Implantation bleeding can make you feel quite confused. When and why does it appear? How many days does it last and how do you distinguish it from menstruation?

If you're not planning to get pregnant, it's important to know the differences and not confuse implantation bleeding with your period. And if you want to become a mother, you should know that a slight bleeding 10-14 days after contact is normal and not a cause for concern.

What is implantation bleeding

It is called implantation bleeding, or nidation bleeding, a light vaginal bleeding that occurs about 10-14 days after conception. It is an early sign of pregnancy and should not be confused with menstrual bleeding.

Bleeding is normal and should not worry you as long as it does not become heavy and is not accompanied by severe pain or other unusual symptoms.

When does implantation bleeding occur and what does it mean?

Let's talk a little bit about how you feel when the pregnancy is set. In order to understand what implantation bleeding means and how it occurs, you first need to know what happens in your body after you conceive your baby.

Following an unprotected sexual act, when the ovum is fertilized, an embryo is formed which will be fixed in the uterus. As this embryo moves to implant in the uterine lining, there may be some light bleeding. That's why it's called implantation bleeding.

It usually occurs around the time you would normally have your period. Hence the confusion that is often made between a first sign of pregnancy and menstruation.

Certain research claims that about 1 in 3 pregnant women notice a nidation bleeding, but especially those who become mothers for the first time, because the uterine lining is more sensitive to the movements of the embryo.

How long does implantation bleeding last?

Normally, implantation bleeding lasts from a few hours to up to three days. This does not mean that something is wrong with you or your baby, just that the lining of the uterus is more sensitive to the attachment of the embryo.

If you bleed for more than 3 days, the flow is heavy and you need to use pads or tampons to avoid staining, then it is most likely not implantation bleeding, but your period.

However, we should also take into account the situation when you are not expecting a pregnancy, and you confuse the signs of implantation with menstruation. If you lose less blood than usual for less than 3 days, in the form of pinkish discharge, then it may not be menstruation, but breakthrough bleeding. In this case, you can consider a possible pregnancy.

Implantation Bleeding vs Menstruation - Differences

The main difference between menstrual bleeding and implantation bleeding is primarily the amount (flow). During menstruation, you need menstrual products with a high level of absorbency to prevent leakage and stains on clothes. For implantation bleeding, it is enough to use an absorbent pad daily to avoid soiling the underwear. Both Enroush Pads and Pads and Slips are made from super absorbent 100% organic cotton to give you safe, accident-free protection.

Duration, color of bleeding, and presence of clots are two other different aspects that can help you tell them apart, but first you need to know your period. To help you understand everything you need to know about your period, we talk extensively about this topic HERE .

Once you know your body's natural rhythm and what your menstrual bleeding looks like from month to month, here's how to differentiate it from implantation bleeding:

• Amount: Implantation bleeding is more spotting than bleeding. The flow is very low and looks more like a bloody discharge. Menstrual flow is more abundant, and is enough to fill an absorbent pad or tampon in a few hours.

• Duration: implantation bleeding stops in a few hours or at most 3 days, while your period usually lasts between 3 and 7 days.

• Color: menstrual bleeding is what you are used to every month, red (light or dark), with changes in the first and last days. Implantation bleeding is a much lighter color, between light pink and rust.

• Clots: Clots can occur during menstruation especially when you have a heavy flow. But implantation bleeding is not heavy, so clots are not characteristic of it.

• Pain: Your periods may be accompanied by severe abdominal pain. In the case of implantation bleeding, the pain does not occur at all or is very mild.

Symptoms associated with implantation bleeding

The symptoms of actual implantation bleeding are exactly the ones we talked about above and help you recognize it:

• Pinkish, rust or brownish discharge of blood

• Spotting or bleeding of short duration, with a lighter than menstrual flow

• Menstrual cramps absent or milder than menstrual cramps

Other symptoms of pregnancy

I was saying that the signs above are specific to implantation bleeding itself, because it can often be accompanied by other symptoms. Except that in this case we are not talking about the bleeding itself, but about the early symptoms of pregnancy:

• Morning sickness

• Vomiting states

• migraines

• Headaches

• Breast tenderness

• Fatigue

• More frequent urination

• Mood swings

• Food cravings

• Aversion to certain smells or foods

We've talked about the first signs of pregnancy before on the Enroush blog, so we're waiting for you to talk about how you know you're pregnant , so you can more easily recognize what your body is naturally telling you.

Implantation bleeding - Risks and complications

Implantation bleeding is normally nothing to worry about and poses no risk to you or your developing baby. If you bleed profusely within 10-14 days of conception, most of the time it is not implantation bleeding, but menstruation.

Dangers in pregnancy rarely occur during the implantation stage. When it happens, it is bleeding that occurs at a later date than when your period should have come, and then we are already talking about bleeding during pregnancy.

If you have such light bleeding, it may be a wound from penetration, a vaginal infection, an irritation of the cervix, too demanding physical exertion or the existence of uterine polyps or fibroids.

Implantation bleeding - When is it advisable to consult the doctor?

Implantation bleeding is normal and does not require medical consultation.

However, if you notice that the bleeding is heavy and is accompanied by fever, chills or severe menstrual pain, see a doctor as soon as possible. Whether it is implantation bleeding or another cause, the symptoms are not normal and more investigation is needed to determine the cause.

Frequently asked questions about implantation bleeding

I told you above when implantation occurs, how long it lasts and how to recognize implantation bleeding. But we know that any bleeding can raise a lot of other questions, and we want to give you as many answers as possible. Below we answer frequently asked questions about implantation bleeding.

How long after implantation bleeding can I take a pregnancy test?

If we refer to the pregnancy tests that you do yourself at home, they detect pregnancy based on the level of the HCG hormone in the urine. If you test too early, the concentration of HCG may not be high enough to be detected, and you may get a false positive. It is recommended to wait at least 3-6 days after implantation bleeding before doing the urine test.

If you go to the doctor's office, blood tests can detect the level of HCG even in lower concentrations, so you can get the test much faster.

Can implantation bleeding be red?

Implantation bleeding is usually a light shade of pink, rust or brown. If the bleeding is red and heavy, it is most likely not implantation bleeding.

Can implantation bleeding be heavy?

If the bleeding is heavy and fills an absorbent pad or tampon every few hours, it is most likely menstrual bleeding. Implantation bleeding is light and more like a discharge or spotting, for which it is enough to use absorbent pads daily. Enroush panties are pH neutral and contain no toxic chemicals, protect your intimate area and pregnancy with the gentlest organic care.