Menstruation During Pregnancy: Misconception Or Truth?

Menstruation during pregnancy? Is this a misconception or truth? I have often heard women ask questions about this possibility. In fact some have reported to have ‘heard’ a case reported by another woman, maybe a friend or relative.

This article seeks to consider the likelihood of this occurrence and the main premise or assumption that drives this thought amongst most women.

Misconception or Truth?

By principle, menstruation during pregnancy is simply out of place. It is actually an oxymoron indeed. It is prudent however to really ‘never say never’ but some affirmations are necessary to guide our daily lives and avoid confusion.

The uprising of this question of menses during pregnancy is not really because it is a complex issue to understand. It is simply because by mouth-to-mouth women talk, it has gained some popularity amongst women and almost appears as though it is true. In fact what drives this is word of mouth that …’ some relative here or a friend there has reported having had her period during pregnancy”.

Not All Vaginal Bleeding Is Menses

The major error in this misconception is that proponents of this idea call any brief uterine bleeding “menses”. Even in a woman who is not pregnant, menses is not synonymous to vaginal bleeding. Menstrual bleed is a well-defined physiologic process resulting from known hormonal interactions. Menses is just one type of  bleeding through the vagina, which is not a disease!

The different types of uterine  bleeding result from different mechanisms. Pregnancy hormones make menses not to be possible. In fact the very presence of pregnancy abolishes menses. Why? The typical hormonal pattern during the menstrual cycle that results in menses cannot occur during pregnancy. Bleeding not caused by this known hormonal interplay is not menses, though still vaginal bleeding of another cause.

It is important to recognize this because any “menstrual-like” bleeding during pregnancy warrants medical attention. Mislabeling it menstruation may result in adverse outcomes. However, there are minor vaginal bleeding episodes that may occur during pregnancy.

Beware Of Bleeding During Pregnancy

Bleeding during pregnancy may have multiple causes. As a matter of fact, bleeding during pregnancy should not be taken lightly because of its potential   adverse impact on both the mother and the embryo or fetus.

The severity and likely causes of bleeding during pregnancy vary with the age of the pregnancy. One very common cause of vaginal bleeding that most women often mistake for menses during pregnancy is the mild 13th day bleeding from the implanted embryo during early pregnancy. Since it coincides with the date of expected menses  for most women with cycles about 27 to 30 days, it is very easy to take this for menstruation.

There are also known causes of  bleeding through the vagina, even intermittent bleeding such as placenta previa ( diagnosed in third trimester) which may be preceded by intermittent short periods of vaginal bleeding during the second trimester.

Therefore, a basic statement to retain is that ‘not all vaginal bleeding episode  is menstruation’. The very presence of a pregnancy physiologically makes it impossible for the hormonal process necessary for menstruation.  Normal menstruation is a precise physiologic process driven by a known interplay of hormones.

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Your Questions on Menstruation After Pregnancy Answered

Post pregnancy life or life after pregnancy brings so many questions; one of them is about menstruation care after pregnancy. You are constantly wondering as to when you will get your first period after pregnancy.

Many women mistake the bloody discharge after delivery for period. That discharge, however, is not your period, but all the additional fluid coming out of your uterus. This discharge can last from one to two months and women do need to wear pads to avoid staining their clothes.

The start of your menstrual cycle after pregnancy depends upon different factors, like your hormonal composition and breast-feeding. Women who do not breast-feed may get their first period after pregnancy as soon as one month.

On the other hand, women who breast-feed get their menstruation after pregnancy late, the reason being that, the prolactin present in your breast milk tends to suppress the menstruation after pregnancy.

Many women assume that they will not ovulate until the time they do not get their first period after pregnancy. You will be surprised to know that you might start ovulation within a few weeks of your delivery. Therefore, contraception plays an important role in life after pregnancy.

Facts About Menstruation After Pregnancy

Your period after pregnancy will be heavier and painful as compared to your experience before pregnancy.

You might still get PMS, when you resume menstruation after pregnancy.

While you are breast-feeding, be very careful of the birth control methods that you use. Consult your doctor before choosing any. Most doctors suggest barrier methods such as condoms, diaphragm etc.

Moms who are not breast-feeding can choose from a variety of options, like natural menstrual cycle, IUD insertion, contraceptive pills, or barrier methods.

Remember that menstruation after pregnancy is unpredictable. It will differ from woman to woman, and it changes monthly for a woman. It is all a game of hormones and how well your body copes with the changes. There might be women who might not experience any difference in menstruation before and after pregnancy. A cycle that appears normal to you might not be normal for another woman. Every woman has a different menstruation cycle. You need to understand your body very well, in order to understand your menstruation cycle. Do not be anxious about your first period after pregnancy, you will get them when your body is healed and uterus returns to its normal size and starts functioning normally.

Pregnancy brings many changes in you and your menstrual cycle is no exception. There are many changes that you would need to deal with apart from sitting and worrying about your menstruation after pregnancy. You just need to ensure that once you get your periods, then the menstruation care should be proper. Adjusting with the changes and enjoying life after pregnancy should be your motto. As everything else, your menstruation after pregnancy will also start falling in place with time.

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