What is Implantation Bleeding?

If you are expecting your period, implantation during early pregnancy often mimics the signs and symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, especially if you don’t know that you are pregnant or your pregnancy is a complete surprise.    Implantation bleeding occurs in roughly 1 to 2 percent of women and many women often mistake it for their period.  Implantation bleeding generally occurs around 6 to 14 days after conception, which happens to be around the same time that you would normally get your period.

How does Implantation Occur?

Implantation occurs when the egg is implanting into the lining of your uterus.  The egg is surrounded by a trophoblast, which is a highly specialized tissue that protects the egg after it is fertilized.  The trophoblast forms the moment the egg is fertilized in the ovaries and protects the egg as it makes it’s way to the uterus.  Then it attaches itself into the endomentrium lining of the uterus.  This is the tissue is normally shed during menstruation when your body isn’t pregnant but if you are pregnant you body uses this tissue to nourish the fertilized egg.  The endomentrium lining is necessary for the blastocyst (your embroyo) and trophoblast (which will turn into the placenta) to grow and receive nourishment.

What is Implantation Bleeding?

Once the blastocyst implants into the uterus sometimes it implants into an area that is filled with blood.  As the egg is implanting itself into the endomentrium tissue, the blood will leak out and cause spotting, a small amount of bleeding that often resembles a light period.  In fact, many women often mistake implantation bleeding as their period unless they already have a confirmed positive pregnancy test.  If you have had a positive pregnancy, this spotting can scare a women because they automatically think that any sign of bleeding is the first signs of a possible miscarriage or a sign of a problem with the pregnancy.  It will often send a woman running to their doctor or emergency room immediately to ensure that there is nothing wrong with the baby.

Implantation Bleeding is Normal and Has No Adverse Side Effects

Implantation bleeding has no adverse side effects on the pregnancy and has no cause for concern.  However, if your spotting or bleeding is very heavy, you are having painful cramps, increased back pain, or any other unusual symptoms you should contact your health care professional immediately.  Always tell your health care provider if you experience any bleeding or spotting during your pregnancy.  Implantation bleeding shouldn’t last more than 1 to 2 days and should be very light.