If you want to get pregnant, the days before your period can be very tensed. If you lose blood a few days before your expected period, it can be very disappointing. However, bleeding a few days before your period can also be good news! Maybe it’s an implantation bleeding!
What is an implantation bleeding?
About 9 days after ovulation (this is in a 28-day cycle, 5 days before your expected period) the fertilized egg attaches itself to the uterine wall. This growing into the endometrium is called implantation. During this ingrowth, sometimes a vessel bursts and causing blood loss. We call it a implantation bleeding.
How common is an implantation bleed?
About 1 in 5 women has implantation bleeding. And some of them don’t notice the blood loss. Because it was only on the toilet paper, or because it can be very little and light. So don’t worry if you haven’t (seen) implantation bleeding!
What color is the blood loss?
Implantation bleeding sometimes comes out immediately, then it is pink or bright red. Often it does not come out until hours or days later and has turned brown. You almost never see clots (blood clots).
How long does implantation bleeding take?
It often lasts less than a menstrual period. Sometimes it is only 1x a few drops, but it can also last 2 days.
Where do you feel pain during implantation?
You may feel mild cramps at the bottom of your abdomen, around your pubic bone or in your lower back: An implantation cramp. It can also feel nagging. Many women describe it as a very mild short-term menstrual pain.
Symptoms of implantation at a glance:
– Mild nagging or cramping pain in your lower abdomen and lower back that lasts for 1-2 days.
– Pink, bright red or brown bleeding. Often much less than during a menstrual period and usually shorter 2 days.
Difference Between Implantation And Menstruation:
Implantation
Blood loss
– Start 6-12 days after ovulation
– Little blood loss, no clots
– Often brown in color, sometimes pink or red
– Often a few hours to max. 2 days
– The amount often decreases after the first blood loss
Pain
– Mild cramping nagging pain
Period
Blood loss
– Start 2-16 days after ovulation
– Light to large amount of blood loss, often with clots
– Usually bright red, often starting and ending with brownish bleeding
– Between 2-10 days
– Increasing amount after first signs of blood loss
Pain
– Cramps in the lower abdomen/back that can be very painful
Pregnant or not?
During implantation, the hCG hormone rises. A pregnancy test requires a minimum amount of hCG to be positive. So my advice is to do a test a few days AFTER the blood loss. Do you decide to do it sooner and is it negative? Then repeat it a few days later if you still haven’t had a regular period.
Are you pregnant and do you have bleeding?
If the test has shown that you are pregnant, you expect that the blood loss has already stopped or will stop very soon. Do you still lose blood, or do you have cramps? Then call us! Then we look together what the cause could be and, if possible, do additional tests or investigations.