Does Ovulation Occur During Pregnancy: What You Must Know

As women, our bodies are complex and fascinating creatures. From puberty to menopause, our hormones and reproductive systems are constantly shifting and evolving. However, what happens when pregnancy is thrown into the mix? One of the most common questions asked by expectant mothers is does ovulation occur during pregnancy. The answer is not as straightforward as you may think, and understanding the ins and outs of this topic is crucial for any woman who wants to take charge of her reproductive health.

In this article, we will explore the questions around ovulation during pregnancy and provide you with the information you need to know. But first let us understand what is ovulation.

What is ovulation?

Ovulation is a natural process in a woman's menstrual cycle when an ovary releases an egg. It usually occurs around the middle of the menstrual cycle, approximately 14 days before the next period. During ovulation, the egg travels down the fallopian tube, where it may be fertilized by a sperm. If the egg is not fertilized, it will dissolve, and the uterus lining will shed during the woman's next period. Ovulation is a critical process for women trying to conceive, and understanding when it occurs can help them plan for pregnancy.

What are the signs of ovulation?

The signs of ovulation include the following:

• Change in cervical mucus

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• Tenderness or soreness in breasts

• Increased sense of smell

• Mild pain in the lower abdominal region

• Changes in libido

• Light spotting

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• Cervical changes

• Headaches

• Nausea

• Increase in basal body temperature

You may also like: Can You Detect Ovulation or Pregnancy Using Basal Body Temperature?

How pregnancy impacts menstrual cycle?

During pregnancy, the menstrual cycle stops and is replaced by a new hormonal cycle. Pregnancy induces a significant shift in the hormonal balance of the body. The usual monthly hormonal pattern takes a back seat and gives way to a unique 9-month phase. This means that the normal processes such as ovulation and menstruation stop taking place. Instead, the body starts preparing for pregnancy and brestfeeding.

As a result, the hCG levels in the body rise rapidly after conception and peak around the 12th week, before decreasing for the rest of the pregnancy. Meanwhile, estrogen and progesterone levels continue to increase progressively from the time of conception and only decline after the baby's birth.

Does ovulation occur during pregnancy?

Under normal circumstances, ovulation stops during pregnancy because the body accommodates the developing embryo. Theoretically, it would be impossible or highly unlikely for a woman to ovulate after getting pregnant. However, under very exceptional circumstances, a woman may continue to ovulate while pregnant and conceive another child that develops at a different pace within her. This rare occurrence is known as superfetation, and it has been recorded in only 10 cases in medical literature.

Fertility treatments can increase the risk of ovulation during pregnancy. Babies born through superfetation may be born at the same time but have different ages and levels of maturity. Nonetheless, babies conceived via superfoetation tend to survive.

What is superfetation?

Superfetation is a rare phenomenon that occurs in some animals where a female becomes pregnant while she is already pregnant. This means that the female releases another egg and becomes fertilized while the previous fetus is still developing in her uterus. It is more commonly observed in some species of animals like rabbits, rodents, and some species of primates. However, it is extremely rare in humans and has only been documented a few times in medical literature.

Generally, once a woman becomes pregnant, her body stops releasing eggs. And the entire mechanism of pregnancy, including physical and hormonal changes, comes together to avert the second pregnancy. However, in superfetation, an already pregnant lady may continue to ovulate while facilitating the male sperm to fertilize the egg and make implantation possible. It is an unusual event, though.

How does a superfetation occur?

The possibility of conceiving when already pregnant is likely only if the following seemingly impossible events happen:

• Women must ovulate or show signs of ovulation during their ongoing pregnancy.

• Sperm must make its way through the secured cervix to the fallopian tubes through the already-occupied uterus to facilitate embryo implantation.

How is superfetation different from having twins?

It is different from twins. Women conceive twins either -

• When a fertilized egg divides into two, or

• When two sperms fertilize two eggs at the same time

However, superfetation makes a woman develop an additional fetus. Its age would be a couple of weeks younger than the existing fetus. According to a paper published in the European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in 2008, in cases of superfetation, the two embryos will develop in separate amniotic sacs and have different sizes throughout gestation and after birth.

The Bottomline

In answer to our initial question: does ovulation occur during pregnancy, the answer is no. But in some rarest of rare circumstances a woman may experience ovulation during pregnancy. Having sex during pregnancy while you're ovulating may result in superfetation. This rare occurrence has been recorded in only 10 cases in medical literature. If you have any concerns about your menstrual cycle or fertility, consult with your healthcare provider.

References

1. Ovulation during Pregnancy. (1887). Buffalo Med Surg J. NCBI

2. Kumar P, Magon N. (2012). Hormones in pregnancy. Niger Med J. NCBI

3. Tarín JJ, García-Pérez MA, Hermenegildo C, Cano A. (2013). Unpredicted ovulations and conceptions during early pregnancy: an explanatory mechanism of human superfetation. Reprod Fertil Dev