bloody discharge.

It is possible to injure both the vaginal mucosa after inaccurate actions of the doctor, and the cervix, if the partners practice rough intimate acts. As a result, the tone of the uterus may increase, which is fraught with spontaneous abortion.

To maintain gestation, women with signs of a threatened miscarriage are recommended by most doctors to abstain from sex during the first 7-8 weeks of pregnancy.

Repeated ovulation

Can menstruation go on during pregnancy in the earliest stages - yes, with a rare, but still existing in nature, situation called repeated ovulation.

6% of women have a chance of maturation during the cycle of two follicles at once, in which there are two eggs ready for fertilization.

This phenomenon occurs in women with a genetic predisposition, during preparation for IVF and long-term use of hormonal drugs.

The release of oocytes from the follicles can occur simultaneously, and then, as a result of fertilization of both, multiple pregnancies are diagnosed, or with an interval of up to seven days. If one gamete has been fertilized and has successfully penetrated into the uterine wall, and the second has not, then it comes out together with fragments of the endometrium, and it looks like menstruation.

When menstruation while carrying a baby is dangerous

Do not panic if a small amount of blood is released during implantation of the ovum. After how many days false periods pass - secretion usually does not cause discomfort, lasts 1-2 days and ends on its own.

The main signs of conception, in addition to the fact that menstruation has ended, are:

• swelling of the mammary glands;
• decreased libido;
• change in taste preferences;
• early toxicosis - nausea, dizziness, vomiting;
• increased fatigue, weakness, drowsiness;
• decreased immunity, increased susceptibility to colds.

In a situation where a woman has all of the listed signs, and a pregnancy test gives two bright stripes, when bleeding appears, similar to heavy periods, you must immediately visit doctor.

Various causes of pathological bleeding can be factors that threaten the health, and often even the life of a lady.

Ectopic pregnancy

Sometimes women, after seeing a positive pregnancy test and learning about their interesting situation, later for several weeks, the appearance of scant bloody discharge against the background of severe pulling pains at the bottom is noted belly. An important detail - the test may show one bright strip, and the second is barely noticeable.

Such symptoms indicate ectopic development of the fetus, when the embryo begins to grow in the cavity of the fallopian tube or peritoneum.

Abundant discharge, similar to menstruation with an ectopic pregnancy in the early stages, is accompanied by several more signs:

• nausea, vomiting;
• a sharp decrease in blood pressure;
• severe headaches and dizziness;
• stitching sensations in the lower abdomen, pain extends to the lower back and the entire back;
• swelling of the breast;
• lack of appetite.

An ectopic pregnancy is life-threatening for a woman if you do not pay attention to its symptoms in time. If the fallopian tube ruptures, intense internal bleeding can begin.

Bubble drift

The answer to the question of whether menstruation can go on as usual with the onset of pregnancy is negative, therefore, with such symptoms, it is important to consult a specialist in time, find out the cause and eliminate it, because some factors can be very dangerous. These include cystic drift - this is a pathology in which a sperm fertilizes an egg that does not contain a nucleus, or two spermatozoa enter the gamete at once.

As a result, instead of a normal fetus, a benign tumor develops in the uterine cavity - it consists of chorionic cells. A dangerous complication of cystic drift is the degeneration of benign tumor cells into malignant ones - it occurs in 20% of cases. In the early period of gestation, a woman develops spotting bleeding against the background of severe toxicosis, the symptoms of which are several times stronger than usual.

Spontaneous termination of pregnancy

The sooner a girl with signs of a miscarriage that has begun turns to a medical institution for help, the more chances doctors have to maintain and continue the pregnancy. An incipient miscarriage can manifest itself with symptoms:

• scanty blood discharge of dark red or brown color;
• pulling pain in the abdomen, radiating to the back;
• dizziness;
• nausea.

If little blood is released, the patient is prescribed hormonal drugs. In the case of heavy bleeding, when ultrasound confirms the process of embryo rejection that has begun, pregnancy is not always possible to save. This is why it is important to see your doctor on time if you have a discharge similar to your period.

Frozen pregnancy

In the first trimester of pregnancy, a woman experiences a cessation of all symptoms characteristic of gestation. Further, there is a scanty bleeding, accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen, similar to the sensation of miscarriage. Later, the bleeding becomes more profuse, acquiring a bright red tint. Treatment of a frozen pregnancy is prompt - the uterus is cleaned.

If you ignore such symptoms, there is a high risk of infection of the genital organ and the development of endometritis - an acute inflammatory process.

How to distinguish menstruation from pathological bleeding during gestation

To find the answer to the question of how to distinguish menstruation from ordinary bloody discharge during pregnancy, it is necessary to understand the significance of the two types of bleeding and take a closer look at the existing symptoms.

The nature and differences of the discharge	Pregnancy	Period
When do they start	Earlier or later than the usual time	On time
Volume	Lean, requires only panty liners	Abundant
Shade	Dark brown, brown. When threatened with miscarriage, it becomes scarlet.	Brown, after 1–2 days dark red, towards the end, brown again, gradually brighten
Duration	Usually 1-2 days	Normally 3 to 7 days
Additional complaints	In case of miscarriage - pulling pain in the abdomen and back, dizziness	Absent against the background of healthy functioning of the organs of the reproductive system

If the pregnancy is proceeding normally, the appearance of blood in a small amount is justified, a single discharge is caused by the implantation of an embryo into the uterus. In the case when false menstruation does not stop going, accompanied by pain and deterioration of health, you can not hesitate to visit a specialist.

Methods for diagnosing conception in the presence of bleeding resembling menstruation

The lady has symptoms that she has become pregnant - nausea, weakness, breast swelling, and on the days usual for menstruation, bloody discharge appears. In such a situation, to accurately confirm or deny the fact of conception, it is recommended to use one of the diagnostic methods:

1. Apply a pregnancy test - the device can show a reliable result already after 14-21 days from conception, this time usually coincides with the expected period.
2. Take a blood test for hCG (chorionic gonadotropin) - a hormone released after the embryo is inserted into the wall of the uterus. If the tests begin to respond to an increase in the hormone up to 25-30 mIU / ml, then hCG in the blood rises much faster, and conception can be diagnosed even before a delay.
3. Undergo an ultrasound scan - if only 2-3 weeks have passed since fertilization, then the doctor may not see the fertilized egg on the monitor, it is too small. A sign that speaks in favor of the onset of pregnancy is the formed corpus luteum, which did not atrophy at the end of the standard duration of the luteal phase.

In the early period of gestation, it is better to use a hypersensitive test that can recognize the level of hCG in the urine of 10-15 mIU / ml or donate blood for the content of the hormone. The analysis can be done at any nearby clinic, it is inexpensive, and the result will be ready in a few hours.

The days in which a woman usually had menstruation before conception is the most dangerous in terms of interrupting gestation.

This is due to changes in hormonal levels in combination with physical overload, stress and exacerbation of somatic diseases. Since there should not be critical days during pregnancy, when a discharge that resembles menstruation appears, you should not delay for a long time, but visit a gynecologist to avoid complications.

Reviews of women

Many women leave feedback on the forums about their presence during pregnancy in the early stages of menstruation:

I observed all the signs of a long-awaited pregnancy - nausea, vomiting, my breasts were sore and enlarged, and bloody discharge began at the usual number. I thought I was wrong, but I did a test, it showed two stripes, and the discharge stopped after two days. The doctor explained that it was implantation bleeding.

After the news of pregnancy, I had regular critical days for three months in a row - I had to go to the hospital and take hormonal drugs to increase the level of progesterone. After this discharge stopped, labor began on time.

I didn’t even know that I was pregnant. The critical days came a week later, my stomach hurt badly, and the blood was bright scarlet. When it became impossible to endure, she called an ambulance, already in the hospital she learned that a miscarriage had occurred. It was necessary to closely monitor the cycle and understand in time that the delay was due to pregnancy.