Pregnancy and Your Period

It’s essential to understand how your period and pregnancy co-exist. So we’ll give you the basics on what to expect from the two big Ps in a woman’s life.

Can you get pregnant during your period?

Yes, you can get pregnant at pretty much any time, including when you’re on your period. This isn’t common, but it does happen.

If your period is late and you’ve had sexual intercourse, it could mean that you’re pregnant, even if you’ve used birth control. No birth control is 100 percent effective. To find out for sure, take a pregnancy test, which you can get without a prescription from a pharmacy. You can take the test any time from the first expected day of your period.

Will you still have periods when you start pregnancy?

Once you’ve done a pregnancy test and it’s positive, can you then have your period and still be pregnant? Well, yes, in a sense – or so it may seem.

At the beginning of a pregnancy, you can get some bleeding or ‘spotting’ – often when you would normally have your next period. This is not the same thing as menstruation, however. It is implantation bleeding, and it happens when an embryo buries itself into the wall of your womb.

Of course, if you don’t know you’re pregnant, this bleeding can be misinterpreted as a period, as it can look and seem confusingly similar.

Will your periods continue throughout your pregnancy?

Actual periods do not occur throughout your pregnancy. That’s because when you become pregnant, the womb retains its lining to support the baby, rather than shedding it as it does when the egg remains unfertilized.

Any spotting you do have while pregnant should be checked out by your doctor or gynecologist, as it could be a sign of other issues.

Is having pregnancy discharge normal?

Almost all women experience more vaginal discharge when pregnant than before – it serves to prevent infections from traveling up from the vagina into the womb. Towards the end of your pregnancy, you can expect even more discharge! In the last week or so, it may contain streaks of sticky, jelly-like pink mucus. This is nothing to worry about, as it’s simply a signal that your body is preparing for birth.

Speak to a midwife if your pregnancy discharge smells unpleasant or strange, is green or yellow, feels itchy or sore around your vagina, or has pain when you pee. These could be symptoms of a vaginal infection.

Medical disclaimer

The medical information in this article is provided as an information resource only and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your doctor for guidance about a specific medical condition.