OB-GYN (Obstetrician-Gynecologist) Questions Implantation Bleeding

How can I differentiate between implantation bleeding and periods?

I am a 25 year old woman, recently married. We are not planning a family for the next two years. As I have been reading, I came across the term implantation bleeding which is very often misunderstood as periods. What does it mean and how can i distinguish implantation bleeds from periods?

6 Answers

Implantation bleeding often occurs about a week to 10 days after conception and about a week before your period would be expected. Assuming you have a cycle of 28-30 days, you would expect implantation bleeding on about days 21-23, day 1 being the first day of bleeding of your most recent period. It is usually painless, though some women experience a little cramping and it usually onlasts a day or two and is rarely heavy.

You'll soon know, though, because your next expected period in about a week won't come, and your pregnancy test will be positive very soon.

Good luck!
Implantation bleeding is usually very light and short lived and would occur several days before your menses (if you have regular cycle). Otherwise, it is difficult to be certain. Additional tests would be necessary to differentiate between the two.
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Implantation bleeding is scanty and does not flow like a period, which will normally flow for a few days. You may use a couple of sanitary towels whereas in menstruation, you need to have more, for say 5 days.
If you have any abnormal bleeding you should go see your gyn! Also, take a home pregnancy test to see if you are pregnant, but definitely go to see your gyn.
If your period feels off in any way - a few days early or a few days late, maybe lighter or shorter than you expected it to be or maybe more "crampy" than usual then it is possibly an implantation bleed, especially if you start feeling tired and have breast tenderness and get hungry and nauseated at the same time. Pregnancy tests are so sensitive nowadays they can sense the HCG hormone in the urine a few days after implantation.
Implantation bleeding is due to a miscarriage.