Created by Buku 01/22/2020 in Venereology
For every woman, two stripes give the opportunity to experience not just a period, but a whole small journey in which only she communicates with the baby. The whole family eagerly and tremblingly awaits the appearance of the main member of the family. Parents can only wait for the baby, and in their free time fantasize about what the baby will be like.
As for the process of the emergence of a new life, it is peculiar, unique and has its own development scenario. Some mothers find out about pregnancy by taking a test, while others focus on the delay and changes occurring in the body. Due to the fact that the female body is such an amazing and unpredictable system, only a specialist can determine pregnancy. Such situations are represented by the beginning of menstruation with a positive test result. What does this situation mean? How to behave? We'll tell you everything in this article.
The body's reaction to pregnancy
According to experts, not a single woman can accurately indicate early pregnancy. This can be done using a test. However, it would be safer to visit a gynecologist.
However, medicine has precise symptoms in its arsenal that indicate pregnancy.
So, the symptoms are as follows:
- Sudden changes in mood. In some cases, aggressiveness gains such intensity that the woman is unable to cope with the emotions that arise. Of course, before menstruation, a woman’s mood also changes. However, their intensity is weaker. Sudden mood swings indicate hormonal changes occurring in the female body. This symptom occurs first.
- Other taste preferences. Pregnancy makes adjustments to taste preferences. With the onset of pregnancy, a woman can eat something that she has not eaten before.
- Toxicosis. This symptom is familiar to almost every woman and complicates life in the first three months. As for the brightness and nature of toxicosis, they depend on the individual characteristics of the organism. Some women have a hard time with toxicosis, while others are partially affected.
- Slight enlargement of the mammary glands. As a rule, the symptom occurs in women in late pregnancy in anticipation of breastfeeding. But some women notice changes in early pregnancy.
- Lack of menstrual cycle. The absence of menstruation indicates the conception of a child. Often menstruation returns to normal after stopping breastfeeding.
A weak second line on the test - how to understand whether pregnancy has occurred or not?
The first suspicions that conception has occurred arise after the appearance of a delay. And some women, if this is not their first pregnancy, begin to think long before this moment.
To completely dispel doubts, a woman can use a pregnancy test. It is very easy to do: you need to collect urine (preferably morning urine) in a container, immerse the test strip there until the indicated mark, hold for a couple of seconds, and then let the reagent develop. Thus, within 5 minutes the true position of the woman is determined.
Obstetric practice has shown that the final result will be influenced by many external factors. Therefore, a woman often notices a weak second line on a pregnancy test. According to the instructions, during pregnancy it should have a clear silhouette and contrast. A different result may be caused by poor quality of the test itself, non-compliance with the rules of the procedure, or too short a pregnancy with insufficient hCG concentration.
It is important to know! HCG is a hormone that rapidly increases in the female body after conception.
Information about the operation of pregnancy tests helps to understand why the second strip does not color completely. Any test has a reagent that displays the amount of hCG exceeding 25 units. Normally, without pregnancy, the indicator is 0-5 mIU/ml. But as soon as conception occurs, it begins to grow and reaches several thousand.
In the first weeks, the indicator fluctuates between 25 and 156 mIU/ml and the higher the concentration, the brighter the color of the second strip. Therefore, at the time of delay on the first or second day there will be a weak second strip.
Interesting! Normally, the second stripe is contrasting and matches the control stripe in color. A different picture requires additional confirmation of fertilization.
Characteristic signs
In addition to the main symptoms, pregnancy is accompanied by other specific manifestations. Such phenomena are represented by lack of sleep, malaise and lethargy. In addition, a pregnant woman perceives odors differently and feels a metallic taste in her mouth.
All of the above symptoms, although they indicate pregnancy, do not provide a 100% guarantee. To confirm or refute pregnancy, a test must be done. If the result is positive, the woman must register with the clinic. The woman has 9 long months ahead, which will give her parents the meaning of life. The birth of a new person is always a holiday. The parents have long, sleepless nights ahead, and at the same time so happy.
Relationship between pregnancy and menstruation
To give the correct answer to the question - does the monthly cycle begin after the test shows a positive result, it is worth understanding the processes occurring in the body of women. The main stage of the menstrual cycle is the process of egg maturation. If the egg remains unfertilized, it leaves the endometrium. This is called the menstrual cycle.
If the egg has been fertilized, then changes occur in the body that prepare the woman for future childbirth. The body spends all assets to preserve the embryo. During pregnancy, there is a sharp increase in the content of the hormone progesterone in the body. It is responsible for enlarging the inner lining of the uterus. Moreover, progesterone prevents contraction of the uterine muscles.
From all of the above, it follows that menstruation and pregnancy are, although interconnected, rare phenomena. However, there are cases when the test shows 2 stripes and the menstrual cycle has begun as planned. What is the reason?
According to scientists, menstruation in the first months of pregnancy is acceptable. More likely, the egg was fertilized in the middle of the cycle, as a result of which the body was not rebuilt. This is explained by the fact that the fertilized egg did not have time to reach the uterus and gain a foothold in it. Typically, the process takes from 5 to 14 days. Normally, the next month should not be accompanied by menstruation. If spotting occurs again, then this is a reason to contact a gynecologist.
Some women are unaware of pregnancy due to the fact that the menstrual cycle follows a schedule. So, what are the main reasons:
- Hormonal imbalance. If the test result showed 2 stripes and menstruation came as planned, then most likely the woman’s body lacks the main female hormone - progesterone. Women note discharge of low intensity. Taking into account the unstable hormonal background of women, menstruation can be observed during the first trimester, involving the second. To eliminate the problem, a course of drugs representing a progesterone analogue is prescribed.
- Presence of 2 eggs. Thanks to this, the maturation of the egg occurs in parallel. However, only one is fertilized while the second leaves the female body.
- Unfavorable location of the egg. If the egg is located in a dangerous place, this will affect the blood circulation process. This kind of violation can lead to egg rejection.
- Frozen pregnancy.
Each of the above reasons can lead to miscarriage, which is accompanied by spotting. To avoid the development of such problems, the woman is prescribed a course of therapy.
Of course, there are other reasons why the menstrual cycle begins with a positive test result. Experts do not classify other causes as dangerous. In this situation, the menstrual cycle begins at a certain point. It is worth noting that the cycle is characterized by different intensity and duration. As for the duration, it can vary within one day or several.
How to recognize a miscarriage?
Non-dangerous discharge occurs due to active movements, which disappear at night. Dangerous situations are represented by discomfort, nagging pain in the lower abdomen. If the expectant mother has a fairly strong immune system, then it is likely that the body will be able to cope with the problem.
Ideally, the onset of menstruation indicates the onset of a new cycle, and a delay indicates successful conception, but not everything is so simple in the female body. There are often cases when a girl confuses the symptoms of PMS and pregnancy, buys a test strip, gets a positive test - and her period begins. There are several reasons for this, including ectopic implantation of the fertilized egg, genetic disorders in its development, early miscarriage or hormonal imbalance.
Ectopic pregnancy
The principle of operation of the test strip is its reaction to the content of the hormone hCG in a woman’s urine , which is formed only in the event of fertilization. The cause of bleeding in the first weeks after conception can be an ectopic pregnancy.
The fertilized egg does not immediately attach to the inner surface of the uterus; within 5–7 days it moves through the fallopian tube. If the fertilized egg cannot pass into the organ cavity, it attaches to the inner surface of the tube, and pregnancy develops outside the uterus. As the fetus divides, it grows, ruptures the tube, and causes bleeding. The woman thinks her period has arrived. If bleeding during an ectopic pregnancy is accompanied by acute pain, you should immediately consult a doctor. Delay is fraught with the development of peritonitis.
The test also shows two stripes in the case when during the cycle two eggs matured in parallel, but only one of them was fertilized. A fertilized egg goes through its required growth phases, and unused biomaterial leaves the body as usual.
Errors in the study itself cannot be ruled out. A positive test during menstruation occurs due to incorrect urine collection or due to a defective measuring device. In this case, you need to purchase a test strip from another manufacturer and repeat the test. A more reliable result will be provided by a laboratory blood test.
If the test is positive even after your period, contact your gynecologist, he will prescribe a set of studies that will help determine the cause of these mutually exclusive phenomena.
Two stripes after menstruation
After menstruation, a test can be positive for two reasons:
- we are talking about bleeding that is not related to menstruation;
- A hormonal imbalance occurred, resulting in two ovulations.
If the study is carried out immediately after the end of bleeding, and the test shows two stripes, then the cause of this condition may be a hormonal imbalance. The test may mistake some other hormones for the hCG hormone if they are present in the urine in high concentrations.
In rare cases, a woman may experience two ovulations in one cycle. In this case, the egg will be released at different times. One follicle ovulates at the prescribed time, and the second only before menstruation. With unprotected sex, conception will occur, as a result of which the woman will receive a positive test a few days after the end of bleeding.
Many women mistake bleeding of a different origin for menstruation. For example, there is pregnancy, and bleeding is caused by erosion or injury to the cervix. Often this bleeding occurs after sexual intercourse. It turns out that conception has occurred, and the test will soon show a positive result, and the woman believes that she is now having her period.
The cause of short bleeding may be implantation of the embryo into the uterine cavity. If a woman tests at home just 3-5 days after menstruation, and the bleeding was short and not heavy, and the test shows 2 stripes, implantation has probably taken place. When the fertilized egg implants into the wall of the reproductive organ, minor damage to the blood vessels occurs. Discharge of blood for 1-3 days is considered normal, but many women mistake it for another menstruation. Patients tell the doctor that they had a positive test after their period.
Miscarriage
If the test showed 2 lines and spotting began, this may be the first sign of spontaneous abortion. In this case, you need to contact a gynecologist, since it is quite difficult to independently distinguish a miscarriage from a period. Depending on the situation and stage of the miscarriage, the doctor will be able to decide whether to save the child.
It is worth noting that in some cases, the fertilized egg attaches to the wrong place in the uterus, and the body rejects it. A positive test and menstruation can also coincide when the fetus has abnormalities that will not allow it to develop normally. The female body recognizes defects and rejects the embryo in the first weeks of its development. In both cases, the level of the hCG hormone is high enough for the test to be positive.
The risk of miscarriage is high if:
- The fetus has chromosomal defects incompatible with life.
- The mother has hormonal imbalances.
- Shortly before conception or in the early stages of pregnancy, a woman suffered from a viral disease.
- The mother is sick with sexually transmitted diseases.
- Anatomical defects of the reproductive organs were diagnosed.
- Weakness of the cervix was detected.
- Rhesus conflict between mother and child.
Excessive physical and emotional stress, falls and injuries can trigger a miscarriage.
It is customary to distinguish between a threat and several stages of miscarriage.
Incipient miscarriage
A miscarriage is the spontaneous termination of pregnancy before 28 weeks. Before the 14th week, a miscarriage is considered early, from the 14th to the 28th - late. If there is a history of several miscarriages, there is a high probability of cases of threatened miscarriage in subsequent attempts at motherhood. In the early stages, a woman may not be aware of her interesting situation, and she mistakes the discharge characteristic of a miscarriage for menstruation.
- nagging pain in the lower back and lower abdomen;
- bloody issues.
However, these same manifestations are also characteristic of menstruation. The true cause can only be determined through a medical examination, after which the doctor will decide on the possibility of continuing the pregnancy.
Miscarriage in progress
It is also called unavoidable abortion . If the period is minimal, and the delay is several days, the woman may think that her periods are more painful and heavy than usual. The symptoms increase, the process is accompanied by very severe cramping pain. The intensity of bleeding increases, the cervix shortens and dilates. At this stage, most often there is nothing left to save, because the fertilized egg has left the uterine cavity, so the doctor may recommend cleaning after a miscarriage.
Dangerous situations
Sometimes the fact that the test showed pregnancy, but at the same time you are menstruating, is a very ominous symptom.
Spontaneous abortion
The situation when bleeding begins after a positive test is quite common. For most expectant mothers, this occurs early, before 12 weeks. A pregnancy test during menstruation can be done in this case to make sure that it has not been missed. If a woman notices that the test strip is becoming paler, then a miscarriage has probably begun and nothing can be corrected. Additional symptoms of threatened termination are nagging pain in the lower abdomen and lower back.
Ectopic pregnancy
Is it possible to do a test during menstruation to detect an ectopic pregnancy? It is possible, but a diagnosis cannot be made using the test. Attachment of the fertilized egg outside the uterine cavity may be accompanied by bleeding, and the strip strip shows two lines. Additional signs of an ectopic pregnancy are acute abdominal pain, weakness, drop in blood pressure and lightheadedness.
In both cases, when bleeding begins after a positive test result, the woman needs medical attention. Otherwise, there will be a threat to her reproductive health and even life.
The question of whether it is possible to take a pregnancy test during menstruation can be answered positively with confidence. Bleeding does not affect the test result. If a positive test result is accompanied by bleeding or menstruation began a few days after receiving two strips, then you need to urgently contact a gynecologist.
Woman's tactics
When planning a pregnancy, you need to closely monitor your well-being and analyze the slightest changes in your condition. If you suspect conception has occurred, take a pregnancy test. Menstruation with a positive result is a reason to consult a doctor.
You should not take a pregnancy test during your period, as it may show an unreliable result. Get a laboratory test, this is the most reliable way to detect conception. If you have your period and the blood test for hCG is positive, the gynecologist will prescribe treatment aimed at successful pregnancy.
Hello girls, I would like to ask you for some advice. I’m 3 weeks late, I took a test, it showed 2 stripes (on 4 tests), we were very happy, and today we went to M., my lower abdomen hurts a lot. Is this what you're going to miscarry? Please tell me, thank you.
Woman.ru experts
Find out the opinion of an expert on your topic
Gavlo Elizaveta Andreevna
Psychologist. Specialist from the site b17.ru
Zinovieva Natalya Yurievna
Psychologist. Specialist from the site b17.ru
Dyachenko Elena Vladimirovna
Psychologist, Gestalt therapist in training. Specialist from the site b17.ru
Slobodyanik Marina Valerievna
Psychologist. Specialist from the site b17.ru
Glinchikova Elena Viktorovna
Psychologist. Specialist from the site b17.ru
Nikulina Marina
Psychologist. Specialist from the site b17.ru
Sheludyakov Sergey
Psychologist, Clinical psychologist. Specialist from the site b17.ru
Trifonova Maria Anatolyevna
Psychologist. Specialist from the site b17.ru
Gundertailo Yulia Danilovna
Psychologist. Specialist from the site b17.ru
Can the test be wrong?
If a pregnancy test shows two lines after menstruation, this does not always mean that the girl is pregnant. As mentioned earlier, gynecological diseases and hormonal imbalance can give a positive test strip result. But it turns out that third-party substances in the urine container can also play a cruel joke.
The following factors can affect the result of the analysis:
- Incorrect test - saliva or blood was used instead of urine.
- A cream or intimate gel got into the container with urine and the indicator reacted to it.
- The woman took special hCG drugs to stimulate ovulation and improve the function of the corpus luteum in the ovaries.
To exclude the influence of foreign substances on the test reagent, it is best to buy a sterile urine container at the pharmacy. Or, instead of a test strip, use a jet test, which does not require urine collection.
The site is a medical portal for online consultations of pediatric and adult doctors of all specialties. You can on the topic “pregnancy test after period is positive”
and get a free online doctor’s consultation.
Ask your question