{"id":52453,"date":"2019-08-19T17:16:15","date_gmt":"2019-08-19T15:16:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/?p=52453"},"modified":"2022-11-23T18:12:18","modified_gmt":"2022-11-23T16:12:18","slug":"what-implantation-bleeding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/what-implantation-bleeding\/","title":{"rendered":"Is bleeding normal after implantation?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Implantation bleeding<\/strong> is considered to be a sign of early pregnancy. It is estimated that 1 in 4\u00a0pregnant women<\/strong> will experience implantation bleeding. It can also be accompanied by mild implantation pain<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re not expecting to be pregnant, it could pass you by without you noticing. \u00a0You might even mistake it for early spotting ahead of your next period. But if you\u2019re trying to get pregnant, it\u2019s natural that you might be more alert to the signs that something feels different. It is also natural to worry about whether something is wrong, or if it\u2019s just normal. To put your mind at ease right from the beginning: implantation bleeding is totally normal.<\/strong> Only a quarter of pregnant women experience implantation bleeding<\/strong>, so if you don\u2019t notice anything, there\u2019s nothing to worry about either. Implantation bleeding is a phenomenon that doesn’t always occur, and it doesn’t mean there are any problems with your pregnancy. Here\u2019s a helpful guide that tells you all you need to know about implantation bleeding.<\/strong><\/p>\n

What is implantation bleeding?<\/h2>\n

You may think of the moment of conception as the moment when the sperm meets the egg. Once they merge to become a single cell, life begins. However, it\u2019s also helpful to view pregnancy as a process, rather than a single event.<\/p>\n

The process begins when the egg is fertilised. This normally happens as the egg makes its way along the fallopian tube. The egg is fertilised when it joins with the sperm, and the process of cell division begins. Once fertilised, it will rapidly divide to become an embryo called a blastocyst<\/strong>. It is at this stage that the embryo reaches the uterus to start the implantation process. In total, this process takes between six to ten days once fertilisation has taken place.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Upon reaching the womb, the embryo is a sticky mass of cells that’s ready to attach itself to the lining of the uterus. Before implantation, the uterus will have already prepared itself for the embryo by getting thicker. This area of the female body is irrigated by a complex system of arteries, veins, and blood vessels needed to sustain an embryo and promote its healthy development. When implantation takes place, it is possible for some small blood vessels to capture the embryo and be broken as it settles into the womb lining. This is what sometimes leads to some blood loss and consequent spotting, known as an implantation bleed<\/strong>. This normally happens between ten to 14 days after conception.<\/p>\n

How does implantation bleeding occur?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Non-pregnant women have roughly 100ml of blood circulating the uterine artery per minute. During early pregnancy, this rises to 120ml per minute. In these early stages, the uterus is well supplied by blood vessels and is therefore more prone to bleed. When the embryo sticks to the inner lining of the uterus, it can cause the veins and arteries of the endometrium to break, which causes an implantation bleed. This is very normal.<\/p>\n

Implantation bleeding doesn\u2019t occur because anything is wrong, or because the interaction between the endometrium and the embryo is ‘violent’. The embryo must be perfectly connected with the endometrial tissue to ensure the exchange of nutrients in the delicate gestation process that occurs in the following months. In order to do this, the bundle of cells that make up the embryo break the superficial capillaries of the endometrium with the intention of forming some new ones. The new capillaries will join the embryo and serve to feed the developing foetus through the future placenta.<\/p>\n

The blood lost in this complex process is what we identify as implantation bleeding, and for this reason it is slightly different from menstrual blood. Since the endometrial tissue is full of blood vessels, bleeding can also occur for other equally natural reasons.<\/p>\n

What colour is the blood?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Implantation bleeding occurs between seven to ten days after fertilisation. This time normally coincides with your menstrual cycle when your next period is expected. Implantation bleeding is identifiable by its lighter colour and thinner texture. The colour is less intense and not as dark as menstrual blood. Although it\u2019s not uncommon to experience bright red or pink implantation bleeding, it will still be lighter in colour than blood during menstruation.<\/p>\n

Implantation bleeding does not follow a fixed pattern. It can occur in one pregnancy and not in others, interchangeably. Spotting may also occur coinciding during the luteal phase, which is due to a hormonal issue and is not directly related to implantation, although it can be confused with it.<\/p>\n

Losses due to embryonic implantation can last from one to three days, and are identified by the intensity of bleeding which is less than that which occurs with normal menstruation, although this can vary greatly among women but generally speaking it\u2019s easy to observe the difference.<\/p>\n

How is implantation bleeding different from a period?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Implantation bleeding<\/strong> is normally noticeable as a small amount of spotting or light bleeding that happens around 10 to 14 days after conception. It is light, stops by itself and does not require any treatment. Because of the timing, it is easy to confuse it with the onset of your next period, but there are some key differences. Let\u2019s have a look at them:<\/p>\n

Duration<\/strong><\/h4>\n