Do You Have a Period When You First Become Pregnant?

You may believe you are having a period when you become pregnant--except it's not really a period; it simply resembles one. So if you have what seems to be two periods in short succession or one of your periods seems to be unusually light or short and you are sexually active, you may want to take a pregnancy test or see your doctor.

  1. Identification

    • The "period" that seems to occur soon after becoming pregnant actually is implantation bleeding, which can happen when the fertilized egg implants within the lining of the uterus.

    Time Frame

    • Implantation bleeding usually occurs within six to 12 days after you conceive. The bleeding is usually light, lasting anywhere from several hours to several days.

    Misconceptions

    • Many women mistake implantation bleeding for a period because the spotting can last for days. Although this bleeding is very light, you may think it is a period because it often "occurs on or about the same day as your period was due," according to Dr. Pamela Dyne, program director and assistant professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Emergency Medicine at the University of California at Los Angeles School of Medicine.

    Considerations

    • Bleeding occurs in about 20 to 30 percent of all pregnancies, according to Dyne. Implantation bleeding is normal and "no cause for concern," she writes.

    Warning

    • If you experience any other vaginal bleeding during pregnancy, however, you should contact your doctor right away, as it could be a sign of problems.

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