What is the difference between spotting and implantation bleeding

When you’re trying to conceive, it’s totally normal to pay attention to any little thing that happens in your body—after all, it could be a sign that you’re pregnant! One of the early indicators of a possible pregnancy women look for is implantation bleeding. Here’s everything you need to know about it, including what it is, when it happens, and what to look for.

What Is Implantation Bleeding?

Implantation bleeding is exactly what it sounds like. When a fertilized egg attaches, or implants, to the lining of the uterus, some people notice light bleeding or spotting. The attachment and subsequent movement of the embryo in the uterine wall can break down small blood vessels and cause this bit of bleeding. It’s important to note that implantation bleeding doesn’t happen for everyone—or even for every pregnancy. About one in three women experience implantation bleeding upon conceiving.

When Does Implantation Bleeding Happen?

Implantation bleeding typically occurs between days 10–14 of your cycle. And if you’re familiar with the reproductive cycle, this is right around the same time that a menstrual period occurs. Confusing, right?

How Can I Tell the Difference between Implantation Bleeding and My Period?

Because of the timing, it can be easy to confuse implantation bleeding with early period spotting. But there are a few differences you can look for, including:

Amount: Implantation bleeding is typically only spotting or a very light flow—some women only notice it when they wipe. Implantation bleeding is never enough to fill a pad or tampon like a menstrual period.

Color: Menstrual bleeding is typically a bright to dark red, and will look like what you typically experience during your monthly period. Implantation bleeding is a much lighter hue, typically a very light pink or light rust color.

Clotting: Some women experience passing small clots during a menstrual period; however, implantation bleeding should never be accompanied by clotting.

Timing: Implantation bleeding typically only lasts anywhere from a few hours to a few days. If it lasts more than that and is a full flow, it’s probably your period, not implantation bleeding.

Is Implantation Bleeding a Concern?

Bleeding due to implantation shouldn’t be a cause for concern, and does not present any risk to the embryo. However, if you experience extended or heavy bleeding—whether early or later in a confirmed pregnancy—contact your provider immediately or seek out emergency medical care.

If you are having trouble telling the difference between implantation bleeding and your period, the good news is that timing is on your side. By the day of your expected period, a pregnancy test should be able to indicate whether you’re pregnant or not. Sending you good pregnancy vibes!

What is the difference between spotting and implantation bleeding

  • Introduction
  • What is implantation bleeding?
  • Implantation Bleeding vs Periods: Difference between implantation bleeding and period
  • How to recognize implantation bleeding?
  • Final thoughts

Introduction

Your period date is close and you notice light bleeding in your underwear. But instead of the colour red, the blood is pinkish-brown? Congratulations, you might be pregnant. Women trying to conceive a baby might confuse this happy sign of early pregnancy for period onset but we’re here to explain to you why implantation bleeding might look similar but is completely different from menstrual periods. 

In this blog, we look at understanding what implantation bleeding is, what causes it, the symptoms of implantation bleeding to help you differentiate it from a period and what should you do next. 

Implantation bleeding — typically defined as light spotting or a small amount of bleeding that occurs about 10 to 14 days after conceiving a baby — is a normal sign of early pregnancy.
Implantation bleeding happens after a sperm fertilizes your egg which implants itself into the lining of the uterus to become an embryo, causing a little bleeding. 

Since this usually happens around the time of your menstrual cycle, you may confuse implantation bleeding for a light period and not realize you’re pregnant. 

Implantation Bleeding vs Periods: Difference between implantation bleeding and period

Since women have different kinds of blood flow during their menstrual period, it’s hard to point out exact differences between implantation bleeding and a period. However, there are three key differences women can use to differentiate an implantation bleeding from a period:

  1. Colour
    Whether you have a heavy or light menstrual flow, most women are familiar with the colour of their blood during usual periods. Unlike the light or dark red blood seen in periods, implantation bleeding is typically light pink to dark brown (rust-coloured) in colour.
  2. Clotting
    Some women experience clotting in the expressed blood during their menstruation, while others do not see much clotting at all. Implantation bleeding, however, has no clots in the expressed blood.
  3. Amount
    Regardless of experiencing a heavy or light flow, most women can fill pads and tampons during their periods. With implantation bleeding, however, it is usually only spotting or a light flow. Most times, it’s just a little pink or brown discharge, rather than a full flow, just enough to get on a pantyliner.

How to recognize implantation bleeding?

Some of the other early signs of pregnancy may overlap with implantation bleeding symptoms, so take a pregnancy test or consult a doctor if you notice any of the following signs:

  1. Mild cramps (less than a normal period cramp)
  2. Exhaustion/ weakness
  3. Mood swings
  4. Headaches
  5. Nausea (morning sickness)
  6. Upset stomach
  7. Absence of blood clots or tissue in the blood 
  8. The implantation bleeding colour is brown or pinkish instead of red or dark red
  9. Tender, swollen breasts or nipples
  10. Food cravings or aversion
  11. Frequent urination

Implantation bleeding is one of the important early pregnancy symptoms and tends to happen before the onset of morning sickness. Implantation bleeding timing isn’t as long as your period and it’s lighter inflow. Women who are expecting their first pregnancy are more likely to spot or bleed than women who are used to egg attachment.

Final thoughts

All in all, implantation bleeding timing lasts for anywhere between a couple of hours to three full days and has a very light blood flow, sometimes even a light discharge. Unlike period blood that’s bright or dark red, implantation bleeding colour is something between pink and brown. 

Women experiencing implantation bleeding may experience other early symptoms of pregnancy like morning sickness, lower backaches, mild or no cramps, tender breasts and others. But many of these can also be PMS symptoms or ovulation symptoms and you may not be pregnant. 


If you’re not sure whether you’re having implantation bleeding or your period, it’s best to take a pregnancy test or talk to your doctor. Pregnancy tests can be taken at home using urine pregnancy test kits or you can book a blood test for pregnancy from the lab. It may be difficult to detect a pregnancy too early after conception, hence chances of false-negative results exist. There can be multiple reasons for irregular, missed periods or spotting. Consult a doctor for the best advice and understanding of the way forwards. 

Also Read: Meftal Spas

Disclaimer: The information included on this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation.Resources

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How do I know if it's implantation bleeding or spotting?

Implantation bleeding is more likely to be a pinky-brown color. Menstrual bleeding, on the other hand, may start off light pink or brown, but it soon changes into crimson red. Strength of flow. Implantation bleeding is usually super-light spotting.

What does implantation spotting feel like?

These are some of the most common implantation bleeding symptoms: Light bleeding or spotting that some women say is different from normal period bleeding because the blood is darker. Mild cramping. A woozy feeling.

How many days do implantation bleeding last?

How Long Does Implantation Bleeding Last? Unlike most periods, it usually stops after 1 or 2 days.