How To Know If It's Implantation Bleeding Or Your Period?

How To Know If It's Implantation Bleeding Or Your Period? 

Implantation bleeding is one of the initial indicators of pregnancy. However, many pregnant women overlook or pay little attention to this early sign of pregnancy since it looks like mild spotting or the start of their menstrual cycle.

While bleeding during pregnancy can occasionally be a warning sign that something is wrong, implantation bleeding is one of the first indications that you are pregnant.

Implantation bleeding may be misunderstood, particularly in women who are not actively attempting to get pregnant. Are you also bleeding but unsure if it is your period or implantation bleeding? 

Then you have come to the right page. Antenate will explain implantation bleeding and how you can distinguish it from the period with this article.

What is Implantation Bleeding?

Once the sperm fertilises the egg, it starts to develop and divide, and your body prepares for pregnancy.  The embryo keeps boosting, and the uterine walls begin to modify. Though uterine walls are wide, they want to evolve to support a growing fetus for the next nine months.

Once implantation finishes, the embryo starts to depend on the mother’s body and the uterine walls to deliver oxygen and nutrients. Embryo migration occurs after endometrial modifications and embryonic growth. It passes via the fallopian tube. When it enters the womb, it implants into the lining. Hence, this process is called implantation. 

Implantation occurs among the sixth & twelfth days from conception. Once the embryo implants, it might induce some blood vessels to explode, known as implantation bleeding.

Ways to Know the Difference Between Period and Implantation Bleeding

Here are five signs you can check to specify whether the blood you notice is period blood or implantation bleeding.

1. Check the Color

You must be aware that standard period blood is a dark red colour, so when you notice the blood colour is lighter than usual, it is a sign that you might be pregnant. 

Since implantation bleeding is the same uterine wall shedding as a typical period, it takes the appearance of a discharge identical to period blood. However, that colour will be considerably different.

2. Notice the Timing

The average menstrual cycle in a woman is 28 days, and ovulation occurs about the 14th day. You can usually expect to get your period almost two weeks following ovulation. However, one week before the start of regular menstruation, implantation bleeding can be noticed if pregnancy has already occurred. Hence, by checking the time, you can know if you are pregnant or not. 

3. Inspect the Symptoms

Specific symptoms of menstruation possess headache, backache, stomach problems, bloating, constipation, diarrhoea, cramping, and mood swings. You may be having usual menstruation if these common symptoms accompany bleeding.

But if the bleeding is related to the symptoms such as nausea, regular urination, vomiting, bloating, increased sensitivity to smells, and breast compassion, then it could be implantation bleeding. 

Remember mild abdomen cramping is normal for the standard period and implantation bleeding. But if the bleeding is happening with extreme abdominal and vaginal hurt, you should seek medical help immediately. Intense pain might be a signal of early miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.

4. Check the Amount of Blood

Menstruation duration might vary greatly, but a woman can anticipate average bleeding to last between 3 to 7 days. As women get older, menstruation can shorten and decrease in intensity.

On the other hand, the implantation bleeding will stay minimally for a few minutes or at max only for 3 days. If bleeding or spotting persists for more than 3 days, it is possibly not implantation bleeding; hence you should not ignore it, especially if it comes at a time when you didn't expect your regular period. Any unusual bleeding might signal something serious, so you should consult a doctor.

5. Sense your Intuition

Faith in the power of your intuition can lead you to believe that you can sense a pregnancy long before displaying any symptoms. 

If, after looking at the colour, timing, manifestations, and amount, you are still uncertain whether the blood is connected to implantation bleeding, period, or something else, you should check your intuition. 

Before there is any concrete proof to back it up, you may frequently sense that something is "odd" by listening to your body. However, it is crucial to constantly communicate with your doctor about any feelings and signs you may experience.

When Should you Take a Pregnancy Test?

Since it’s challenging to know the difference between implantation bleeding and period, you should take a pregnancy test if there is a possibility that you might be pregnant.

Pregnancy tests calculate the level of the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone in your blood. This hormone is created by the placenta that sustains the newly growing embryo.

According to a study, a urine pregnancy test which you can even do at home is 99 per cent correct if the kit does not expire and you are doing it after the foremost day of your skipped period.

It is possible to use some urine tests that are extremely sensitive sooner, but be aware that there is a chance that you may receive a negative result when you are pregnant. Wait seven days before retesting if you tested negative but continue to have symptoms that lead you to believe you are pregnant.

You can also take a blood test in a hospital and a doctor’s supervision to detect pregnancy after 11 days of conception. Remember, the hCG is only created after implantation, so testing for a pregnancy at the first indication of implantation bleeding will probably result in a negative.

Other Bleedings That Might Happen During Pregnancy

If you’re worried about bleeding after a missed period, there might be other issues apart from pregnancy. Bleeding in the first trimester is expected. Still, any bleeding during pregnancy is abnormal, and you should contact your physician.

When you experience light bleeding, it might be due to simple things like your cervix being more sensitive and creating additional blood vessels, so intercourse or a pelvic test can induce bleeding.

Nonetheless, it might be due to more severe issues if you experience bright red or heavy bleeding while pregnant. Here are some potential reasons:

• Ectopic Pregnancy - Rare condition of pregnancy that happens when the egg fertilises outside the womb. If you feel extreme pain on one side of your tummy or back, reach your OB instantly. 
• Subchorionic Hemorrhage - Occurs when the placenta separates from the original location of implantation.
• Miscarriage - Also called spontaneous abortion and might happen before 20 weeks. It is the most standard pregnancy difficulty; almost 80 per cent of miscarriages ensue in the first trimester.
• Molar Pregnancy - Occurs when a group of tissue grows from the implanted egg instead of an infant.

If you tested positive for pregnancy and are still bleeding, no matter how light the bleeding is, be sure to consult your doctor to see if there isn’t something more severe going on.

Conclusion 

After reading this guide, we hope that the question ‘if you have implantation bleeding or period’ will no longer irritate your mind. Share your views about this article with Antenate. 

Also, if you are going through any bleeding that doesn’t seem normal and have questions about it, talk to our Fertility Expert and Gynecologist, Dr Shesha Sinha, to get help to determine the next steps when unsure whether you’re pregnant or not.