Symptoms of Implantation Bleeding

Many women are not able to differentiate between the symptoms of implantation bleeding and menstruation bleeding. Implantation bleeding is a positive sign of pregnancy.

What is Implantation?

Implantation happens when the sperm meets the ova and fertilizes it. The process of fertilization does not occur in the womb as is usually thought, but in the fallopian tube, which is located near the ovaries. The fertilized egg or embryo aligns itself with the lining of the uterus approximately five days after it is fertilized. The implantation bleeding happens approximately six to twelve days after the ova is fertilized. The lining of the uterus has blood in it. When the fertilized ova attaches itself to it, little blood comes out of the uterus. This blood is referred to as implantation bleeding. This vaginal discharge is pinkish-brown in color. This pregnancy implantation bleeding is not like regular menstrual bleeding, it is just spotting.

Implantation Bleeding Symptoms

About 25-40% of women experience implantation bleeding. It usually occurs about nine to ten days after ovulation, which is approximately a week before the next menstrual cycle is due. Implantation bleeding may be experienced during all the pregnancies or may be just one time. Some women do not experience implantation bleeding at all. The signs and symptoms of implantation bleeding do indicate towards pregnancy.

The implantation bleeding differs in color from the regular menstrual bleeding. Color of implantation bleeding ranges from pink to brown. At times, there can be specks of red color, but that is rare. Often the color of implantation bleeding is faded. Unlike the menstrual bleeding, no clots are passed in the implantation bleeding.

Implantation bleeding is not as heavy as menstrual bleeding. It is scant, therefore most women are able to make do with a panty liner. Implantation bleeding generally lasts from one to three days; very rarely it does last for five days.

There are many women who confuse between implantation bleeding and spotting or bleeding in early pregnancy. Mild cramps usually accompany implantation bleeding, this can be understood as a menstrual period symptom. Breast tenderness can also be seen in most of the cases of implantation bleeding.

If you feel that you had implantation bleeding around the time your periods were due, it is advisable to wait for a couple of days before you take the pregnancy test. Morning is the best time to take a pregnancy test. Always remember to use the first urine in the morning for the pregnancy test. In either case, if the pregnancy tests comes positive or negative, it is suggested, you take the pregnancy test one week after the first pregnancy test. With this you will be sure whether you are pregnant or not. In case of confirmed pregnancy, you should seek advice from your health care provider, to start prenatal care.

Some women mistake implantation bleeding symptoms for signs of stress and consider it to be a mini-period. If bleeding is accompanied by nausea, food cravings or food aversion, constipation, increased basal body temperature, fatigue and breast tenderness, then these are pregnancy symptoms.

Implantation bleeding causes no harm, either to the mother or to the baby. The amount of blood lost during implantation bleeding is very small, hence it is not harmful. However, if the bleeding is heavy, you might want to talk to your obstetrician and gynecologist. Some women also experience cramps like the menstrual cramps, however, there is nothing to be alarmed about.

The implantation bleeding symptoms can be very confusing, therefore if any of the signs are noticed, it is advisable that you take a pregnancy test to confirm the reason behind the bleeding.