Differences between implantation bleeding and menstruation
We have discussed implantation bleedings quite a lot recently. Part of the reason for that is that implantation bleedings worry many women, and while they have heard about implantation bleeding, they have no idea what to expect from it. One of the most common questions when it comes to this subject is, “How on earth do I know whether I’m having an implantation bleeding, or my period?”For women who have a regular menstrual cycle, that is a cycle that lasts the same number of days from one to the next, and is thus predictable, the answer to this question is not difficult. Implantation bleeding, when it happens by the book, occurs halfway through the luteal phase, that is, a week after ovulation and a week before menstruation.
Not everyone is blessed with cycles that function like clockwork though (I’m not one of them – my cycles have been unpredictable ever since I first started my periods). If you are not sure where you are in your cycle, and especially if you do not know whether you ovulated at all, which is not uncommon for those with irregular periods, it can be that much harder to determine if your spotting is an implantation bleeding or simply the start of your period.
In such case, observing the the quantity and appearance of the blood you are passing is the best way to learn more about its cause. As every woman is aware of, a menstrual period normally starts suddenly and normally involves lots of heavy bleeding at the start, only to subside in the days to come.
An implantation bleeding is not the same, and it’s important to stress that implantation spotting often literally does not consists of more than a few drops of blood. If you have go to the rest room and see something pink, brown or black in your underwear and think, “Huh? What’s that!?” – that is probably your implantation bleeding right there.
Would you like to share details of what your implantation bleeding looked like? How did you know it was implantation and not your period? And how soon after the implantation bleeding did you get a positive pregnancy test?
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Well im just going to start out by saying that I got my last period on Sept. 20th. I had intercourse with my boyfriend on the 4th and then on the 8th. My period is usually regular. But on the 9th i had a little bit of brown spotting and then it turned into heavy bleeding like a normal period. It lasted about 5 days. It was heavy enough to wear numerous pads. I haven’t had any pregnancy symptoms. Is this implantation bleeding or my period?
Probably not implantation, since it was so heavy and lasted so long. With implantation you would only need a few panty-liners, at most. I highly recommend the book “Taking Charge of Your Fertility.” You will know exactly what is going on in your body and when to expect every stage of your cycle. It is really helping me with this crazy TTC thing! I would call my ob/gyn about the bleeding. Hope this helps!
Mel
Hello,
My period last ended on the 12th and then I tried starting to concieve right after. But yesterday the 18th i noticed some blood to where i have to wear like 6 pantyliners a day but they are not full and then there is some blood when I go to the bathroom. Im not having cramping and it is way to soon for my period so I was wondering if this has something to do with being pregnant. I am really worried so please help!
That could be implantation bleeding – the time frame is right, and it sounds like you are only experiencing light spotting. It should not last for longer than two days. If you are worried, you can see a family doctor. I also had implantation bleeding with one of my pregnancies, and it was very much like you described. Try not to worry, but if that does not work, do seek a consultation with your doctor.
Olivia
hi my last period started on the 6th of april we had intercourse during the time slot of 17th-21st april. on the 22rd april ive started to spot it was red at first but now 24th its brownish . could this be implantion
jayne
I also had some bleeding well not even quite bleeding. It was a few days ago and it’s 1 week before my period.I had some cramping and i had light pink discharge with tissue it looked like and it lasted 1 day.weird though kind of was the color of cotton candy and the next day was a very small amount of brown discgarge.no more since then.my periods not even due until the 25th. I also had an ultrasound done due to previous pelvic pain and it showed a trace of fluid in my uterus and a folicullar cyst on my right ovary.when i told the dr. he said it sounded like i was pregnant but the ua pregnancy test was negative??wierd and the only thing ive found so far is implantation bleeding because I have not had any bleeding since the spotting but I still have cramping off and on.
Some women have it pretty heavy. The best way to recognize it, is that it is much shorter than a period – for example lasts 1-2 days instead of 7. It doesn’t necessarily have to be just “a few drops.”
Hi, I had my Mirena (IUD) removed on June 6th. On the 9th I started my period after not having one for 3 years. I know it was my period because I had all the symptoms (bloating,acne, backaches, the works). It only last 3 days. My husband and I have been trying since then. Well last week I felt amazing, like I was walking on clouds. Then a few days ago I started feeling really nauseous. Two days ago I noticed around 8:00 pm that i was spotting. I had no cramps or anything. After that it just stopped, and then yesterday around the same time it happened again. Then tonight the same thing. It is never enough blood to fill a panty liner and doesn’t happen any other time of the day. Can this be implantation bleeding?
I am soo scared because I am only 15 , and my bf & I had unprotected sex on july 8th , a week or 2 before my period starts. Then 8 days later i started to get some bleeding , but it wasn’t as heavy as my period usually starts. I want to take a pregnancy test, but i am really scared it will come out positive.
Should I wait a few more days to see if it’s my period, or should I take a pregnancy test immediately?
Hi all my last period was on june 21st I had intercourse on the 2nd I have been feeling sick in the morning and at night.my period was 4 days late and its always very heavy and last for 7 days.i started on july 22 and it was very light and only lasted 3 days? Help please
i have sudden brown discharge on the 5 september, which i do not know if it is implantation bleeding or menstruation. I have a lot of brown discharge . when i tapped my vagina with tissue, there are some light red spot. i missed my period but i did not have sex with my bf. His penis touched the tip of my vagina , is that considered sex ? it happened on 2 september .
i haven’t take the pregnancy test yet .
Hi my gf is 6 weeks into pregnancy and she is still spotting is that normal?
Hello…
please help me!
I am soooo confused I need help! :/ please!
I had a big accident … Well actually he “CAME” next to my “vagina hole” and I think some of his sperm might have gotten in.. I’m scared! This happened on the 22 of agust. And then I got my period ( i think ) on the 23 of agust (the next day) … And ever since I’ve had all the signs and symptoms except for tender breasts…. I’m sooo worried I’m only 16
Btw: I just got (I think) my period on the 18 of September !! I don’t know :/ …. I am really irregular …!
Please right back and respond
thank you sooo much
Hey. I think you are fine (not pregnant), but to be on the safe side – make a pregnancy test – it is really simple to do one – this will clear all your doubts.
Hi everyone, ok so I had sex on the 7&19 of this month. I been haveing all the signs that my my menstrual is about to start. So today I felt that it was coming so when I used the rest room I didn’t see nothing but I stuck my finger inside n I saw blood on the tisuse. It’s very light so I’m wondering could this be my cycle starting a lil early? I took a pregnancy test and it was negative. Please help thanx.
yes, it is very possible your cycle is already starting … I usually have very light bleeding the first day, but then the second day it is much stronger.
Hi tamia, thanx for replying to me. So today its still light and I never have light menstruals, yesterday it started to pick up but then slowed down again. Why is that ? Wht do you think? I’m having of my cycle, I have been pregnant before but I just had cramping then and not like this.
Hi I need advice soon I’m very nervous. So My period is due on Friday October 28th but last Friday october 21st some time in the am I went to use the bathroom and when I looked in my pans I noticed sum light pink blood and a little after I wiped no more after that. Could this be implantation bleeding?
I’m 16 and sexually active. My boyfriend and I always use protection, but the past month or so we’ve been experimenting with unprotected sex. We never did it long enough for him to ejaculate inside and he’s never even come close to it, because we always stop and put a condom on. (And he always urinated between intercourse… I heard this neutralized sperm) However, the day before I was due to get my period I started with some light brown spotting. This lasted about 2 days, and then it turned into a heavy dark brown/black thick discharge that soaked through a regular tampon AND a pad within a few hours. This dark red/brown blood continued(not as heavily) for two more days and just about stopped this morning. Since it went along with the normal timing of my cycle, should I be concerned? I think I might just be psyching myself out, but another opinion would be great! Thanks!
Hi Rachael,
My advice is to stop “experimenting” with unprotected sex, if you do not want to have a baby. Urinating doesn’t have anything to do with contraception, so don’t fall for that. I don’t know what happened to your menstruation, but if you are concerned by anything you should see your family doctor or a family planning clinic for more information. You may also consider getting tested for sexually transmittable diseases, just in case – this goes for anyone who has unprotected sex.
I’m a 21 year old female who recently came off the pill after 3 years on it was planning on trying the needle as my work conflicts with the pill and then in a couple of moments of passion I ended up having unprotected sex with my partner (Stupid I know) anyway after each occasion we got the morning after pill..Unfortunalty due to our jobs we were not able to get the first morning after pill till 48 hrs after…took the second one straight away though….anyhow about a week after the incidents I ended up getting what I thought was my period (already had my normal period back got it a week after I stopped taking the pill) but My period last 5 to 7 days light at the begining, heavy in the middle and medium near the end (and Im always regular) this period was so Light i only had to use 1 tampon a day and it bearly used it this extreamly non existant period lasted for 4 days and was brown in colour, It was accompanyed by light cramping like at the start of my regular period (at this point Im not sure when my period was due or if its even late but my boobs are sore to touch but I also get pain in them similar to when I first developed them and they were growing its been about a month since I came off the pill ( I have alway been concerend about pregnacy for three generations my family has had children before they were 20 so I wanted to break that little tradition) and tonight I noticed veins on the top of my boob but they could have been there for awhile without my notice…I was just wondering if there was a chance these are symptoms of coming off the pill or am I just (as bad as this sounds) unluckly fertile (I’m not ready for kids yet but I don’t believe in abortion) Please someone answer as soon as posible Im freaking out….
EDIT : I should have mentioned I already took a pregnancy test it came back negative which Im hoping will stay that way however I have a feeling I took it to early….I took it while I still had the light bleeding (This Bleeding occured about 2 weeks before i assume my period is due)
Hello!!! I have very irregular periods…i feel like im ready for a baby…but im nt sure wen I ovulate…or even if im able to have babies…i would go to the doctor…but the fertilization test are way too expensive for my insurance…i always had irregular periods…but when I was 16 I was put on birth control…i was on the depo shot (I do not recommend anyone to take the shot) I was on the shot for about 2 1/2-3 yrs…it took 6 months to get my period back…as the doctor said…my period was a little different…before the birth control my period lasted about a week…after the birth control my period lasted 3days…and I didn’t have cramps anymore (I am nt complaining about that). So after a yr periods start lasting longer…so starting the second yr periods become very irregular…my periods start skipping months at a time. It started becoming a pattern…i would have a period that would last 2-3wks…and then skip 2 months…i am going on yr 3 on having my period back…within the 3yrs I have maybe cramped 3 times…but im really worried that I can’t have babies…because with this irregularity…i don’t know when im ovulating…when I did go to the doctor about it…the doctor tried to tell me I was a diabetic…and I was nowhere close to being a diabetic…then they tried to put me on birth control again…i wasn’t having that…so if anyone has any suggestions…I’m very interested on what u have to say…
Hello,
Me and my boyfriend had sex about two weeks after my last period. We wore a condom, but it slipped off during sex while there was maybe pre-ejaculate on his penis. We did put a fresh one on before he ejaculated.
Anyway, what I thought was my period started one day before it was due, but lasted for half a day and then stopped. I’ve done a pregnancy test – negative.
I’m quite concerned though because my periods are fairly regular, and usually last about three days, so to have one of half a day is new. Given the timing of when we had the “slippage”, too, I’m a bit concerned. BUT, from what you’ve said above, if it was implementation bleeding I could have expected it about a week ago. Plus – why the negative test result?
I’m more than a little confused and wondered if you could shed any light on this?
hi, my bleeding is weird, 3 days ago i had a very light bleeding like a few drops, but i thought it was my period,the next day i had normal bleeding and it wasnt brown or pinkish as they say the implantation bleeding is .. instead it’s very red and sometimes when i wipe i notice some clotted blood, it looks like my period, but today i notice it keeps on coming out of my vagina.. usually my periods are heavier than what this is but i am very irregular and last time i got my period was the 16th of december.. so what should i do?? i do not want to be pregnant cuz i am still 17 i am very confused i need help
hi, i had my last day period on 2 jan 2012, and had intercourse from 13 till 20.. as i calculated i should be having my period on the 27.. since im regular and my cycle is 30.. til now 3 feb 2012 , i still didnt have my period.. but i did have spot today.. am i pregnant?
dd farhm Pregnant women can’t actually have true menstrual periods. During menstruation, women shed the endometrial tissue and blood which the body created in order to facilitate implantation of a fertilized egg
is it possible to occur implantation just after the menstruation ends?
I normally get my period around the 14 but this month i got it early and got it the 4th of this month. it’s really light. At first i just wiped and noticed light pink blood on the tissue paper and then i used a tampon and the blood looked brown and now on my 3rd day i am still not bleeding much. does this sound like implantation or just a light period?
Hello, me and my husband are trying to concieve, my periods are
Normally between 21 to every 28 days, last period was 13 jan and we have been having
Unprocted sex since 26th jan, on the 7th jan when i wiped i had pink creamy
Discharge and few spots of which looked like dry blood
Which ive never had before, ive been feeling queasy and dizzy, could i be preg or could
It all be just in my mind. I am 35 . Lisa
Hey Lisa.
I think it is time for pregnancy test.
Lots of baby dust!
Okay a little bit over a week ago I had bleeding that lasted for two1/2 days. the first day it was only dark brown and black, very little red. The next day it was really heavy then the third day it stopped and for the past six days I have had cramps and a lot of wet stretchy cervical mucus, it is not really sticky creamy. more clear and stretchy. which is odd because this started the same day my bleeding stopped and the CM is just steadily there. Usually I would be dry for a few days after my period and my period has always been at least five days. could this be implantation bleeding or an unusual period and I am just ovulating super early?