What is implantation bleeding? Characteristics, signs and symptoms

The egg, once fertilized, starts developing and migrates to the uterine cavity where it implants into the endometrium, and a new pregnancy begins.

The woman usually has no symptoms during the fertilization of the egg in these first days of gestation. However, the implantation of the embryo can give rise to some symptoms, including implantation bleeding.

Stages of the embryo implantation process

Egg implantation is the process by which the embryo attaches to the endometrium, continuing its development and giving rise to an evolving pregnancy. Thanks to implantation, the embyro can now oxygen and nutrients it needs from the mother via the blood during the following months of gestation.

Implantation begins on the seventh or eighth day of embryonic development, that is to say after the sperm has fertilized the egg, and can last for several days.

Embryonic development and implantation bleeding

For this embryo implantation to take place, the mother's endometrium must be receptive and the embryo must be in the blastocyst stage. There must be total synchrony between the two events.

During the implantation process, the blastocyst invades the endometrium and breaks its blood vessels. New ones can then form to allow the exchange of nutrients from the maternal blood via the placenta and the umbilical cord. The rupture of these small endometrial vessels causes implantation bleeding to occur.

To learn more about the steps involved in embryo implantation, we recommend visiting this guide: Embryo implantation: process and stages.

From this moment, levels of pregnancy-related hormones rise (beta-hCG and progesterone), which are responsible for the typical pregnancy symptoms. Most women don't usually notice symptoms until around the fifth or sixth week of gestation, although there are women who may experience them earlier.

What does implantation bleeding look like?

Implantation bleeding consists of light vaginal bleeding or spotting that occurs a few days after implantation.

The duration of this bleeding depends on the woman. Generally, it is short-lived, although it may last several days or a week with intermittent spotting.

It should be noted that implantation bleeding does not always occur in pregnancy. It is more common for a woman not have any bleeding at all when she becomes pregnant.

Dr. Silvia Jiménez states:

There are occasions when we see a small amount of implantation spotting and occasions when we don't. It is completely normal to have no spotting at all.

When does implantation bleeding occur?

If we assume a 28-day menstrual cycle, where ovulation occurs in the middle of the cycle, it is common for implantation bleeding to occur about 7 to 10 days after ovulation.

In other words, implantation bleeding usually occurs on around days 21-24 of the menstrual cycle, just before the period. Therefore, it is easy to confuse it with an early period, especially in those with irregular cycles.

Only women actively looking for pregnancy, who keep a strict control of their menstrual cycle, are able to identify this implantation bleeding as a sign of pregnancy.

Implantation bleeding and the menstrual cycle

Having said this, for women who are in the beta standby period after an assisted reproduction treatment, it is important to point out that implantation bleeding does not occur in most cases. Therefore, not experiencing spotting during beta standby does not necessarily mean that the treatment did not work.

To reliably check whether a woman has achieved pregnancy, it is necessary to do a urine test or beta-hCG blood test at the right time. If you want to know more information in detail about this matter, we recommend continuing your reading here: When to do a pregnancy test.

Implantation bleeding or period?

Since implantation bleeding is vaginal bleeding that occurs at the end of the menstrual cycle, it is easy to confuse with menstruation as explained in the previous section.

However, implantation bleeding has some characteristics that allow us to recognize it:

• Lighter spotting than a regular period, and of a lighter consistency.
• The color can be pink, brown or reddish, although it is not usually as intense in colour as regular period blood.
• It can last for as little as a few hours, or even as long as a few days, as light or moderate, intermittent spotting.

Differences between menstruation and implantation bleeding.

Dr Nadia Caroppo, an OB/GYN specializing in assisted reproduction, adds the following comments:

Implantation bleeding occurs around the expected date of menstruation, which cooincides with the woman's next cycle. It is usually a very scant, brownish to reddish bleeding, which may last one day, two days, or may last longer.

Generally, women who are trying for pregnancy are well aware of it, otherwise it is usually something that passes the woman by without her noticing.

Other common signs of embryo implantation

In addition to the implantation bleeding that we have discussed, there are other symptoms of pregnancy that may appear along with this spotting. These symptoms also help to determine whether it is really embryo implantation or menstruation.

However, it is important to keep in mind that some pregnancy symptoms are similar to premenstrual symptoms and therefore may cause more doubt and confusion.

The following are some of the typical symptoms of pregnancy:

• Late period
• Cramping over 1 or 2 days, similar to period pain.
• Slight swelling of the breasts, especially around the areola and the nipple.
• Digestive disturbances such as diarrhea, constipation or heartburn.
• Constant urge to urinate.
• Fatigue and tiredness.
• Nausea or even vomiting, especially after waking up.
• Aversion to some foods, tobacco and certain smells.
• First food cravings, and more meals but with less quantity of food.

What are the symptoms of embryo implantation?

It is also possible for a woman to have these implantation symptoms without the characteristic bleeding described in this post. Every woman is different and there is a great variability in the symptoms that are noticed throughout pregnancy.

To learn more about the first symptoms of pregnancy, you can consult this article: Am I pregnant? - 10 Early Clues and Symptoms.

Excessive monitoring of any type of sign or change in the body, together with the enormous desire to be a mother and the fear of not achieving it, can cause the woman herself to provoke the symptoms of pregnancy without being pregnant.

Therefore, the best thing to do when planning pregnancy and trying for a baby is to be calm. Try to relax with a pleasant activities and avoid analyzing every symptom obsessively!

FAQs from users

How do I distinguish implantaton bleeding from my period?

Post-implantation bleeding usually occurs a few days after the embryo transfer and is usually vaginal bleeding of a smaller amount than a menstrual period.

In case of unsuccessful treatment, menstruation occurs at least one week after the embryo transfer and the amount of bleeding is greater.

What are the symptoms of egg fertilization?

It is important to distinguish between fertilization of the egg and implantation of the embryo. Fertilization is the process in which the sperm fuses with the egg through the union of their nuclei (the location of thegenetic information) to form a zygote that will begin its development and give rise to an embryo. Subsequently, the embryo, already divided into several cells, will implant in the uterine cavity and the pregnancy begins.

Fertilization does not cause discomfort or pain, i.e. there are no symptoms of the union of the egg with the sperm. However, the implantation of the embryo can lead to symptoms such as those we have highlighted above: light, temporary bleeding or spotting, slight discomfort, swelling, increased urination, etc.

When is the implantation of the fertilized egg noticeable?

Following implantation, the woman may notice a small, short-term bleeding or a bloody discharge. This does not always occur andhappens in about one third of pregnant women. Each woman may experience it differently. In addition, other pregnancy symptoms, such as increased urination, breast pain or fatigue, may occur.

Even so, these symptoms are very general and can be confused with premenstrual symptoms, so the only way to confirm that implantation has occurred and that the woman is pregnant is to do a pregnancy test, for which it is preferable to wait for a missed period.

Does egg implantation hurt?

Generally, no. However, there may be discomfort similar to that which occurs before or during menstruation, such as breast pain or cramping. If the woman has more severe pain it is advisable to consult a doctor to determine the possible cause.

What does implantation bleeding look like?

Implantation bleeding can be pink, a reddish color or even brown depending on the individual woman. Generally, it is not as intense in color as menstrual bleeding.

How long does implantation bleeding last?

Implantation bleeding lasts for a few hours or occurs intermittently for two or three days. It can last up to a week, but it is unusual for it to last this long.

When is it advisable to do a pregnancy test if there is implantation bleeding?

Since implantation bleeding usually occurs a few days before the expected date of menstruation, it is best to wait until the missed period for the pregnancy test to be reliable.

The pregnancy test detects the beta-hCG hormone, which is secreted by the embryo after implantation. Therefore, if we do the pregnancy test before the recommended date, it is likely that the beta-hCG levels won't have risen sufficiently and a false negative will occur.

Is implantation bleeding common after IVF-ICSI?

This depends on the individual woman. As with natural conception, not all women who undergo IVF treatment experience embryo implantation bleeding.

When the embryo is transferred into the uterus, some women experience slight implantation spotting. However, other women have no bleeding at all. This is why the presence or absence of implantation bleeding does not mean that pregnancy has been achieved or not.

Does embryo implantation make you tired?

Yes. As a matter of fact, fatigue is one of the most common symptoms accompanying implantation bleeding. Implantation can make you feel quite tired all day long because the progesterone hormone increases when a woman is pregnant and acts as a sedative.

Recommended reading

Embryo implantation is a complex process regulated by both maternal and embryonic factors. If you want to know all the details in each of the stages, you can go to the following post: What is embryo implantation?

Apart from implantation bleeding, other bleeding can occur during pregnancy that may cause for stress and concern on the part of the mother. For more information on this topic, we recommend that you continue reading here: Is bleeding in pregnancy normal?