Implantation bleeding in pregnancy: signs and symptoms

What is implantation bleeding?

Implantation bleeding occurs when a fertilised egg embeds itself in the lining of the uterus, so it can start growing. It’s a completely normal part of early pregnancy, but can be a bit alarming if you’re not expecting it, or disheartening if you’re trying to get pregnant and mistake it for your period.

It's fairly common – about 20-30% of women will experience it during early pregnancy. You’re more likely to bleed if it’s your first pregnancy, as with subsequent pregnancies your uterus is more used to the process.

When does implantation bleeding occur?

It occurs at the beginning of pregnancy, normally between 10 to 14 days after conception.

What should I do if I start bleeding during early pregnancy?

How long does implantation bleeding last?

As bleeding only happens while the fertilised egg attaches itself to the uterine wall, it won’t last long – maybe only a couple of hours, or at most 1-2 days. The flow will be light and possibly inconsistent, and there are normally no clots.

What does implantation bleeding look like?

The symptoms are quite similar to ones you might get just before your menstrual period, such as:

• A pink or brown discharge or spotting

• Light or faint cramping

• Mood swings

• Headaches

As it happens right at the beginning of pregnancy, often at a similar time in your cycle to menstruation, it’s often confused with having an early period.

How can I tell if it’s implantation bleeding or my period?

Although there’s no way to be certain until you either get your period or a positive pregnancy test, there are a few differences between implantation bleeding and normal menstruation.

• Colour – It's usually pink or dark brown, whereas period blood tends to be bright red. This is because it takes time for the blood to move out of your uterus and into the vaginal cavity. Of course, you know your body better than anyone – and if you’ve been trying to conceive for a while, you’ll probably be an expert on your periods.

• Duration – It doesn’t usually last for more than one or two days, and is light in flow. If the bleeding lasts longer than this, or if the flow starts to get heavier, it’s very likely to be your period.

• Timing – It generally occurs about 10 days after ovulation, whereas menstruation occurs after 14. As such, spotting on day 22-25 of your cycle is theoretically more likely to be implantation bleeding than the beginning of menstruation. This isn’t a hard and fast rule though – sometimes your period can just turn up early, so it’s a good idea to keep track of your cycle.

• Cramping – You might experience light cramps as a symptom of implantation bleeding, but these aren’t the same as period cramps. Menstruation cramps are usually more painful, and can get stronger over the course of your period.

I had it with my first pregnancy – about a week after ovulating and a week before I expected my period. Mine was reddish and light but more than just spotting, although I only needed pantyliners.

Mine happened about a week after my period would have been due – it lasted for one day and there was enough blood to soak through a tampon. I really thought I was starting my period, although I didn't have any cramps.

Should I worry about implantation bleeding?

Generally speaking, it's harmless and doesn’t need any medical treatment, but speaking to your doctor will be able to provide you with some much-needed reassurance.

If you find yourself experiencing other symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, abdominal pain or vomiting, or if you experience extended bleeding, it’s worth contacting your doctor straight away. There can be a variety of reasons for bleeding during early pregnancy, and these symptoms can be early indications of something more serious, so it's worth getting checked out.

When to take a pregnancy test

Current advice is to wait three days after experiencing implantation bleeding before you take a test – before that, it’s unlikely you’ll have enough of the pregnancy hormone hCG to give a positive result. If you can bear it, waiting a week is more likely to give an accurate result, but keep looking out for other early signs of pregnancy while you wait.

"I remember being at work and having some pink spotting, then nothing. I was so deflated. It was only a few weeks down the line when I felt really, really exhausted, that I did a test. By that point I was five and a half weeks pregnant!" - Mumsnet user

"I thought it was my period starting as I also had the usual sore boobs. Then, no period. It was another week or so before I thought to do a test I think, by which time it was very clearly positive." - Mumsnet user