pregnant and still have periods?
Once your body starts producing human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) - the pregnancy hormone - and pregnancy is established, your menstrual cycle is interrupted and normal periods will stop.However, many women do experience bleeding during early pregnancy that may look very much like a normal period. This sort of bleeding is known as "breakthrough" bleeding and is caused by the hormones that control your normal menstrual cycle breaking through.
Bleeding is also thought to occur when the fertilised egg implants into the lining of the uterus (womb). This usually happens at about the time your period would have been due. There is some research that suggests that bleeding around this time is more likely to be due to breakthrough bleeding than implantation bleeding. Either way, bleeding at this time can make establishing your due date difficult, since doctors often use the first day of your last period to determine your due date. If that's in any doubt, measuring how big your uterus is may help them determine how far along you are. And if that's inconclusive, a dating scan can measure the size of your baby and clarify exactly when he is due.
Many women who have vaginal spotting in early pregnancy go on to have their baby without any complications, but bleeding can also be a cause for concern. It may be the first sign of a miscarriage; if so, your symptoms would probably go on to include heavy cramping and bleeding that is much heavier than a normal period.
If you have sharp pains in your lower abdomen, especially if the pain is only on one side, you should see your doctor straightaway as you could have an ectopic pregnancy. Because of these potential complications, if you bleed at all in early pregnancy, it's best to notify your doctor. She may suggest getting a blood test to check your hormone levels or refer you for an early ultrasound to evaluate your condition more thoroughly.
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