Can you have your period after implantation bleeding

What Is Implantation Bleeding?

Implantation bleeding is light bleeding from the vagina that happens in some women 10 to 14 days after conceiving a baby.

You may think it’s just a light period, but it’s an early sign of pregnancy. It’s not dangerous, and you don’t need treatment.

But heavy bleeding (more than you’d have with a typical period) can be a sign of a problem. Call your doctor if you bleed a lot, with or without fever, chills, or have cramps that get worse. 

When Does Implantation Bleeding Happen?

After a sperm fertilizes your egg, the combination becomes an embryo. It travels to your uterus, where it implants itself into the lining.

Sometimes, as the embryo attaches, it causes a little bleeding.  This usually happens about the time you would have your period. You may even confuse it with your period and not realize you’re pregnant. Implantation bleeding is normal and doesn’t mean you or your baby will have problems.

Implantation Bleeding Symptoms

Implantation bleeding tends to happen before you notice morning sickness. You might have:

  • Blood that’s brown or pinkish
  • Blood that’s lighter in flow and doesn’t last as long  as your period
  • Mild or no cramping
  • Unlike your period, you won’t see any blood clots or tissue in the blood

It’s probably implantation bleeding if you have some of the other signs of early pregnancy, including:

  • Tender, swollen breasts or nipples
  •  Fatigue
  •  Headache
  •  Upset stomach
  • Vomiting (morning sickness)
  • Food cravings or aversions
  • Mood swings
  • Peeing more than usual

If you’re not sure whether you’re having implantation bleeding or your period, take a pregnancy test or talk to your doctor.

How Long Does Implantation Bleeding Last?

Unlike most periods, it usually stops after 1 or 2 days.

Implantation Bleeding Treatment

It will stop on its own. If you're worried that you've bled a lot, call your doctor. They may want to know how much blood you saw and what color it was.

Other Causes of Bleeding During Pregnancy

Many things can cause bleeding in pregnant women, some of them harmless and some serious. If you’re bleeding a lot, with or without pain or cramping at any time, call your doctor.

If you’re pregnant and see blood in your underwear, it may be caused by:

Sex. Hormonal and physical changes may be to blame for this. It should stop on its own.

Fibroids and polyps. Your doctor might do some tests to check for these growths on your uterus.

Cervical problems. Conditions like infection or growths on your cervix can also cause bleeding.

Infection. Sexually transmitted diseases like trichomoniasis can cause light bleeding as well as more serious problems. Starting treatment as soon as possible will keep your baby healthy.

Ectopic pregnancy. This is when an embryo implants outside your uterus. You may have bleeding with pain and cramps. It’s dangerous and needs medical care right away.

Miscarriage. About 15% of known pregnancies end during the first few months. Most women bleed and cramp afterward. Call your doctor right away if you know that you're pregnant and you have these symptoms.

When to See a Doctor

Call your doctor if the bleeding doesn’t stop after a few days or if you’re worried about how much you are bleeding. 

Implantation bleeding is light bleeding that may happen about six to 12 days after conception. It may be caused by a fertilized egg implanting in the blood-rich lining of your uterus. Implantation bleeding can be an early sign of pregnancy, but some women mistake it for menstrual blood because it may happen around the time they expect their period.

Implantation bleeding

Implantation bleeding is light bleeding that a small percentage of pregnant women have at about six to 12 days after fertilization. Here's the theory behind why it happens:

After the sperm fertilizes the egg, it starts the three- or four-day trip from the fallopian tube to your uterus. During this time, it divides into hundreds of identical cells. Meanwhile, your ovaries release estrogen that causes the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) to thicken and develop more blood vessels. The uterine lining is preparing to host the quickly growing egg that will soon become an embryo.

Once the egg enters the uterus, it's called a blastocyst, a tiny ball of several hundred cells. A day or two later, it begins burrowing into the blood-rich lining of your uterus, where it continues to grow and divide. As it burrows into the endometrium, the blastocyst may cause little blood vessels to burst, resulting in a small amount of vaginal bleeding.

Implantation bleeding symptoms

In addition to light bleeding, some women also have these other implantation symptoms:

  • Light cramping (less than with a normal period)
  • Nausea
  • Breast tenderness
  • Lower back pain
  • Mood swings
  • Headaches

Note that these symptoms are no guarantee that you're pregnant – they can also be signs of ovulation or PMS. Taking a home pregnancy test is the best way to find out if you're pregnant. (Though you may have to wait a few more days to get an accurate result.)

If you do get your period instead of a positive pregnancy test, and haven't yet scheduled a preconception visit with a midwife or doctor, now is a good time to do so.

When does implantation bleeding occur?

Implantation bleeding tends to occur during the week before you would expect your period, or about six to 12 days after conception. This is around the same time a fertilized egg would be attaching itself to the uterine lining.

How long does implantation bleeding last?

Unlike a regular menstrual period, implantation bleeding usually lasts no more than a day or two. This is the amount of time it takes for the fertilized egg to become implanted into the lining of the uterus.

How common is implantation bleeding?

By some estimates, about 15 to 25 percent of women experience implantation bleeding. Some women may think they’re having a light period when they see the spotting. They may not realize they're pregnant.

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

Here's how to tell whether your bleeding is more likely to be implantation bleeding or your period:

  • Amount of blood. Implantation bleeding is a lot lighter than a typical period. It's usually just a little spotting.
  • Length of time. Most women bleed for three to seven days during their period. Implantation bleeding often lasts only one to three days.
  • Color. Menstrual blood is usually bright red or dark red, but implantation bleeding tends to be a light pink, brown, or rust discharge.
  • Clotting. Many women bleed enough during their period that some of the blood clots or becomes like a gel. Implantation bleeding is too light to clot.

When to see a doctor for bleeding in early pregnancy

If you continue spotting even after a positive pregnancy test, or if you develop other symptoms (such as pelvic or abdominal pain, dizziness, or lightheadedness), call your provider immediately.

You may need an exam to make sure you don't have an ectopic pregnancy. This happens when the fertilized egg grows outside the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube. (It's possible to have an ectopic pregnancy even if you don't get a positive result on a pregnancy test.)

Bleeding or cramping in early pregnancy may also be a sign of an impending miscarriage. But many women spot in the first trimester for no apparent reason and go on to have a completely normal pregnancy.

Learn more:

Quiz: Am I pregnant?

Video: What is implantation bleeding?

Why do I have my period after implantation bleeding?

Implantation bleeding is thought to happen when the fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus. Implantation bleeding usually occurs around the time you would expect to have a menstrual period. However, implantation bleeding is lighter than menstrual bleeding.

Can you get your period after implantation and still be pregnant?

Can you still have your period and be pregnant? After a girl is pregnant, she no longer gets her period. But girls who are pregnant can have other bleeding that might look like a period. For example, there can be a small amount of bleeding when a fertilized egg implants in the uterus.

How long after implantation bleeding do you get your period?

Implantation bleeding tends to occur during the week before you would expect your period, or about six to 12 days after conception. This is around the same time a fertilized egg would be attaching itself to the uterine lining.

What happens after implantation bleeding?

If the implantation is successful, spotting or light cramping can be experienced. If unsuccessful, your period will start. Some of the common post embryo implantation symptoms are listed below: Cramping and spotting: A brown vaginal discharge for 1-2 days is experienced after a successful implantation.