my period came late could i still be pregnant?

KidsHealth / For Teens / Can You Still Have Your Period If You're Pregnant?

Can You Still Have Your Period If You're Pregnant?
Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD

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Can you still have your period and be pregnant?
– Rosalina*

After a girl is pregnant, she no longer gets her period. But girls who are pregnant can have other bleeding that might look like a period. For example, there can be a small amount of bleeding when a fertilized egg implants in the uterus. Doctors call this implantation bleeding. It usually happens around the same time a girl would normally get her period.

Other things can also cause bleeding, like a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy (when the fertilized egg implants someplace other than in the uterus). An ectopic pregnancy is a medical emergency.

If you think you might be pregnant and have pain or bleeding, call the doctor right away. If you are not sure if you are pregnant, see a doctor, visit a health clinic like Planned Parenthood, or use a home pregnancy test.

If you use a home pregnancy test and the results are negative but the signs point to being pregnant (like a missed or late period, breast tenderness, or feeling sick or throwing up), see a doctor or go to a health clinic. If a home pregnancy test is positive, see a health care provider as soon as possible to confirm the test and get the right care for you and your baby.

*Names have been changed to protect user privacy.