I’m confused and wonder if you could lend some advice or your own thoughts on the differences that you have experienced on this topic.
I have regular cycles around 27 days (sometimes 26). My menstruation typically starts light and is super heavy the second day (red in color). It typically lasts 4-5 days. On day 12 of my cycle I have a positive OFK and subsequently had intercourse. I either ovulated on day 13 or 14 so today would be around CD 11. Yesterday morning, I started with a very bright colored blood and then experienced nothing until later in the afternoon. Later it was more and I had some cramping. I used a tampon b/c I did not have pads. That night it was only on one side. Two different times I had a drop on my underwear. Overnight it did not fill half the tampon. Today was the same thing. In fact after six hours and then checking the tampon, it was filled about half way, but my guess is that it was not soaked all the way through. The color is not the same as usual, but it seems like I shouldn’t have that much blood b/c what I read says “spotting”. Typically, today I would be really heavy and it is about half that. It is also three or four days prior to my period so I am confused. It feels like a period, but I am unsure because of the bright color and amount. Any thoughts? Thanks!
All user-generated information on this site is the opinion of its author only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Members and guests are responsible for their own posts and the potential consequences of those posts detailed in our Terms of Service.
Add a Comment31 Comments
Hi,
This is a good question: exactly what is implantation bleeding...how much, what does it look like (compared to a regular period), how long does it last, etc.
Implantation bleeding is typically brown in color, and many women do not notice any bleeding. It can last from 1-3 days, and can be frustrating due to its timing...it can be occurring right before a period (few days before), or at the time of an expected period. Implantation bleeding is much less blood than menstruation, it's almost a misnomer to call it "bleeding", as it is more descriptive to call it a "spot" or "spotting".
From your description, it sounds like a light menstrual cycle ("red" and "half the normal heavy bleeding"), rather than implantation bleeding ("brown" and "spotting").
How long have you been trying to conceive? Have you taken a home pregnancy test yet, as these tests can reliable detect (with about 99% accuracy) any pregnancy hormone, once you are expecting your period.
You may find this interesting. It is an entertaining (yet very educational) video from Planned Parenthood regarding the timing of pregnancy. How long it takes for egg to be released from ovary, travel through fallopian tubes, become fertilized, travel through fallopian tube to uterus as it is multiplying, implant itself into the uterus, then the pregnancy hormones begin to surge. This entire process, from conception to implantation, can take 1-2 weeks!
Source: AC: What is Implantation Bleeding?
June 25, 2009 - 7:25pmThis Comment
Heyy (: My Period Was 11Days Late & im a Regular cycler but me & My boyfriend have unprotected sex all the time & Now i got slight bleeding that lasted for 2 days . . it was a bit heavy to begin with & was a bright red but then it turne very light & was a brownish pink color & now all i have is like brown disharge & Mucus . . & My Pregnancy Tests are Coming out negative . . . What Do You Think ?
December 9, 2009 - 1:04pmDear ac90309
If you're pregnancy tests are all negative and you are bleeding, you are unlikely to be pregnant. Your period changes from the beginning (usually heavy, like you experienced) and then lighter, like you said and ending with browner (old) blood, as you also experienced.
You may have suddenly had an irregular month - it happens, even with the most regular of women.
If it happens again, or this change worries you - see your health care provider.
Are you looking to become pregnant?
December 9, 2009 - 1:31pmi was supposed to start my period on the 6 of august, i started on the third with heavy bleeding on the first day, then it was light the next day and gone the next day, this is very unusual for me. I am currently on my fourth cycle of chlomid. since this time, my bbt has been elevated, in the upper 98 degree range, and for the last three to four months it usually is in the low 97 degree range the day after my period goes off. im sooooo confused, now with this, i had cramps, so im thinking it was my period, but why is my temp elevated like this? I have also experienced slight nausea, and breast tenderness, and slight headaches. and i am also still having very light cramps in my lower abdomen. and i have now started to urinate more frequently, which if pregnant i did not think that would happen till about week 12. I have taken two pregnancy test, and both were negative, i have read however that you may not get a positive till later on. can anyone give me some input?
August 9, 2010 - 5:56pmHI :)
I'm experiencing some very light bleeding. I was supposed to have my period yesterday, and i've been having this for about a few days. I usually cramp very badly when i have my period. This time nothing. My breasts are not sore, nothing. The only thing i can say is that my back is hurting but it always hurts. I have irregular periods and have been trying to conceive for about 5 months now. I started spotting about 2 days ago. It looks like a very light red discharge. I had a couple of little blood clots so i have no clue. lol. It got a little darker like a lighter color than an apple so i put a tampon in. This morning i went to the bathroom and it wasn't full at all. All i had was very light pink color and a few blood clots....I've never had this before. I wanna know everyone's opinion. It stopped completely now. Like i said i was supposed to get my period yesterday that's why i thought it was my period. Help :( I have no idea. Thank you!
May 10, 2011 - 9:05amThis sounds like your menstrual period. A period can change for no apparent reason, and if the change is within the range of "normal", then it is just a different period this cycle.
A normal range for a period includes:
- Color: red, pink, brown (or some combination)
- Flow: it can be lighter or heavier. Excessive bleeding that would need to be discussed with your doctor is defined by soaking through more than one pad or tampon every hour. Lighter bleeding is normal.
- Duration: 3-5 days; some women have up to 7 days.
- Symptoms: you may have symptoms one cycle and none the next
Since you have had about 3 days of bleeding, and it is lighter than usual, it is still considered a normal period.
May 10, 2011 - 1:45pmThe color of implantation bleeding can vary form bright red to brown implantation bleeding. Bright red implantation bleeding means that there is an active area of bleeding within the womb and blood is flowing from the site of implantation to the vagina very quickly. Brown implantation bleeding is the color of old blood. When you get brown implantation bleeding it normally means that when the fertilized egg buried it way into the womb, a little blood was released.
Implantation bleeding
May 27, 2011 - 12:38amhello , im having a pregnancy scare and i was hoping that you could help me out .
June 19, 2011 - 8:49pmits less than a week until my next period and i woke up in the morning with a dark stain in my underwear . i went to the bathroom and was dripping a little red blood , and there was faint red when i wiped a couple of times . i used a tampon and when i took it out later in the day it was sparsely smudged in brown all around , with a little red . but later in the evening there was barely anything at all . could this be implantation bleeding ?
my period is pretty much regular , and i usually get more than this my first day . ive been having regular protected sex (condoms) . i dont have any pregnancy symptoms (nausea , cramps , etc) other than that im extraordinarily exhausted , but im usually like that before my period . please let me know what you think - i might be a bit paranoid but im really worried .
Hi Anon
Thanks for your post!
It sounds like your period came early, as implantation bleeding is light brown or pink and is very light.
It has been a few days - did you get your period fully, yet?
June 24, 2011 - 12:46pm~Susan
no - i got a drop of blood the next day , and then nothing at all . (sorry if this is tmi .) for those two days i felt basically like i was having my period , only without the period .
June 24, 2011 - 12:51pmi understand that its supposed to be very light , but im not sure exactly whether my case fits this definition .. do you mean only a few drops ? and from what i understand each woman experiences implantation bleeding differently . im going to wait until my original period is supposed to come , and if it doesnt i'm going to take a test .