Can I be pregnant and still have a period? Here’s what you need to know

You may have learned it in sex education, a movie, or a TV show — the first sign of pregnancy is a late or missed period, right? This is the time to take a test and confirm it. So, if you’ve taken a pregnancy test and got a positive result, noticing bleeding from your vagina can be confusing. You may be questioning, can I be pregnant and still have a period? 

It may come as a surprise to you, but it’s fairly common to experience light bleeding in early pregnancy, and several things can cause it. But is it a period or something else? Here, a Flo expert shares everything you need to know. 

Key takeaways

• In short, you can’t be pregnant and still have a period because to have a period, you need to have ovulated, and that pauses during pregnancy. 
• Ovulation is the point in your cycle when one of your ovaries releases an egg. If it isn’t met and fertilized by a sperm, then it disintegrates with the lining of your uterus and leaves your body as your period. 
• This means that any bleeding you notice during pregnancy isn’t your period. However, it’s fairly common to experience some spotting, especially during your 1st trimester. It may seem easier said than done, but try not to panic. 
• Wherever you are in your pregnancy, speak to your doctor if you experience any bleeding from your vagina. While it’s common, it could be a sign of a more serious underlying issue. They will be able to determine the cause and the best next steps. 
• To understand some of the causes of bleeding during pregnancy, it can be helpful to focus on which trimester you’re in. 

To learn more about what to expect when you’re having a baby, share the insights with loved ones, and discover how you and your baby change week by week, you can use Flo’s Pregnancy Mode. 

Can you get your period while pregnant?

Put simply, “It is absolutely not possible to get a period while pregnant,” says Dr. Jenna Beckham, obstetrician, gynecologist, and complex family planning specialist at WakeMed Health and Hospitals, Planned Parenthood South Atlantic in North Carolina, US. 

To understand why this is, it can be handy to break down the menstrual cycle. From your period to ovulation and how your body prepares for potential pregnancy, all of the processes in your cycle are linked and are driven by the rise and fall of your sex hormones (progesterone, estrogen, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone). These natural chemicals are released at different points in your cycle to trigger different processes.

Your cycle is split into two phases: 

Your follicular phase: 

Your follicular phase starts on the first day of your period. Your period may last between a couple of days to a week. In the week following your period, your levels of a hormone called follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) begin to increase. As your FSH levels rise, small fluid-filled sacs called follicles grow and develop in your ovaries. Each of these follicles contains an egg, and one of these eggs may be released during ovulation.

Ovulation: 

Ovulation isn’t a phase of your cycle, but it’s pretty monumental, so it deserves some space. Once one of the eggs in your ovaries matures, your body releases a hormone called luteinizing hormone, which triggers its release from the follicle. If you have unprotected sex in the days around ovulation, then your egg may be fertilized by a sperm. 

Your luteal phase: 

After you’ve ovulated, you enter your luteal phase. This is the second phase of your cycle and runs through to the day before your next period. During this time, your progesterone levels rise, which causes the glands in the lining of your uterus to thicken. 

If your egg was fertilized by a sperm, then it may travel down one of your fallopian tubes and attach to the lining of your uterus. If the lining of your uterus is thicker, it helps your fertilized egg to attach firmly and grow. 

If you don’t become pregnant this cycle, then your estrogen and progesterone levels begin to decrease. This can cause the lining of your uterus to break down, shed, and leave your body in the form of your period. And a new period marks the start of a new cycle.

When you become pregnant, this whole process pauses. This is due to the fact that your estrogen and progesterone levels rise. Similarly, after implantation, your body starts to release the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). It helps to support your developing pregnancy. 

However, it’s reasonably common to have bleeding during pregnancy. While it isn’t a period, it’s important that you speak to your doctor to get to the bottom of what it could be. And if you’re experiencing heavy bleeding or pain in your abdomen or lower back, speak to a health care professional immediately. 

Possible reasons you may experience vaginal bleeding during pregnancy

There are a few reasons why you might experience vaginal bleeding during pregnancy. It can be handy to break up your pregnancy into trimesters to understand them. 

General causes 

• Hormonal changes: Hormonal changes during early pregnancy can mean your cervix may become softer and more easily irritated by penetrative sex or vaginal examinations like your Pap smear. This can cause bleeding. 
• Infection: Some infections, such as chlamydia, bacterial vaginosis, or urinary tract infections, can cause light bleeding in pregnancy. If you notice bleeding or discomfort, then speak to your doctor. 

1st trimester

Around 15% to 25% of all pregnant people experience bleeding or spotting in the first 12 weeks of their pregnancy. So, if you’ve noticed blood when you wipe or in your underwear, try not to worry. It could be caused by: 

• Implantation bleeding: Implantation marks the moment your fertilized egg attaches to the lining of your uterus. At this point, around a quarter of people experience light spotting, known as implantation bleeding. It can appear pinkish or brown and happens when your fertilized egg disrupts some of the blood vessels as it embeds.

Bleeding during early pregnancy can be alarming because it’s unexpected. While many of us will experience it and go on to have healthy pregnancies, it’s crucial that you speak to your doctor. This could be a sign of something more serious, such as: 

• Subchorionic hematoma: This may sound alarming, but subchorionic hematoma describes when blood collects between your uterine wall and the amniotic sac that your baby grows in. It’s most common between 10 and 20 weeks of pregnancy, and it’s the cause of approximately 10% of all vaginal bleeding during pregnancy. It may heal on its own over time. 
• Miscarriage: Heavy vaginal bleeding during early pregnancy could also be a sign that you’ve miscarried. Miscarriage describes pregnancy loss up to 20 weeks. Most pregnancy losses occur in the first 12 or 13 weeks. You might also experience cramping or pain in your abdomen or lower back. This can be incredibly difficult and scary, but please know you’re not alone. If you’re at all worried, then speak to a health care professional. 
• Ectopic pregnancy: An ectopic pregnancy happens when your fertilized egg implants outside of your uterus, usually (though not always) in one of the fallopian tubes. It isn’t safe to let a pregnancy progress like this. This can be really scary, but it’s crucial that you seek medical care immediately. Other symptoms linked to ectopic pregnancy include pain in your abdomen, dizziness, or weakness. 
• Molar pregnancy: Molar pregnancy is a rare complication that can happen when a fertilized egg implants in the uterus and a noncancerous tumor develops (it looks a little like fluid-filled sacs) instead of developing a placenta. This cluster of cells cannot support the pregnancy. Molar pregnancies are usually detected during an ultrasound scan.

Pregnancy can be filled with unexpected symptoms, some exciting and some a little more anxiety-inducing. If you’ve experienced bleeding during your 1st trimester, don’t hesitate to reach out to your doctor. They’ll be able to explain why it might be happening. If the bleeding is heavy or you are concerned, seek medical care immediately.

2nd and 3rd trimesters

While spotting is generally regarded as more common in early pregnancy, if you notice bleeding during your 2nd and 3rd trimester, it’s a good idea to contact your doctor immediately. It may be nothing to worry about, but here are some examples that could cause bleeding: 

• Placenta Previa: Placenta previa describes when your placenta is so low in the uterus that it covers your cervix. It can cause bleeding. However, it can resolve itself, with the placenta moving higher as your pregnancy progresses. If you have placenta previa and are approaching your 3rd trimester, your doctor may speak to you about a cesarean section in case your placenta doesn’t move and it isn’t possible to have a vaginal birth. 
• Placental abruption: Placental abruption occurs when the placenta begins to separate from the uterine wall before your baby delivers. This can cause bleeding, cramps in your abdomen and lower back, and contractions. If you’re worried about placental abruption, speak to your doctor. Your placenta is your baby’s lifeline, so placenta abruption is incredibly serious. You should seek medical help immediately. However, it’s really important that you don’t diagnose yourself at home and worry, so contact a health care professional. 
• Subchorionic hematoma: As we mentioned above, subchorionic hematoma can happen up to 20 weeks of pregnancy. 
• Miscarriage: After 20 weeks of pregnancy, a miscarriage is known as a stillbirth. As we’ve already mentioned, pregnancy loss is more common in your 1st trimester. Only 1% to 5% of losses occur in the 2nd trimester between 13 to 19 weeks, and less than 5% of losses happen after 20 weeks.

Losing a pregnancy can be really traumatic and may leave you with lots of unanswered questions and feelings. Take all the time and space you need to grieve your loss. Lean on the people closest to you for support, whether that’s your partner, friends, family members, or your doctor. And know that if and when the time is right, around 87% of people go on to have healthy pregnancies after miscarriage. 

• Preterm labor: If you go into labor between 20 and 37 weeks of pregnancy, this is known as preterm labor. If you are experiencing regular, painful contractions (around two to five minutes apart), vaginal bleeding or thick vaginal discharge, or regular pains in your back, seek medical care.
• Full-term labor: If you’ve reached the 37-week pregnancy mark and are feeling regular tightenings or cramps, then you might be giving birth. At this point, vaginal bleeding can be accompanied by thick mucus — this is known as a “bloody show” and occurs when the cervix dilates, allowing the mucus plug that has been protecting your baby during the pregnancy to come away.

Understanding the different potential reasons for vaginal bleeding

As we’ve seen, there are a few different reasons why you might experience bleeding or spotting in pregnancy, but your period isn’t one of them. If the bleeding is heavy or accompanied by cramping, or you’re at all worried, seek medical attention immediately. 

It’s typical if bleeding during pregnancy has left you feeling confused and concerned. It’s not up there with some of the most talked about signs and symptoms. Using an app like Flo can help you better understand what’s going on in your body during pregnancy and outline what might happen during your prenatal appointments.