Implantation bleeding is one of the first signs of conception. It appears when a fertilized egg (zygote) is embedded in the wall (endometrium) of the uterus and forms a symbiosis with the maternal body. In the process, the blood vessels are damaged and a small amount of blood is released.
This is one of the first manifestations during pregnancy; it often goes unnoticed due to the small volume of blood and its similarity to menstruation, but it is possible to recognize it.
What is implantation?
When a sperm penetrates the protective membrane of the egg, it is covered with a membrane that protects it from subsequent penetrations, and will remain in this membrane until it reaches the uterus.
The fertilized egg, with the help of contraction of the fallopian tubes and the movement of villi on their inside, moves towards the uterus. Once on the uterine epithelium, it is freed from the protective membrane and begins the process of implantation, that is, its ingrowth into the wall of the uterus to form the placenta. It also happens that implantation fails. An embryo with serious pathologies will be rejected already at this stage.
The most common causes of implantation failure are:
- Excessively thick and dense membrane of the embryo.
- Serious genetic disorders that prevent the formation of a healthy embryo.
- Excessive thinning of the uterine epithelium.
- Low progesterone levels.
- Insufficient nutrition of the embryo in the first hours after implantation.
During the implantation process, implantation bleeding appears, because the fertilized egg grows into a living and well-supplied tissue, damaging numerous capillaries. The process can go on intermittently, so if bleeding appears several times, it’s not a big deal.
How does this type of bleeding occur?
Implantation bleeding is extremely mild. This is due to the very small amount of blood released.
Signs of implantation bleeding:
- weak, nagging pain in the lower abdomen;
- discomfort;
- cramps in the lower abdomen;
- a few drops of blood in vaginal discharge.
Some women feel these signs, some don't. Reliable evidence that implantation has occurred is a slight decrease in basal temperature. This usually occurs from 6 to 10 days after ovulation. Unfortunately, in order to be able to take advantage of this sign, you need to keep a constant basal temperature chart.
Many people wonder if implantation bleeding always occurs. Implantation itself, of course, happens to every pregnant woman, but sometimes it goes easily, showing no symptoms at all. So there may be no implantation bleeding as such.
How is implantation bleeding different from menstruation?
Of course, one of the main questions that women ask is: implantation bleeding or menstruation, how to distinguish? There are differences; it is not difficult to understand the difference between these two processes. But some are mistaken because implantation bleeding is not a common process. As a result, the situation when implantation bleeding is mistaken for menstruation is not so rare.
Implantation bleeding - signs that differ from menstruation:
- Duration – the duration of bleeding during implantation is 2–3 hours, maximum two days.
- Color – the discharge varies in color; it is not red, but light pink or dark brown.
- Intensity – only a few drops are released.
It is important not to confuse implantation bleeding with an ectopic pregnancy!
On what day after conception does bleeding begin, does it always mean pregnancy? You also need to know about implantation bleeding, on what day it usually begins, because it will be much easier to understand whether it is it or not if you know the time frame in which this process should occur.
Implantation of the fertilized egg into the endometrium of the uterus most often occurs 4-5 days after conception, the implantation process takes about 2 more days. It should be remembered that the day of conception is not always the day of sexual intercourse. Sperm can live in the fallopian tubes for up to 3 days. It turns out that signs of implantation may appear within 8 days after the last sexual activity.
Fertilization occurs, a zygote is formed and goes for implantation. This usually happens, but, unfortunately, this is not always a symptom of the onset of pregnancy. The fertilized egg may be empty. This case is called a frozen pregnancy and usually ends in early miscarriage.
Reasons for this:
- Chromosomal mutations.
- Impact of external adverse factors.
- Genetic predisposition.
If this situation only happened once, don’t worry. This is, in principle, a normal situation; it is not a strict pathology.
After IVF
The method of fertilization of the egg does not matter. Implantation bleeding during IVF is no different from normal implantation bleeding. The whole difference is that the woman knows when to expect him.
How long does implantation bleeding last during IVF? As always, 2 days. When does it start? Most often this happens 6 days after the embryo is placed in the uterus. Since the embryo is slightly larger than a normal fertilized egg, the bleeding will be darker and heavier than usual, so it can be confused with menstruation. However, it will still last a maximum of 2 days. If excessive bleeding appears, you should consult a doctor, in this case there is a high probability that the embryo has not taken root in the uterus, and so the processes of its rejection begin.
If you find:
- curdled discharge;
- discharge with an unpleasant odor;
- greenish discharge - you should call an ambulance and go to the hospital immediately, this is an alarming symptom of a complication. If you don't pay attention to this, it can end not only in a miscarriage, but also in problems with your health.
Although the implantation process during IVF is similar to natural, it is still better to reduce the load at this time, rest more, do not get too cold, abstain from sex, and avoid contact with chemicals. You need to walk more in the fresh air, get enough sleep at night, and avoid large crowds of people in order to prevent infection with viruses.
During the days of implantation, the embryo is very susceptible to harmful influences, so in order to avoid unforeseen situations, some women refuse to drive a car or travel on public transport during these days. Of course, it is better to adhere to a similar plan with natural implantation, but with IVF this is more feasible, because the woman knows exactly what is happening in her body now and will understand what signs she has.
Connection with the ability to detect pregnancy
Signs of pregnancy will appear only after implantation. Before this, the embryo does not come into contact with the mother’s body. This means there are no hormones that the tests can distinguish.
If you take a pregnancy test in the first few hours after implantation, it will most likely be negative.
The test can be performed after the following symptoms appear:
- nausea;
- headaches, weakness, fatigue;
- frequent urination, sudden unrelated constipation;
- chest pain;
- irritability, tearfulness;
- drowsiness;
- fainting, dizziness.
All these symptoms indicate that implantation was successful and the body began to produce hormones characteristic of pregnancy.
It should be remembered that similar symptoms will occur with an ectopic pregnancy. Therefore, you need to go to a specialist to make sure that everything is going well and nothing threatens you and your child.
How to relieve pain during implantation bleeding?
Some women experience serious discomfort and pain during implantation. What to do in this case? Sometimes they give advice to use the same remedies as for painful periods, but this is fundamentally wrong, because here the mechanism of pain is completely different.
Pain occurs due to damage to the tissue of the uterus, while during menstruation the main source of discomfort is spasms of this organ. You cannot use heat in this situation! This can lead to a slower implantation process or even miscarriage. You should be careful when using painkillers, because some of them have a teratogenic effect and can harm the unborn child.
It is best to use natural pain relief methods at this stage, such as:
- herbal teas;
- meditation;
- yoga;
- breathing exercises.
You can just try to distract yourself, because this state will not last long. It is very important to remember that implantation takes a maximum of 2 days, and even if it is so prolonged, pain should not be present all the time.
If the pain is too severe or lasts more than three to four hours, or if these painful attacks occur for more than 2 days in a row, you need to urgently consult a doctor, do not delay.
When to contact a medical facility for help
Sometimes what was initially taken as a sign of implantation is actually another pathology that is just beginning to appear.
To avoid mistakes, first of all you need to know what implantation bleeding is, how long it usually lasts, how many days it should end, how to find out whether it is implantation bleeding or menstruation. If two days have passed and the blood continues to flow, it may be menstrual discharge or a symptom of some disease.
When is the best time to see a doctor right away:
- If there is a lot of blood, there are clots - this may be an early miscarriage.
- If during bleeding you have a severe general condition, fever, headache, then this may be an ectopic pregnancy.
- If the pain is severe, unbearable, with spasms, then this is most likely a manifestation of endometriosis.
If you notice suspicious symptoms, it is better to consult a doctor to prevent a miscarriage or start treatment of the disease in time. After all, the sooner the disease is diagnosed, the faster and easier it will be to get rid of it.
What are the first signs of pregnancy? Many women ask this question. We know that the most traditional symptoms are a missed period and test results, but there is another minor but reliable sign - implantation bleeding. Not every woman can accurately determine it, but in most cases, it precisely indicates the beginning of pregnancy.
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.
During the period of ovulation, which usually occurs on the 14th day of the 28-day menstrual cycle, the matured egg leaves the ovary, which indicates its readiness for fertilization. Therefore, now the likelihood of conception after unprotected intercourse is especially high.
Once in the fallopian tubes, the sperm meets the egg and fertilizes it, forming an embryo at the earliest stage of development - a blastocyst, which penetrates the inner epithelial layer of the uterus. This process is called implantation and entails minor implantation bleeding, which can last from several hours to two days. From this moment, we can assume that pregnancy has occurred, but the woman does not yet feel the characteristic signs and symptoms, since the fertilized egg has practically no contact with the mother’s body at this time.
Implantation bleeding occurs only in pregnant women after the fertilized egg enters the uterine cavity. In order to securely gain a foothold there, it deepens into the cells of the uterine epithelium. Sometimes this causes microscopic damage to the vessels on the walls of the uterus, causing slight bleeding. Obstetric statistics show that only 30% of women experience such implantation bleeding, and some experience nagging pain in the lower abdomen.
In order to independently determine how long implantation bleeding can last, it is enough to count the number of days in your menstrual cycle. On average, implantation bleeding occurs on day 24, which is about a week before the start of your period, and therefore many people often mistake the onset of pregnancy for the first day of their period.
In order not to confuse the first manifestations of implantation bleeding with anything, you need to know what it looks like. This is always a spotting light brown or pinkish discharge that does not include clots or mucus. Sometimes they are transparent with dark veins. Brown blood traces may indicate the development of other pathological processes in the female body, for example, cervical erosion, endometriosis, hormonal problems, and so on.
Heavy implantation bleeding occurs in one case in a million, and most likely this condition belongs to the category of pathologies indicating the presence of some kind of disease of the woman’s internal genital organs.
You can see how implantation bleeding should appear normally in the photo below.
If the discharge is accompanied by severe cramps, this may indicate an ectopic pregnancy or early miscarriage. And when the discharge does not go away for more than two days, you need to look for another reason for its occurrence.
Signs of implantation bleeding
Doctors say that true implantation bleeding, as a rule, goes away without pronounced symptoms, but still has certain signs. Among them:
- Decrease in basal temperature. This is an accurate symptom, however, it is difficult to track it in time, since it appears for a short time. During the process of egg implantation, basal temperature indicators decrease briefly.
- Feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen. This also happens during implantation. The discomfort caused can provoke pain, from slightly nagging to pronounced. In this case, you must urgently go to the antenatal clinic.
- Discharge. It’s difficult to call them bleeding, but sometimes implantation discharge includes droplets of blood. Ideally, they should be so scanty that a woman may not even attach much importance to it.
- Characteristic of implantation bleeding is the color of the spotting discharge. In most cases, they come in cream, pinkish and brown shades.
- General malaise. Any even slight loss of blood causes a feeling of weakness. Implantation bleeding is no exception and, depending on the duration and amount of bleeding, can cause weakness.
The most observant people may notice this not entirely characteristic “daub” called implantation bleeding. Especially if there are appropriate prerequisites for this: intimate relationship without contraceptives or targeted conception.
Many research scientists even believe that if the process of conception proceeds normally, there should be no implantation bleeding. The implantation of the blastocyst is so asymptomatic that only a small amount of blood is released.
Implantation or menstruation
The nature of the discharge during implantation may resemble the first manifestations of menstruation. However, if a woman knows that such a phenomenon is acceptable for her at a given period, then if she discovers similar symptoms, she may have a completely natural question: what is it - implantation bleeding or menstruation?
Let's understand these two concepts one by one.
- Menstruation is the end of the menstrual cycle. Under normal circumstances and depending on each woman's individual schedule, it should be repeated every 30 days. During this period, the upper layer of the endometrium, in which fertilization occurs, is rejected, provoking blood discharge of varying intensity. Menstrual bleeding lasts from 3 days to a week and is usually of a moderate nature. The first day of menstruation is characterized by spotting, the intensity of which gradually increases. During this period, the woman feels pain in the lower abdomen, in the lumbar region. Menstruation may be accompanied by general malaise and headaches. Minor deviations in the menstrual cycle are considered acceptable: delay or early onset of bleeding. Once fertilization has occurred, menstruation no longer occurs.
- Implantation bleeding is a consequence of the implantation of a mature and fertilized egg into the functional layer of the endometrium. Depending on the characteristics of the uterus, the woman’s physiology and the course of this process, the blood vessels of the endometrium are damaged and minor bleeding appears. It can take up to 7 days from the moment of ovulation to the moment of implantation of the egg. Approximately the same amount of time remains until the start of the expected critical days. This is why many women mistake implantation for menstruation.
To have an idea of the main differences between menstrual and implantation bleeding, we offer you a description of some of them.
- If a woman’s menstrual schedule has a clear periodicity without interruptions, then spotting brownish discharge 7 days earlier should not be taken as the beginning of menstruation. Conversely, it is very easy to make mistakes with an irregular cycle. The first characteristic difference can be called the intensity of the discharge. With implantation bleeding, it does not include additional impurities in the form of blood clots and appears in the form of a few drops on the underwear.
- The duration of implantation bleeding ranges from several hours to two days.
- Unlike menstruation, during implantation the discharge has a pink or brownish tint.
- Both of these physiological processes have one common symptom - a feeling of “bloating” in the abdomen and discomfort.
- During implantation, the basal temperature drops to about 30 degrees and then rises again.
Implantation bleeding and tests
Believe me, the very first signs of pregnancy will still not appear earlier than implantation bleeding. Until this moment, the connection between the future embryo and the mother’s body is completely absent.
A pregnancy test at this stage will also not show two lines. Testing should only be done after implantation bleeding, approximately 3 days later. During this period, the level of the chorion hormone, which is responsible for fertilization and conception, increases.
During pregnancy, levels of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin increase. This occurs in the early stages, when the “pregnancy hormone” is produced from the chorion membrane of the embryo, approximately 5-6 days after fertilization.
For greater accuracy, a woman who suspects she has implantation bleeding is recommended to donate blood for hCG after this period. You can even do a dynamic analysis to track the growth of the hormone.
If bleeding is present and the test shows negative results, you should consult a doctor to find out the true causes of the bleeding. We must remember that any uncharacteristic discharge may be unsafe for health.
Implantation bleeding after IVF
Regardless of how the egg was fertilized: naturally or using an extracorporeal method, implantation bleeding cannot be ruled out.
When a reproductive specialist transfers an embryo into the uterine cavity, it must attach to its walls, that is, implant. And if everything went well, then about 6 days after this the woman will notice thick, darkish discharge without a characteristic odor on her underwear, indicating conception. Excessive bleeding during implantation is pathological and may indicate embryo rejection.
Uncharacteristic and mild symptoms of implantation can be easily confused with other diseases with similar symptoms. Such as:
- Constant stress, poor diet, taking hormonal contraceptives, genetic predisposition, tumor growth.
- Spotting may also appear the day after sex. This indicates an insufficient amount of lubricant released during sexual intercourse.
- Sexually transmitted diseases, accompanied by a sharp unpleasant odor from the genitals, itching and burning.
Implantation bleeding in early pregnancy
In gynecological practice, there are cases where implantation bleeding appeared at 2 or 3 weeks of pregnancy. However, during this period, this symptom may be a sign of various disorders:
- lack of progesterone. Only a specialist can diagnose this condition and eliminate it after examining the woman using an ultrasound machine;
- embryonic development outside the uterine cavity, that is, ectopic pregnancy. The reason for this is the attachment of the embryo in the fallopian tubes, ovaries or abdominal cavity. This serious problem can sometimes lead to fetal and maternal death;
- Implantation bleeding also occurs when a non-viable egg enters the uterine cavity. This is not considered normal fertilization, and on ultrasound it appears as a large number of small bubbles;
- small bleeding always accompanies diseases such as placental previa and placental abruption;
- When the development of the embryo stops, a frozen pregnancy occurs. In this case, only medical intervention is necessary. A miscarriage is characterized by discharge in the form of pink cervical mucus, severe abdominal pain, and bloody clots from the vagina.
Implantation bleeding. Video
In order for embryo implantation to occur after conception, male and female reproductive cells have to go through a difficult path. It happens that after successful fertilization a woman experiences bleeding. Doctors say there is no serious cause for concern. However, it is better for the woman herself to know and understand all the nuances of implantation bleeding.
What is implantation and implantation bleeding?
For the formation of a fertilized egg, it is necessary that on the 14th day of the menstrual cycle the reproductive cell leaves the ovary and the sperm passes unhindered into the fallopian tubes. In them, both cells meet and merge, thus forming a blastocyst (embryo). The process of implantation of the embryo into the epithelial uterine layer is called implantation. At this stage, about a week before the expected period, bleeding occurs, which can last from several hours to 2 days.
Why does implantation bleeding occur? The fertilized cell strives to take its natural place in the internal cavity of the uterus. Sometimes, when it is introduced, the vessels of the uterine epithelium receive microscopic damage, which leads to a slight release of blood. Does this always happen? According to statistics announced by obstetricians, 36% of pregnant women experience a similar phenomenon.
You can determine the symptoms of implantation bleeding yourself. Average data show that it can occur a week before menstruation. Many people mistake them for late onset of menstruation, so it is important to know what implantation blood looks like.
Implantation discharge is light brown or pinkish in color and contains no mucus or clots. Sometimes they have no color, but are complemented by dark veins. Blood stains on a pad with a brown tint indicate the development of a certain disease in a woman’s body (cervical erosion, hormonal imbalance, endometriosis). In addition, if the discharge lasts longer than the time typical for implantation bleeding, it is necessary to look for another cause.
Duration of implantation bleeding
How long does the process take? When implantation occurs, the duration of discharge before menstruation is short, from several hours to 1-2 days. The short time it takes for blood to appear before menstruation is due to the fact that the damage caused to the vessels of the uterine epithelium is small and occurs at the capillary level. If bleeding occurs earlier than a week before menstruation and is profuse, then doctors suspect some kind of pathology or spontaneous miscarriage.
Not all women produce bloody fluid during conception. If the egg did not damage the vessels during attachment or only slightly affected them, then there will be no bleeding, or it will be so small in volume that it may not be noticed. The main thing you need to know is that implantation bleeding is never heavy and occurs only before menstruation, in the middle of the cycle, it cannot coincide with menstruation.
The difference between implantation bleeding and menstrual bleeding
To avoid unnecessary worries, it is important for a woman to be able to distinguish the external signs of implantation bleeding from menstrual discharge. Menstruation has characteristic features: a certain time of onset, the color and structure of the released fluid, its abundance and duration of flow.
Implantation bleeding differs from menstruation in the following ways:
- May occur 3-6 days before critical days.
- It has a faint brownish or pink color, while menstrual discharge is predominantly dark red or scarlet.
- Minimum quantity. It may be a few drops or smeared spots without mucus or clots.
- The duration depends on the degree of damage to the capillaries. If menstruation can last 3-5 days, then embryonic discharge is limited to 1-2 days.
- They pass almost without additional symptoms inherent in critical days. The woman does not feel anything, or there are weak cramps and nagging pain in the lower abdomen.
It is quite easy to distinguish implantation discharge if you know your body well, monitor your menstrual cycle, and have studied the peculiarities of your period. A woman can easily understand what kind of process is taking place in her body. In addition, she will relieve herself of unnecessary psychological anxiety and anxiety for her own health. The volume of discharge during implantation does not depend on the number of embryos: in a multiple pregnancy it will be the same as in a single pregnancy.
When to take a pregnancy test after implantation bleeding?
Understanding that implantation bleeding may mean pregnancy, a woman immediately wants to make sure that conception has occurred. To get an accurate result, it is better to take a pregnancy test 1-2 days after the discharge stops.
If a woman has been waiting for pregnancy for a long time, and she can’t wait to make sure that the long-awaited moment has arrived, the doctor will suggest that she do a blood test for hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin).
Elevated hCG levels are guaranteed to indicate successful fertilization. The procedure is carried out 7-10 days after implantation bleeding is noticed.
Sometimes it happens that a little bleeding has passed, a woman has thoughts about pregnancy, and the test gives a negative result. This means that it was done too early or pregnancy did not really occur, and the discharge arose for another reason. A timely examination by a gynecologist will help to recognize what process is going on in the body and what measures should be taken.
Signs of conception
Given that implantation bleeding is not always a sign of successful fertilization, a woman should pay attention to the presence of other pregnancy symptoms. They do not appear immediately, but after a while and look like this:
- morning sickness;
- constant feeling of fatigue;
- breast swelling and pain;
- mood swings, from depressing tearfulness to unmotivated irritability;
- frequent desire to go out small;
- dizziness;
- long delay of menstruation.
Many women who are purposefully trying to get pregnant track fluctuations in basal temperature during the menstrual cycle. An indicator of conception is a sharp drop in temperature. Some patients talk about spasms during embryo implantation, but doctors believe that this is more suspicious than a real symptom.
When to see a doctor: pathological signs of bleeding
The need to consult a doctor arises when a woman does not have strong confidence in the nature of the bleeding. A visit to the doctor is mandatory if you suspect vaginal bleeding. Provoking factors for this appearance of blood can be:
- threat of miscarriage;
- endometriosis;
- sexually transmitted infection;
- ectopic pregnancy;
- inflammatory processes affecting the appendages or uterus;
- failure at the hormonal level;
- development of a tumor of any nature;
- vaginal trauma caused by sexual intercourse.
Immediate examination by a specialist is also necessary if unexpected discharge is accompanied by a rise in temperature, skin rashes and other unpleasant symptoms.
Making a diagnosis and choosing a treatment method on your own is unacceptable. Any problem with the female reproductive system can lead to the inability to have a child and seriously undermine health.
Discharge caused by the attachment of an egg to the inner walls of the uterus is a normal process and does not require special attention from a doctor or any treatment. However, even assuming conception, it is better for a woman to see a gynecologist to rule out the presence of a dangerous pathology. The specialist will determine the cause of the problem and develop the correct treatment.
Contents of the article: classList.toggle()">toggle
Bleeding during implantation is a physiological process in the body of a pregnant woman. How long does implantation bleeding last? What does it look like? When does implantation bleeding occur and can it be heavy? You will read about this and much more in our article.
Signs of implantation bleeding
As modern gynecological practice shows, bleeding during implantation occurs in approximately a third of all pregnant women and, in fact, acts as an indicator and early sign of the start of this process.
According to confirmed medical data, the fertilized egg begins to move through the fallopian tube directly to the main organ, where it is fixed on the mucous membrane. It is at this moment that the trophoblast, which is the protective tissue of the zygote, damages the vessels of the uterus and forms the precondition for the appearance of bleeding.
It should be borne in mind that most of the signs of such a physiological process are quite similar to classical menstruation.
In some cases, the similarity of symptoms complicates the correct interpretation of the sign even for an experienced doctor, not to mention expectant mothers. Possible symptoms, signs and sensations of implantation bleeding:
- Potential timing of formation. Implantation discharge is formed between the 7th and 14th day after conception, and quite close to the time interval and the expected onset of menstruation. Naturally, if more than one or several months have passed, then the chances of bleeding during implantation are close to zero;
- Structural appearance of discharge. First of all, it is worth noting that the volumetric amount of discharge during implantation is usually lower than in the case of menstruation. Also, quite often it manifests itself only in the form of one bloody spot or later minor bleeding that lasts only a few hours and quickly stops. As practice shows, bloody discharge during implantation has a darker but clear shade, a spreading consistency, and does not have an unpleasant odor;
- Pain syndrome. The physiological process is accompanied by only minor pain, which quickly disappears after the egg has fully implanted into the uterine mucosa. At the same time, increased pain in the abdominal area throughout the day is more indicative of the onset of normal menstruation or the presence of an ectopic pregnancy, and sometimes genitourinary pathologies;
- Secondary signs. Implantation bleeding cannot be considered the main visual sign of pregnancy. It should be correlated with other symptoms, in particular the presence of early toxicosis, tenderness of the mammary glands, fatigue, frequent urges, and so on.
Externally, as mentioned above, implantation secretions represent a rather meager volume corresponding to biological fluid, usually darker but uniform in color. Sometimes there is mucus in the discharge. What implantation bleeding looks like on a pad during pregnancy is shown in the photo:
How to tell the difference between implantation bleeding and periods
Menstruation, like bleeding during implantation, is a physiological process for a woman. However, if the former characterize the natural menstrual cycle, the latter are an early sign of pregnancy. The difference between menstruation and implantation bleeding is as follows:
- Varying degrees of intensity. In the vast majority of cases, implantation discharge is quite scanty, its volume is several times less than during normal menstruation;
- Shade and consistency. Menstrual discharge is more liquid and has variable shades, while there is almost always mucus in it, at the same time, implantation discharge is thick, there is little third-party substrate in it;
- Time frame. Bleeding during implantation begins from 6 to 14 days after conception, and lasts several hours, up to a maximum of 1 day, while menstruation lasts up to 5 days;
Related articles 
- Other features. During implantation discharge, the structure of the secreted fluid is smearing, there is no unpleasant odor, no clots are formed, the color is darker, but has an immediate red or pink uniform tint in deeper tones;
- Secondary symptoms. Pain sensations during implantation are somewhat lower than during menstruation and they do not intensify, but rather quickly fade. In addition, toxicosis, breast tenderness, fatigue and frequent urge to urinate can also be secondary symptoms and early signs of pregnancy.
In some cases, women complain of excessive bleeding during implantation, which can be correlated with normal menstruation. Such a clinical picture is very unlikely and occurs only in isolated cases.
Within the framework of general gynecological practice, a significant increase in the abundance of a physiological marker of early pregnancy indicates an erroneous diagnosis or the presence of a wide range of pathological circumstances, in particular chronic diseases of the genitourinary system, hormonal disorders, ectopic attachment of the zygote, and so on.
Implantation bleeding on what day after conception and ovulation
The time period for the formation of bleeding during implantation is quite close to regular menstruation, but still differs from them. How to correctly diagnose the presence of a corresponding physiological process as part of possible conception or ovulation:
- After ovulation. The menstrual cycle individually for each woman can vary within certain limits, but remains stable in situations where the woman does not have serious chronic genitourinary diseases. When calculating an approximate cycle of 31 days, on average, on days 23-27 of the cycle after ovulation, implantation bleeding is possible, in a situation where conception has occurred and the fertilized egg has attached to the mucous membranes of the uterus.
- After conception. Modern gynecologists also indicate the potential timing of bleeding during implantation after conception - usually this occurs 6-14 days from the date of fertilization of the egg. This is exactly how long it will take for the latter to cover the distance to the mucous membranes of the uterus from the corresponding tube.
How many days does the process last and when to take a pregnancy test?
There is no exact time frame for how many days implantation bleeding can last, since this process is individual and depends on a number of factors. As modern gynecological practice shows, on average it lasts from several hours to a maximum of 1 day, although in some cases, usually extremely rare, it reaches 2 days. When can you take a pregnancy test after implantation bleeding?
Despite the fact that modern express systems are quite accurate, immediately after bleeding during implantation the chances of correct interpretation of the results are minimal.
After direct attachment of the embryo in the uterine mucosa, the level of hCG hormone begins to increase, and significant diagnostic indicators of its increase are noticeable after at least 5-7 days. Accordingly, it is recommended to conduct testing no earlier than after 1 week. The optimal period can be considered a time frame of 2 weeks and beyond.
Does this physiological process always occur?
Implantation bleeding is a possible, although not guaranteed, marker of early pregnancy. According to global statistical medical studies, it manifests itself on average in a third of all women in an interesting position.
The likelihood of this physiological process occurring directly depends on how quickly and in what specific location of the uterine mucosa the fertilized egg is implanted. If the latter does not enter the vascular structures, then the prerequisites for the development of bleeding are not formed.
Implantation bleeding after IVF
In general, bleeding during implantation after IVF corresponds to the classical physiological process of conception. It is observed on average in 30% of women, and the phenomenon occurs 9-12 days after direct embryo transfer. The discharge itself is very rarely abundant, has a smearing consistency, and has no unpleasant odor.
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.
In an ectopic pregnancy, the latter does not reach the uterus directly, but is implanted in the tube or is pushed out in the opposite direction, becoming fixed in the ovaries or on the surrounding peritoneum.
Since there are no adequate conditions for embryo development outside the uterine cavity, the structural chorionic villi penetrate into the tissue of the organ and damage it, causing bleeding into the abdominal cavity.
It should be understood that the presence of specific signs and symptoms during implantation during an ectopic pregnancy depends on the location of the zygote attachment.
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.
In real life, pregnancy does not always proceed according to classical medical concepts. Bloody discharge can confuse not only the woman, but also the doctor. For example, in the case of implantation bleeding. It develops when the fertilized egg implants into the wall of the uterus and usually does not pose a threat to pregnancy. What does implantation bleeding look like and what can it be confused with?
Bloody discharge during pregnancy is always alarming. And the spotting associated with pregnancy on menstruation days can generally be mistaken for ordinary critical days. Only a doctor can clarify the matter, who will determine the cause of the violations after a thorough examination.
Conditions required for implantation
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
Starting from the first day of the cycle, the endometrium begins to prepare for the possible implantation of an egg during conception. Initially, there is an increase in the number of layers of the inner layer, which can be confirmed by ultrasound. The glands enlarge, the endometrium becomes “lush” and soon an “implantation window” appears - after the peak release of luteinizing hormone by the pituitary gland. If the fertilized egg does not fall into this gap, even a healthy amniotic sac will not attach.
From the embryo side
Immediately after fertilization of the egg, the process of formation of new cells begins. By the time it enters the uterine cavity, a blastocyst (consists of several hundred cells) is formed. By this time, it already “sends” a signal to the endometrium, releasing special substances (one of them is trypsin) so that it prepares even more intensively for implantation. If this does not happen, the amniotic sac cannot attach to the uterine cavity. This is one of the supposed failures of IVF, since it is at this stage that the replanting occurs.
The blastocyst with one of its poles (it is called the trophoblast) approaches the endometrium and begins the process of adhesion (sticking). Special cells and enzymes literally dissolve the tissues of the inner layer of the uterus with blood vessels so that the fetal sac can finally penetrate the wall.
Thus, during implantation, the fertilized egg approaches the endometrium and tries to penetrate it, while destroying tissue with blood vessels. The latter may be the cause of implantation bleeding, which is allowed even normally.
Implantation bleeding: what it looks like and main characteristics
Signs of implantation bleeding are observed in 1-2% of pregnant women. But most often all manifestations are attributed to the threat of miscarriage. This is understandable, because there are no methods or diagnostic procedures that would help distinguish and reliably determine the true cause of bleeding in such situations. But if the symptoms of embryo implantation are obvious, this diagnosis is also clear.
When might it be
Implantation of a fertilized egg occurs between the sixth and twentieth days after conception. It turns out that the appearance of spotting these days may be a sign of just such bleeding.
Most often, the time of implantation coincides with the eve of menstruation. But after early or late ovulation, these indicators can vary significantly. The following options are possible:
- discharge before the delay one or two days;
- daub instead of menstruation on time;
- spotting after a delay of several days.
Quantity
During implantation, capillaries, the smallest vessels, are destroyed, so the discharge is also not at all abundant. In 99% of cases they are spotting, brown, pink, bright scarlet. Often girls can describe it as follows:
- a single bright red spot on underwear or a pad;
- small streaks of blood in mucus or white discharge;
- spotting similar to menstrual on the first day.
Because of this nature, women do not always attach due importance to such discharge and seek medical help late. But in the case of implantation bleeding, there is no threat to pregnancy in 99% of cases.
Is there any pain and for what duration?
Pain is not typical for this process. If your stomach feels tight or there are cramping pains, these are signs of other conditions.
Implantation discharge lasts no more than one or two days and does not lead to disruption of the woman’s well-being. Longer periods are a sign of a threat of miscarriage or other conditions.
Additional symptoms
In addition to the symptoms associated with discharge, you may already be concerned about other signs of pregnancy. Most often the following:
- weakness, lethargy, fatigue;
- engorgement and enlargement of the mammary glands;
- nausea in the morning;
- sudden changes in mood.
If a woman keeps a chart of basal temperature, its increase is noted as during normal pregnancy.
What can be confused with
Signs of embryo attachment 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
| Sign | For implantation bleeding | If there is a threat of miscarriage or non-developing pregnancy | For ectopic pregnancy | For dysfunction or normal menstruation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| How many days does the discharge last? | - A day or two | - Several days and sometimes weeks | - More than two days; - sometimes they don’t exist at all | - Like normal menstruation or even longer (if dysfunction) |
| What kind of character are they? | - Scarce; - bright or dark | - Spotting; - the quantity may vary; - the amount of discharge often changes during treatment | - Spotting; - less often - more abundant | - Like regular critical days |
| On what day of the cycle did they appear? | - Before menstruation; - on the days of expected discharge; - after a delay | - After a delay | - Before or after the delay | - After a delay or during |
| HCG blood test (you can do a regular test instead) | - Positive; - high titers | - Positive; - medium or low titers | - Positive; - are the low titers average? | - Negative |
| Is there any pain? | - No | - Pain in the lower abdomen or lower back | - Pain in the lower abdomen or lower back; - sometimes radiates into the rectum | - As usual |
| Result of pelvic ultrasound | - no other deviations | - In the uterine cavity there is a fertilized egg; - there may be signs of hematoma or detachment | - There is no fertilized egg in the uterine cavity; it is detected in another place, for example, in the tubes | - Thin endometrium and not a single sign of pregnancy |
Does it happen after IVF?
The question often arises whether implantation bleeding occurs after embryo transfer into the uterine cavity during IVF. During the procedure, the fertilized egg is used precisely at the blastocyst stage, so the likelihood of such discharge remains the same as during normal pregnancy and even slightly higher, since assistive technologies cannot recreate the full picture of what is happening, but only imitate the main most important moments.
Is it dangerous for women?
Implantation bleeding does not always happen, and it is not a standard representation of the course of pregnancy. But it is believed that it does not affect the pregnancy itself and does not increase the risk of complications.
If implantation bleeding has consequences, it means that the cause of the spotting is hidden in something else. The risk of implantation bleeding with twins is the same as with a singleton pregnancy.
