To have period while being pregnant is a common myth among females. It is common to have vaginal bleeding during pregnancy and some females report that their vaginal bleeding is very similar to a regular period. However, this type of vaginal bleeding is not similar to menstrual bleeding. It is very common for females to mistake any vaginal bleeding during pregnancy for a regular period as this type of bleeding occurs most often. Still, many people ask can I be pregnant if I had a period?

Can I Be Pregnant If I Had a Period?

The answer is no, you cannot get pregnant if you had a period because a period means that no conception or fertilization has occurred. Menstrual bleeding is only there when there is no pregnancy. So if you are sure you are having a regular period, a pregnancy is usually not the case. If it's vaginal bleeding resembling a period, then pregnancy is possible. 

Then there is decidual bleeding which represents shedding of the part of the uterine lining because of quick shift in hormones. This can cause enough bleeding to be mistaken as a normal period and it can happen in about 30% of the all pregnancies, especially in the first trimester.

The irregular light bleeding or spotting that often occurs during pregnancy is usually of a light pink or dark brown color. It is usually not enough bleeding so as to fill tampons or pads over a couple of days. If there is bleeding significant enough to fill tampons and pads, then most probably you are not pregnant.

Then What Can Be the Causes of the Bleeding If I am Pregnant?

There may be various reasons for bleeding during pregnancy. Some females may experience spotting or very light bleeding during the initial stage of pregnancy usually near the time of regular period. According to some experts it may be the implantation bleeding that happens when the fertilized egg is implanted into the uterus lining that is rich in blood. This type of bleeding is usually very light in comparison to menstrual bleeding and last only for a couple of days.

Some females may experience bleeding after a vaginal exam, PAP smear or sex. This happens because the blood supply of cervix is much more during pregnancy.

Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy can also indicate something serious such as an infection, problems with the placenta, an ectopic pregnancy or an abortion.

If there is any type of bleeding during pregnancy it is important to contact your doctor right away. Though it is common in many females to bleed a little during pregnancy; if there is severe bleeding associated with or without pain, visit an emergency room.

What Others Say

We have been taught in school or child development that the answer to the question can I be pregnant if I had a period is no. My cousin told me that she bled and had a regular period during the whole of her pregnancy and the week before she gave birth she had a normal period and that happened in both of her pregnancies. But I seriously doubt that it’s true. Maybe it’s just spotting and she mistook it for period.

Regular periods don’t happen during pregnancy while other forms of bleeding are common during pregnancy. Occasionally spotting can occur due to implantation which can be thought of as a regular period. Implantation of a fertilized egg on the uterine wall may also cause some bleeding. The best method to find out whether you are pregnant or not when the urine pregnancy test is negative is to go to the doctor and get a blood test done. Sometimes the progesterone hormone is low and hard to detect but that does not mean that there is no pregnancy.

Can I Get Pregnant During My Period?

According to experts it is possible to be pregnant while having a period but it is not likely. The key lies in determining that whether the bleeding is really from regular period. According to experts, some females may experience bleeding during ovulation and if you find that a period then the answer to the question can I be pregnant if I had a period is yes.

Another rare possibility is that a female may have sex toward the end of her regular period and ovulation may occur a few days later depending on what is the length of her cycle. Technically this is like you are at the end of your regular cycle, ovulation occurs 2-3 days later and the sperm is still present to fertilize the egg. Thus pregnancy is a possibility but not likely.