Have you been trying to conceive for a long time and are expecting a pregnancy any time soon?
Or maybe you have just started getting pregnancy symptoms. But then, one morning, you wake up to find that you are bleeding. The only way to end this confusion is by taking a pregnancy test.
So if you are wondering whether you can take a pregnancy test while on your period, YES, you can; the pregnancy tests that you take at home measure the presence of HCG or Human Chorionic Gonadotropin in your urine. This is a hormone which is only produced if you are pregnant. This hormone is also present in your blood during this time.
So as long as you are following the instructions before taking the pregnancy test, it will deliver an accurate result with or without blood. If the results are positive, then it means that you are pregnant and the blood is not menstrual.
Bleeding can be triggered because of 3 reasons.
Menstrual Bleeding
Menstrual Bleeding indicates the beginning of a new menstrual cycle. Thus ruling out all the chances of being pregnant. In this case, the pregnancy test will give a negative result. The pregnancy symptoms you had been getting were false signals and a part of your PMS stage.
However, the simplest way to determine if this is the case is by waiting a few days. If the bleeding continues and gets heavier with time, it is probably just your regular menstrual cycle.
Implantation Bleeding
After your eggs are fertilized, they attach themselves to the uterine wall. This can lead to mild cramps and light bleeding, also called spotting. This kind of bleeding is known as implantation bleeding. Implantation bleeding is experienced in case of almost 30% of pregnancies.
They are often ignored as menstrual bleeding but give a positive result in a pregnancy test. This kind of bleeding is shorter and lasts four to five days. They are nothing to worry about.
A Miscarriage
Bleeding can sometimes indicate a loss of pregnancy. If you have been experiencing pregnancy symptoms like nausea, exhaustion and mood swings and then suddenly start bleeding with severe abdominal pain, it might be because you were pregnant and had a miscarriage.
In this case, too, the pregnancy result will come out positive. In this case, call your midwife or doctor immediately.
As discussed above, the pregnancy test will only give a negative result in menstrual bleeding. If it does not, it either means that the bleeding is caused due to implantation or because an unfortunate miscarriage.
In both cases, an emergency trip to the doctor must be arranged. The doctor will ensure the result by taking a blood test. Home pregnancy tests only confirm the presence of hCG. A blood test, however, shows its accurate levels.
So if you are bleeding and feel like you might be pregnant simultaneously, don’t hesitate to take a pregnancy test for early detection of pregnancy.
