Implantation bleeding: how to distinguish it from menstruation?

Implantation bleeding, what is it?

The first symptoms of pregnancy can become apparent just 10 days after sexual intercourse.
She can find out that a woman is pregnant even before the delay. And the appearance of implantation bleeding may hint to her about this. Implantation bleeding is bloody discharge in small quantities that can occur at the time of implantation of the fertilized egg into the mucous membrane of the uterine wall.

Implantation bleeding itself can only occur in women who have conceived. However, at the moment of fertilization, a woman cannot yet be considered pregnant, since the egg must make a difficult journey to the uterus and gain a foothold in it. In order to integrate into the uterine endometrium, the fertilized egg prepares an implantation site for itself - a depression in which it will “take root” for further development. During implantation, microscopic damage is possible, and it is their small size that is responsible for the small amount of blood released. This type of bleeding is not observed in all pregnant women; according to medical statistics, approximately one in five expectant mothers may experience it.

Ectopic pregnancy and implantation bleeding

Implantation discharge from an ectopic pregnancy may differ from normal conception. Let us recall that proper fertilization of eggs by sperm occurs directly in the fallopian tube, from where the formed zygote enters the uterine cavity and is fully attached to the mucous membranes of this organ.

Since there are no adequate conditions for embryo development outside the uterine cavity, the structural villi of the chorion penetrate into the tissue of the organ and damage it, causing bleeding into the abdominal cavity.

It can be tubal, ovarian, abdominal, and also located in the rudimentary horn of the uterus. At the same time, as practice shows, the intensity of ectopic bleeding during implantation is much higher.

There is also a fairly pronounced pain syndrome that does not disappear for a long period of time. With rare exceptions, the fetus in an ectopic pregnancy is not viable, and during the growth process it often causes repeated bleeding, threatening the health and even the life of the woman.

Victor Systemov - expert of the 1Travmpunkt site

The vast majority of women have never encountered the concept of implantation bleeding (abbreviated as IR) in their lives, considering a delay in menstruation to be the first and proven sign of pregnancy.

However, it is embryonic (or IR) bleeding that is the main and earliest indicator of (possible!) conception. Only 20-30% of women of childbearing age experience this phenomenon.

We offer a full description of the process: everything about it, what it is, how to determine it, and what happens in the female body at the time of ovulation in this article.

This phenomenon is observed only after conception has taken place, but before pregnancy. After being introduced into the uterine cavity, a fertilized cell will have to try to take root in it so that the mother’s body accepts the embryo to continue normal development.

The egg persistently begins to look for its place - this is a depression where it can gain a foothold. During exploration of the mucous membrane, it injures the delicate surface, causing bleeding. This process is called implantation.

How to distinguish implantation bleeding from menstruation

If you listen to your body, notice possible deviations, monitor your menstrual cycle, it will not be difficult to distinguish implantation bleeding from menstruation. To do this, you should pay close attention to two factors: the time of appearance of such discharge, its duration and color. When keeping a menstrual schedule, it is clear that monthly bleeding begins on almost the same dates (the exception is an irregular cycle due to some disease). They are abundant and can be accompanied by pain of varying strength, both in the abdomen and in the area of ​​the uterus and ovaries. During menstruation, intestinal disorders and bloating may occur. While implantation bleeding is sparse, sometimes it is only a few drops of blood. They are not characterized by pain, and women often do not attach any importance to implantation bleeding.

It is also worth noting that these discharges during egg implantation are by no means a deviation, but a natural manifestation. Therefore, the color of the blood released should not be much darker than the color of blood during menstruation. If inflammatory processes do not occur in a woman’s body, there are no gynecological diseases - implantation bleeding will be a natural manifestation of the body during pregnancy.

Symptoms

Usually this phenomenon looks like a few drops of blood and resembles a scanty period. The discharge is so insignificant that women do not even notice or pay attention to it.

They might look like this:

• ordinary mucus along with bloody streaks;
• a few drops of blood;
• spotting discharge.

The discharge may stop and start again. Typically this phenomenon lasts from two hours to two days.

It is important not to confuse implantation bleeding with other pathologies or menstruation.

The main features are as follows:

There is discomfort in the lower abdomen. Pulling or pressing sensations, but not intense. This symptom is explained by spasms in the walls of the uterus during the implantation of the egg.

• Basal temperature changes. It decreases, but it is difficult to verify this, since the changes do not take much time, and then the temperature returns to normal.
• The color of the discharge is different - pinkish, cream, brown. They are scanty, so often only the gynecologist notices them when examining the patient.
• The woman feels weak, gets tired quickly, headaches and dizziness appear.

If the cell is fertilized, then implantation bleeding begins on the tenth day after ovulation. This is about a week before your period starts.

If such discharge appears, it is too early to do the test, since it reacts to the hormone secreted by the chorion. And the chorion (future placenta) at this time had just appeared and began to develop.

Signs of implantation bleeding

One of the first signs of implantation bleeding is the release of drops of blood or small blood clots of mucus. This process normally does not cause a woman discomfort, and most simply do not pay attention to the discharge.

The main distinguishing signs of implantation bleeding include:

• Painful sensations, a feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen - appear during direct implantation of the egg into the uterine mucosa. The pain should not be severe; if the pain increases, you should immediately consult a doctor;
• Minor fluctuations (1-2 divisions) of basal temperature. Only those women who record their readings daily will notice minor deviations;
• The color of the blood will be different from the menstrual flow - it is lighter, with a shade from pink to light brown;
• Drowsiness, weakness during this period against the background of overall good health;
• Short duration of discharge. The normal bleeding time is from several hours to a day.

Bloody discharge as a symptom

Not everyone knows what implantation bleeding looks like, so it is important to know that its signs are mild. For this reason, a woman cannot always identify this spotting or does not take it seriously

The main signs of implantation are expressed as follows:

• Short duration and scarcity of bloody discharge.
• The color of the discharge can change from light to dark.
• Pain syndrome in the lower abdomen.
• Weakness bordering on drowsiness.
• Decrease in basal temperature on day 1 of the cycle.

Medicine is aware of the fact that signs of implantation bleeding are also monitored during ectopic pregnancy. Only in this situation the signs appear differently.

Thus, implantation bleeding appears brown in appearance, due to the fact that the blood easily darkens as it moves through the fallopian tube. On the day when bleeding occurs, the woman experiences cutting and sharp pain. At the same time, the discharge can be either spotting or heavy, as during menstruation.

In addition, implantation bleeding is also observed after completion of the IVF procedure. Because, even after natural fertilization, embryo transfer requires implantation of the fertilized egg in the uterine cavity

It is important to pay attention to the fact that heavy signs of implantation bleeding serve as a harbinger that the embryo has not taken root.

Bleeding time - when to expect, its duration

When should I expect implantation bleeding? Only an absolutely mature egg is capable of fertilization, therefore, conception itself occurs either during the ovulation period or immediately immediately after it. On average, the menstrual cycle consists of 30 days, which means the favorable period for conception is from the 13th to the 17th day. This period of time also includes the time it takes for the egg to reach the implantation site, which is about 10-13 days. That is, penetration into the endometrium of the uterus occurs just before the beginning of the next menstruation, which, if the outcome is favorable, should not begin. This is why women rarely pay attention to it during implantation bleeding, considering the discharge a harbinger of menstruation.

How long does bleeding last during egg implantation? The duration of the process of attachment of the fertilized egg takes about one and a half days (no more than 40 hours). Therefore, the duration of implantation bleeding cannot exceed this period, and in some women it lasts only a few hours. If the discharge does not stop for more than two days, you should urgently consult a doctor.

Differences and Definition

The main difference is the timing of the onset and duration of the discharge. If bleeding began a week before your period and lasted no more than two days, this is one of the sure signs of pregnancy. The duration of menstruation is much longer - from four to seven days.

The second difference is the amount of blood released. With implantation bleeding, it is so slight that a woman may notice just one or two drops of blood in the form of a small speck.

The third difference is the color of the bloody discharge. If the blood is light and not brown, this is one of the signs of pregnancy.

The fourth difference is pain in the uterine area. With implantation bleeding there is practically no bleeding.

Implantation bleeding has several significant differences from regular periods (menstruation). You need to pay attention to the following points:

• timing of discharge relative to the normal menstrual schedule;
• number of discharges;
• color of blood during discharge;
• presence or absence of pain in the lower abdomen;
• duration of discharge.

Main symptoms of bleeding

Implantation bleeding, that is, associated with the implantation (introduction) of an embryo, is a sign of a normal pregnancy developing in the uterus. It has two main symptoms.

1. The first is the period of discharge that began. It's quite easy to calculate. With a normal monthly cycle of 28 days (lunar cycle) or 30 days, ovulation occurs on the fourteenth or fifteenth day. This is the middle of the cycle. At this moment the probability of conception is highest. The journey of an egg fertilized by a sperm to the uterus takes from six to ten days. A woman should compare the day of her last sexual intercourse and the arrival of early regulations. If they began seven to five days before your period, then such discharge can be considered one of the signs of a developing pregnancy. They usually last only a few hours, up to a maximum of two days.
2. The second symptom is scanty, droplet discharge of pinkish, slightly brownish, cream color. Less commonly, intense red discharge is observed, the color resembling regula. Their number is so small that one should not attach much importance to color. The only thing that matters is the amount of blood released.

Pregnancy or other reasons?

Pregnancy is not always the cause of spotting. If the signs of bleeding do not correspond to the volume and color of the blood released, this may mean that a malfunction has occurred in the woman’s body, and pathological processes may be present and developing. The cause of discharge may be:

• diseases of the genital organs (endometriosis, fibroids, polycystic disease, cancer, etc.). With these diseases, minor bleeding may also occur;
• sexually transmitted infections (gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, chlamydia, etc.);
• ectopic pregnancy;
• mechanical damage to tissues during sexual intercourse;
• threat of miscarriage in the early stages;
• hormonal imbalance, pathology of the uterine mucosa;
• discharge associated with the presence of an intrauterine device;
• disorders in the blood coagulation system, which is also possible due to taking certain medications, antidepressants.

If there is any suspicion of the presence of certain diseases, a visit to the doctor is mandatory.

Exceptions to the rules

So, is pregnancy always accompanied by implantation bleeding? It is important to understand that only bloody discharge cannot indicate conception, since they can also indicate the presence of certain pathological conditions and processes occurring in the female body. But at the same time, such a sign should prompt the idea of ​​visiting a specialist with subsequent diagnostics

After 7 days of bleeding, you can use a pregnancy test, which can show an existing pregnancy on the first day of missed menstruation. This fact is explained by the fact that the longer the “delay” takes, the higher the value of the hCG hormone.

In addition, it is possible to test the blood for hCG levels, because this method is more reliable. This analysis can be performed 2-3 days after implantation bleeding

It is worth paying attention to the fact that a bloody sign requires you to seek advice from a specialist, since the pregnancy may have the status of ectopic. When the embryo begins its development outside the uterine cavity, for example, in the ovaries or fallopian tubes, sometimes in the cervix

It is important to understand that such a complication can seriously harm a woman’s health. Not only the color of implantation bleeding matters, but also the presence of mucus containing brown particles

If spotting appears 2-3 weeks after implantation, then it can hardly be considered normal. Since during this period any bleeding can signal possible problems

Not only the color of implantation bleeding matters, but also the presence of mucus containing brown particles. If spotting appears 2-3 weeks after implantation, then it can hardly be considered normal. Since during this period any bleeding can signal possible problems.

For example, such cases at this time often indicate a lack of progesterone, which causes spotting. Such a change can only be determined by a doctor after an examination, blood test, and ultrasound examination.

At the same time, this symptom often indicates the onset of a molar pregnancy, in which the required number of chromosomes from both parents is missing, so such fertilization cannot be considered viable.

The possibility of disruption of the functionality of the placenta, which arises from its presentation or during its detachment, when the placenta is torn away from the inner surface of the uterus in a short period of pregnancy, cannot be excluded. This process causes minor bleeding, which is often mistaken for implantation bleeding.

In addition, spotting can occur during a frozen pregnancy or miscarriage. In such a situation, the embryo stops developing after implantation, remaining inside the cervix. At the same time, the woman experiences severe spasmodic pain. Moreover, blood clots can be abundant.

So, signs of implantation bleeding do not always signal the onset of pregnancy, so the presence of bloody discharge should prompt you to contact a qualified specialist.

How not to confuse it with menstruation

Can implantation coincide with menstruation? Yes, indeed, in most cases this process occurs several days before the expected critical days or exactly on schedule.

In order not to confuse menstruation and discharge associated with the process of implantation of the fertilized egg into the endometrial layer, you should be attentive to your own feelings. It is also recommended to keep a menstrual calendar, where each time the girl notes the days of sexual intercourse, the beginning and end of the cycle, as well as the nature and amount of discharge.

Then menstruation proceeds as usual, and a few days after it a slight discharge appears, which the woman may mistake for residue. She will find out about pregnancy directly by the delay next month. As a rule, in such cases there is always a difference in the timing of ultrasound and menstruation.

In any case, if you suspect pregnancy, you should do a test. But in such a short period of time it will very rarely show reliable results. Therefore, if in doubt, it is recommended to take a blood test for hCG. It gives reliable results within 10 days from the moment of conception.

We recommend reading the article about menstruation during pregnancy. From it you will learn about normal and pathological discharge during conception, the reasons for the appearance of discharge, the effectiveness of a pregnancy test during menstruation.

Embryo implantation after menstruation or on the eve of it is a process of the physiological course of pregnancy. Normally, it should not be accompanied by any, especially bloody, discharge. However, in approximately 5 - 10% of women during this period, a dubious pink or brownish daub appears, which cannot always be noticed, especially with an “imperfect” cycle. A timely contact with a specialist will help resolve all problems and controversial issues.

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Complex processes associated with the menstrual cycle occur in the female body. In addition to critical days, which indicate that pregnancy has not occurred, there is another type of bleeding - implantation, which indicates the opposite process. Whether implantation can occur after menstruation or during menstruation, we will try to figure it out.

Other signs of implantation

In addition to the so-called implantation bleeding, the process of attachment of a gestational cell to the wall of the uterus may be accompanied by a number of other signs:

• pulling pain in the lower abdomen;
• increased body temperature - this sign can be observed immediately after conception;
• decrease in basal temperature;
• nausea;
• general malaise;
• sudden mood changes.

I would like to clarify right away that not all women experience implantation with any symptoms. Therefore, you should not rely entirely on such signs. If you suspect pregnancy, it is better to take a test or visit a gynecologist.

For ectopic pregnancy

The first signals appear 2-3 days after conception. Doctors call the onset of symptoms to be a decrease in immunity.

Implantation occurs on days 4-10, when basal values ​​change, pain in the lower abdomen and discharge are possible.

However, there are also tragic life situations. In 2-3% of girls, an ectopic pregnancy is detected. In this case, the attachment of the embryo occurs outside the endometrium.

Then there can be no talk of implantation bleeding. The process is accompanied by severe pain and dark, brown-black discharge. It is recommended to urgently call an ambulance.

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Periods or implantation?

Implantation bleeding is a symptom that confirms that the egg has reached the uterus. Only a third of pregnant girls are able to observe it.

Not all women notice implantation bleeding. No girl would mistake the discharge of one or two drops of blood for any serious bleeding, or consider it an unusual condition.

In addition, in some cases, the discharge during germ cell implantation has a brownish tint. Women with irregular cycles or scanty periods may mistake implantation bleeding for the start of menstruation and not realize they are pregnant at all.

Not always, but implantation bleeding can be accompanied by nausea and a feeling of fullness and heaviness in the abdomen. Additionally, by the time implantation occurs, your body may already be releasing pregnancy hormones, causing breast tenderness.

Therefore, some women mistake the implantation of the embryo for the beginning of menstruation, since they have signs of premenstrual syndrome.

In any case, we will advise you to be patient and wait. If this is indeed implantation bleeding, then it will end soon, but the painful sensations in the chest and abdomen may not stop, and this is considered an absolutely normal phenomenon during pregnancy.

It would also be a good idea to do a test after implantation bleeding. If you are pregnant, then there is a chance that you will see a faint second line, since, in fact, it is too early to take a pregnancy test.

Also, you should pay attention to your basal temperature. On the day of your period, your temperature drops, and if you are pregnant, your basal temperature will remain the same even after implantation bleeding.

Good luck and have an easy pregnancy.

Women experiencing implantation bleeding for the first time often mistake it for their period. For this reason, confusion may occur with the gestational age. Therefore, it is very important to know how menstruation should differ from implantation discharge:

• The onset of menstruation is 26-35 days of the cycle, implantation is 19-27 days.
• The duration of menstruation is 3-7 days, implantation bleeding is up to 2 days.
• The color of menstrual discharge is rich red, burgundy, dark brown, implantation - pink, light brown, scarlet.
• The consistency of the discharge during menstruation is heterogeneous, with clots; during implantation, ordinary mucus mixed with blood comes out.
• The smell of menstruation is reminiscent of raw meat or iron; implantation blood has no smell at all.
• Menstruation is characterized by increased bleeding on day 2; discharge does not increase during implantation.
• During menstruation, a woman becomes irritable, swells, her breasts swell, and her lower abdomen feels strongly. Implantation is accompanied by less pronounced symptoms - tingling and minor spasms in the uterine area, weakness, drowsiness, and sometimes nausea.

To accurately understand whether pregnancy has occurred or not, you should use a special test. It should be done 5-10 days after implantation discharge or on the first day of a missed period. At earlier stages, the result may be unreliable, because the concentration of human chorionic gonadotropin (a hormone indicating fetal development) is still insufficient.

Implantation is the introduction of the fertilized egg into the mucous membrane of the uterus, after which the chorion develops - the future child's place, and further development of the embryo occurs. In order for the implantation to be successful, complete readiness is required from both the amniotic sac and the endometrium.

From the endometrium

In order to get a comprehensive answer to the question of what implantation bleeding is and how long it lasts, you first need to decide what processes in the female body accompany conception and how the fertilized egg is formed.

What can be confused with

Signs of an embryo attaching to the uterus are very similar to other pregnancy conditions. Which ones exactly can be seen from the table. Although implantation bleeding is acceptable, it is not an ideal pregnancy.

Table - How to distinguish implantation bleeding from menstruation and other conditions