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What is pregnancy and irregular periods?You can tell if you're pregnant even if you have irregular periods with signs of pregnancy other than a missed period, such as implantation bleeding, nausea, swollen or tender breasts, fatigue, frequent urination, mood swings, headaches, backaches, and changes in cravings or aversions. Irregular periods can make it difficult to know whether you’re pregnant. It can make it harder to predict ovulation (when a mature egg is released from the ovary) or determine the best date to take a pregnancy test. Depending on the cause, women with irregular periods may also have greater difficulty getting pregnant. Most women have menstrual cycles that are about 28 days long, give or take a few days on either end. Their cycles may change from month to month but will usually stay within that range. An irregular menstrual cycle may be less than 24 days or greater than 38 days. Bleeding that lasts longer than eight days is also abnormal. If you are concerned about irregular periods and pregnancy, there are signs of pregnancy other than a missed period and additional ways to determine when you are most likely to get accurate results with a pregnancy test. Signs of pregnancy with irregular periodsIf you are pregnant, you may experience any or all of the following symptoms of early pregnancy: Implantation bleedingSome women bleed at the time of implantation, which occurs about one or two weeks after fertilization. It can be easy to mistake the signs of implantation, which include cramps and bleeding, for a light period. Some things that can help you tell the difference are:
NauseaDue to hormonal changes, nausea is one of the most common symptoms of early pregnancy, often starting as early as two weeks after conception. It may or may not be accompanied by vomiting. Low blood sugar levels in the morning often react with the hormones, leading to more frequent nausea in the morning. Swollen or tender breastsSome women first notice the effects of pregnancy hormones on their breasts, which can become swollen or tender. FatigueDuring early pregnancy, your body is changing to accommodate the fetus, which can make you feel tired. Rising levels of progesterone (a hormone that regulates the menstrual cycle) can also contribute to fatigue. Other symptomsThe following symptoms are less common in the first few weeks of pregnancy but may still occur during the first trimester:
When to see the doctor for pregnancy with irregular periodsYou might see the doctor for irregular periods in any of the following cases:
Your doctor will help determine the cause of your irregular period and suggest a course of action. QUESTIONThe first sign of pregnancy is most often: See AnswerDiagnosis for pregnancy with irregular periodsThere are many causes of irregular periods, including pregnancy. While home pregnancy tests claim to be most accurate after a missed period, it can be difficult to know when you have missed a period if you’re irregular. If you think you may be pregnant, try waiting either 28 days since you last had sex or 36 days from your last period. Take the test again a few days later if it is negative but you still think you may be pregnant. In order to diagnose your irregular periods, your doctor may perform any of the following examinations or tests:
Your doctor will also take a detailed family and personal history to help them evaluate the results. Treatments for pregnancy with irregular periodsThe treatments for irregular periods vary based on the diagnosis and may involve treatment for an underlying disorder. The following types of irregular periods require different treatments: The treatment for absent, infrequent, or irregular periods may include:
The treatment for heavy or prolonged periods may include:
The treatment for painful periods may include:
Talk to your doctor about what treatment for irregular periods might be right for you. Health NewsWhat are the chances of getting pregnant on your period?>Whether or not you’re trying to conceive, you might have some questions surrounding pregnancy. One common question that teens and women ask is whether they can become pregnant while on their period. The average menstrual cycle — the changes in the uterus and ovaries that make pregnancy possible — typically lasts 28-30 days. Your cycle begins the day you start bleeding. About halfway through your cycle, usually around days 12-14, ovulation occurs. This is when an egg is released from your ovaries into your fallopian tubes, where they can be fertilized by a man’s sperm. It’s at this time, during ovulation, when a woman is most fertile and most likely to get pregnant if she is having sex. If you have a typical 28-day menstrual cycle and you ovulate around day 14, you are most likely to get pregnant in the days right before and after the egg is released. However, this is not the only time you can get pregnant. Signs and symptoms of ovulationIt’s possible that you can get pregnant outside of the fertility window, or the days of your cycle when you are most likely to get pregnant. The best way to know when this period will occur is by tracking your menstrual cycle. Tracking your cycle To calculate your cycle, track it for three to four months to determine the average length. Count the days from the start of one period to the start of the next. Again, the average is around 28 days, but this varies. If your average cycle is between 21 and 35 days, you can split this number in half to determine when your fertility window will most likely occur. Vaginal discharge Another way to know if you are ovulating is to monitor your vaginal discharge. During your most fertile days, your vaginal discharge becomes stretchy and thick. Experts compare it to an uncooked egg white. It’s worth noting that this method only works for women who are not using hormonal birth control. Women who take birth control pills do not ovulate, so they do not have a change in vaginal discharge. SLIDESHOWStages of Pregnancy: Week by Week See SlideshowCauses of pregnancy while on your periodKnowing when you’re ovulating can help you get or avoid getting pregnant. However, there are some factors that may throw off your calculations regarding ovulation. Vaginal bleeding Some women experience vaginal bleeding during ovulation, which can be mistaken for menstruation. The chances of getting pregnant during your actual period are much lower because ovulation is a couple of weeks away, but it’s not impossible. A woman may mistake spotting from ovulation as her period, which could cause pregnancy if a form of birth control isn’t used during sex. Early ovulationIt’s possible that you may ovulate early. Factors like stress, weight gain or loss, and hormonal changes can affect your cycle and when you ovulate, even if you have a fairly normal cycle. If you ovulate early and do not use protection, your chances of getting pregnant increase. Sperm can live in your body up to seven days after you have sex. If you ovulate early, even when you think it’s the safest, it’s still possible that you can get pregnant. So, even though chances are the lowest of getting pregnant during your period, it’s not impossible. Diagnosis/tests for pregnancyIf you think you are pregnant, you can take an at-home pregnancy test about two weeks after the date you believe conception took place. Home tests are quite accurate and are 97%-99% reliable. If you have a positive at-home test, you should make an appointment with your doctor. Your health care provider will test either your urine or blood for pregnancy. Your doctor will also give you a physical exam to help determine whether you are pregnant. If you have a negative at-home test but you still believe there’s a chance you might be pregnant, you should also make an appointment with your doctor to find out for sure. Subscribe to MedicineNet's Pregnancy & Newborns NewsletterBy clicking "Submit," I agree to the MedicineNet Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. I also agree to receive emails from MedicineNet and I understand that I may opt out of MedicineNet subscriptions at any time. Medically Reviewed on 4/11/2022 References American Pregnancy Association: "Early Signs of Pregnancy." American Pregnancy Association: "What is Implantation Bleeding?" Harvard Health Publishing: "Miscarriage." Harvard Health Publishing: "When You Visit Your Doctor - Irregular Menstrual Periods." Hormone Health Network: "Progesterone and Progestins." Journal of Women's Health: "Perimenopause: From Research to Practice." National Institutes of Health: "What are the common treatments for menstrual irregularities?" Office on Women's Health: "Knowing if you are pregnant." Office on Women's Health: "Pregnancy tests." Penn Medicine: "Irregular Periods: Why Is My Period Late?" Reproductive Endocrinology: "The normal variabilities of the menstrual cycle." The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: "Abnormal Uterine Bleeding." American Pregnancy Association: "Can You Get Pregnant on Your Period?" Cleveland Clinic: "Can You Get Pregnant on Your Period?" National Health Service: "Can I get pregnant just after my period has finished?" Stanford Children’s Health: "Signs of Pregnancy/The Pregnancy Test." TeensHealth: "Can a Girl Get Pregnant if She Has Sex During Her Period?" Texas A&M Health: "Can You Get Pregnant on Your Period?" How soon will a pregnancy test read positive?In many cases, you might get a positive from an at-home test as early as 10 days after conception. For a more accurate result, wait until after you've missed your period to take a test. Remember, if you take a test too soon it could be negative even if you are pregnant.
How many days late is considered irregular?If you experience any of the following symptoms, it may be time to talk to your doctor: You haven't had a period for 90 days. Your period suddenly becomes irregular. You have a period more often than every 21 days.
How many days passed your period should you test?You can carry out most pregnancy tests from the first day of a missed period. If you don't know when your next period is due, do the test at least 21 days after you last had unprotected sex. Some very sensitive pregnancy tests can be used even before you miss a period.
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