Pregnant women may experience menstruation during pregnancy. However, in contrast to menstruation in general, menstruation during pregnancy lasts shorter, which is about 1-2 days. However, how can this condition occur? See the explanation in the following article.
Scientifically, menstruation during pregnancy is not possible. Indeed, there are some pregnant women who complain that their intimate organs bleed periodically like they are having menstruation. However, bleeding that occurs during menstruation and during pregnancy are two different conditions.
Menstruation generally occurs when the endometrium or the lining of the uterus sheds and causes menstrual blood to come out through the vagina. This occurs due to the absence of fertilization of the egg by the sperm.
If fertilization occurs or in other words pregnancy occurs, the lining of the uterine wall will survive to support the growth of the fetus. This is the reason why menstruation but pregnancy is not possible.
Menstruation but Pregnancy Can't Happen, Why Can Bleeding During Pregnancy?
Bleeding during pregnancy is a common condition for pregnant women and is not menstruation but pregnancy. About 20% of pregnant women experience this condition in the first trimester of pregnancy.
However, for some cases, vaginal bleeding during pregnancy can also be caused by certain medical conditions. Not only in the first trimester, this condition can also occur in the second or third trimester. Here is the explanation:
Vaginal bleeding in the first trimester
Menstrual conditions but pregnant that occur in the first trimester can be caused by several things, including:
- Implantation bleeding, which is bleeding that usually occurs about 10-14 days after conception
- Miscarriage or sudden loss of the fetus before 20 weeks of gestation
- Problems with the cervix, such as infection or inflammation
- Ectopic pregnancy or pregnancy outside the uterus
- Pregnancy with grapes, which is an abnormal mass that grows in the uterus after fertilization occurs
Vaginal bleeding in the second or third trimester
In addition to the first trimester of pregnancy, vaginal bleeding, which is often mistaken for menstruation but is pregnant, can also occur in the second or third trimester. The following are some of the causes of vaginal bleeding in these two trimesters:
- Cervical ectropion or changes in the cervix
- Placental abruption, which is a serious condition when the placenta separates from the uterine wall
- Placenta previa, which is a condition where all or part of the baby's birth canal is blocked due to the position of the placenta being too low in the uterus
- Intrauterine fetal death (IUFD), namely the death of the fetus in the womb after 20 weeks of gestation
In addition, bleeding in the second or third trimester of pregnancy can also be an early sign of labor. This condition is characterized by mucus discharge from the cervix which can be in the form of clots or blood spots.
Menstruation but pregnancy is a condition that is medically impossible. Therefore, every pregnant woman should be alert if she experiences bleeding, because it can be a sign of problems in pregnancy.
Immediately check the condition of pregnancy to the doctor if you experience bleeding during pregnancy. Later, the doctor will conduct an examination to determine the cause of the condition that resembles menstruation but is pregnant and provide treatment if necessary.