Dear Maya24,

Women cannot menstruate while they are pregnant. It's true that some women experience "spotting" while they are pregnant. It is not unusual to have some bleeding during the first trimester of a pregnancy. Occasionally, some women "spot" throughout a pregnancy.

Spotting is a little bit of bleeding that happens at a time other than during a menstrual period. A woman who experiences this will often notice a couple drops of blood in her underwear when she was not expecting her period.

However, bleeding that happens during pregnancy can also indicate a problem — such as a possible miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy in the fallopian tubes). Pregnant women who experience any spotting or bleeding should talk to their clinician. A medical professional can determine whether it's minor or a symptom of a serious problem.

Hope this information helps!

Take care,

teenwire.com^® Editors

This column is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have a medical problem, please call toll-free 1-800-230-PLAN for an appointment with the Planned Parenthood health center nearest you.