When do you get implantation bleeding

The timing of when you last had sex might also help you figure it out. About a third of women who report having experienced implantation bleeding often describe it as distinct from their usual premenstrual spotting — some say the blood is darker and not as red compared with normal period blood. Others have mild cramping at the same time as the spotting. Light bleeding during pregnancy — even at times other than implantation — is often normal.

Causes can include mundane things like irritation of the cervix following a pelvic exam, sex or infection of the vagina. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.

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This educational content is not medical or diagnostic advice. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy. Registry Builder New. Medically Reviewed by Tarun Jain, M. Medical Review Policy All What to Expect content that addresses health or safety is medically reviewed by a team of vetted health professionals. In some cases, however, implantation bleeding may require a visit to a healthcare practitioner.

Implantation bleeding happens just before the expected menstrual cycle. It is a very early sign of pregnancy, occurring a few days before a pregnancy test will confirm a woman is pregnant. The process of implantation starts with fertilization. Once a sperm has fertilized an egg, it is called an embryo.

The embryo travels through the fallopian tube towards the uterus. During this time, the embryo multiplies, becoming a blastocyst, which is a number of cells all bunched together. Once the blastocyst reaches the uterus, it will look for a good spot to attach itself to the wall of the uterus. This attachment to the uterus is called implantation.

Once implantation is complete, the embryo will remain in the same spot throughout the 9-month journey to becoming a newborn. Implantation usually occurs about 1 to 2 weeks after the egg has been fertilized. This is also around a week after ovulation and a few days before a woman has her regular period.

As implantation is an early sign of pregnancy, a woman may also experience other pregnancy-related symptoms. Early signs of pregnancy can vary from woman to woman and may include:. Implantation bleeding is a normal sign of pregnancy and is not usually dangerous. Because of this, there is no need for treatment. Bleeding caused by implantation usually clears up within a couple of days with no treatment necessary. Abnormally heavy bleeding may be a sign of menstruation or a pregnancy complication.

Doctors recommend that women do not use tampons during this time. Many women confuse implantation bleeding with a light menstrual cycle. There are a few steps women can take to help them identify what is happening:. First, the blood itself can provide some answers.

Implantation bleeding will usually look different from menstrual bleeding. It may be darker than period blood due to the extra time it takes for the blood to travel through the vagina. The amount of bleeding is usually very light as well. Implantation bleeding usually lasts no more than 1 day. In some cases, women may experience a few hours of spotting and nothing more. Some women may experience a single spot of blood and discharge with no other signs. The color of the spotting.

The blood from implantation is more of a pinkish or brown color, rather than a bright red some women normally see during a period. You may notice implantation bleeding around 10 to 14 days after conception, when a fertilized egg becomes attached to the lining of your uterus.

Keep in mind that conception may not occur on the same day you had sex. You can take a home pregnancy test during implantation bleeding. Keep in mind that the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin or hCG that pregnancy tests detect only starts being produced in your body the moment the fertilized egg is implanted in the uterus — which is the trigger for implantation bleeding.

The earlier you take the test, the less hCG there is to detect, meaning that the test may not yet be accurate.