When trying to get pregnant, it may be devastating to notice bleeding on about the same day as next expected menstruation. However, bleeding might not at all be a regular period, but something that we call implantation bleeding – an early sign of pregnancy.
About Implantation Bleeding
Implantation bleeding usually starts about 10 days after egg is fertilized with sperm. Commonly, this happens just several days before woman expects her period. When the fertilized egg attaches itself in the uterus, it may disrupt tiny vessels. The disruption can cause bleeding, resulting in what we call implantation bleeding. The process itself is not abnormal, vice versa, about every third pregnant female experiences it.
It is not easy to tell a difference between menstruation and implantation bleeding. Discharge or spotting during implantation bleeding may be pink, red or brownish, accompanied with light cramping, headaches and mood swings. Not that much of a difference. In some cases, intuition may help because implantation bleeding might still look and feel different. For example :
Implantation bleeding is usually of a lighter or simply a different color and makes the two cases distinguishable.
If a woman experiences clotting during period, it will not be the case during implantation bleeding.
Implantation bleeding will usually stop sooner than regular periods, especially for females who experience longer ones. The duration may last from several hours up to two days.
And yes, sometimes it is impossible to tell a difference.
Implantation bleeding will terminate on it’s own and doesn’t need any kind of medical intervention. After the bleeding starts, it is the best practice to wait several days before doing the pregnancy test.
Are there complications?
Light bleeding is completely normal and sometimes may be just a little bit heavier because of a simple irritation after sexual intercourse or pelvic exam. Several infections may also contribute to bleeding, but it is still normal and will stop on its own.
However, if tests confirm that a female is pregnant and the bleeding is present, it is recommended to contact a doctor immediately (especially if bleeding has become heavy). Heavy bleeding early in pregnancy might indicate following issues :
Ectopic pregnancy – a condition when an embryo implants outside the uterus instead of the inside.
Molar pregnancy – genetic problem / error that occurs during fertilization, causing growth in the uterus but not the actual pregnancy.
The word infertility, at first glance, may sound like something terrifying. Couples become stressed after several unsuccessful efforts and start to give up their hope. Rule number one is to never overreact and don’t get depressed about the situation that … Continue reading →
Both genders are equally likely to experience fertility issues. To give you an impression of how common male infertility is, it affects approximately 7 % of men’s population. To define shortly, male who can not cause fertile female’s pregnancy, probably … Continue reading →
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a hormone imbalance that can lead to fertility problems in females. It is in the list of treatable causes of female infertility and can be the result of wrong lifestyle choices. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is … Continue reading →
Endometriosis is a pretty common issue among females who have fertility problems. It doesn’t always cause infertility, but is definitely the condition to be aware of. What is Endometriosis? Endometriosis is a condition, when tissue that is supposed to line the … Continue reading →
Miscarriage is defined as a loss of pregnancy during the first 20 weeks. Unfortunately it is a common experience. To overcome the emotional stress and fears associated with this term, it is a huge step forward to be familiar with … Continue reading →
Stillbirth or fetal death is a loss of the pregnancy. It is not a very common occurrence, but unfortunately remains as a very painful experience for many parents. Reasons and risk factors that lead to stillbirth are various and it … Continue reading →
Pregnancy is a very special period that needs a lot of attention. A female body undergoes a number of changes during the gestation. It is a common experience to have mild headaches, nausea, dizziness and other minor discomforts. However if … Continue reading →
Journey to parenthood is sometimes full of obstacles and challenges. Before reaching a healthy pregnancy, female organism has to complete several complicated stages. It happens that our bodies are not always capable of dealing with their tasks. Implantation failure is … Continue reading →
Can we estimate results of In Vitro Fertilization? What are the chances of a successful embryo transfer? What do embryo quality and grading mean? Do they tell anything about possible outcomes? These are the questions intended parents worry about the most. … Continue reading →
Nowadays, intended parents have an access to a number of information. This is logical, because future parents in need of an in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment, have to be familiar with every single aspect of this process. The primary subject … Continue reading →