Implantation bleeding or menstruation: how to distinguish?

Many women believe that the first manifestation of pregnancy is the delay in menstruation. However, in fact, there is another indicator that will allow to determine much earlier the conception that has occurred, - implantation bleeding. This phenomenon is very similar to menstruation. Find out what it is - implantation bleeding or menstruation, is simple enough. You just need to know the main differences between these processes.

Implantation bleeding is the norm?

Implantation bleeding is a discharge that results from the introduction of a fertilized egg into the uterine wall. This first manifestation of pregnancy often goes unnoticed due to its insignificance and similarity to menstruation. Usually it is pinkish, brown or scarlet discharge, which can be smeared or come out in the form of a few drops without any external inclusions. To understand that this is implantation bleeding or menstrual bleeding, it is not difficult, but since this very rare but completely normal process for a healthy organism occurs infrequently, some women do not even know about its existence.

Sometimes this phenomenon can be accompanied by discomfort in the lower abdomen, spasms and weakness. Women who maintain a basal temperature chart observe a characteristic dip in the temperature curve on the day of implantation bleeding 6-10 days after the ovulatory phase. To confirm the onset of pregnancy on a home test that determines the presence of conception by the level of hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin ), it is worthwhile to conduct the procedure not earlier than a few days after the implantation. Earlier this period, the result may be erroneous. For an accurate confirmation of pregnancy, it is better to take a blood test for HCG in a diagnostic laboratory.

Causes of this phenomenon

The egg is fertilized by the spermatozoon in the fallopian tube, after which the embryo is sent to the uterus, where it must attach. This path takes up to 5 days and another 2 days may occur the process of joining the blastocyst to the wall of the uterus. This contact is the first between the mother and her future child, so any manifestations of pregnancy up to this point are excluded.

Implantation bleeding during pregnancy occurs while a fetal egg is attached to the uterine epithelium. For this, it emits special enzymes to infiltrate the organ wall. Usually, the mucosa is ready for this process, and implantation proceeds asymptomatically, but sometimes microtraumatization of small vessels and capillaries occurs, which leads to the appearance of bloody discharge.

When does implantation bleed?

Many women are interested in when about to expect implantation bleeding, how long this phenomenon lasts and how not to confuse it with menstruation. Usually it occurs 8-10 days after the ovulatory phase, which resulted in conception. Sometimes this period coincides with the days when the monthly comes.

But more often implantation bleeding occurs on the 22-26th day of the cycle. Therefore, many do not pay any attention to such allocation, taking them for the harbingers of menstruation. Physiological after the implantation bleeding, the monthly ones do not begin, since the attachment of the blastocyte has already occurred, and the hormonal background in the body has already been markedly changed.

How long can the implantation bleed?

So, we figured out what is implantation bleeding, what day it comes and why. The question arises: "And how long should it last?" This is very important, because such knowledge will help to distinguish the norm from pathology. The bleeding during implantation can last from several hours to 1-2 days. Longer this phenomenon can not be physiologically, because during the implementation there are very minor damages to the capillary grid. If the bleeding occurred earlier than the expected menstruation, is abundant and lasts longer than a day, then the probability of an arbitrary miscarriage at an early stage, a hormonal failure or other pathological phenomena is high.

What is the probability of encountering bleeding during implantation

It is worth noting that implantation bleeding is not a pathology, but it is quite rare. Only 20% of pregnant women noted the presence of such a phenomenon. Probably, this is due to the fact that it coincided with the onset of menstruation, it was simply not noticed or even completely asymptomatic.

Bleeding during implantation of the embryo can also occur with an ectopic pregnancy. In this case, according to statistics, women feel more discomfort than with a normal attachment. With what it is connected - it is not known, it is possible, it is only subjective sensations. There are no reliable methods that describe how to distinguish between implantation bleeding in normal or ectopic pregnancy at home or under tests. To do this, in any case, you need to conduct ultrasound.

How to distinguish between implantation bleeding from menstruation

So, to distinguish between these two phenomena is extremely important. To distinguish between implantation bleeding and menstruation, it is enough to know the main signs of the first - the time of onset, color, nature and duration of discharge, and general well-being.

1. Time of offensive. Implantation occurs 3-6 days before the onset of menstruation. Therefore, bleeding due to damage to the capillaries may occur shortly before the onset of the expected menstruation.
2. Colour. Most often, discharge with implantation bleeding has a brownish or pinkish hue. Rarely scarlet. The color of these discharge is significantly different from the blood color characteristic of menstruation.
3. Character. Unlike monthly, implantation bleeding is very meager. Physiologically, a woman may not even feel this moment. It may be just a couple of drops of blood or spotting. It is also worth noting that implantation bleeding should not contain any inclusions, lumps, mucus, etc.
4. Duration of excretions distinguishes menstruation and implantation bleeding. How long this phenomenon lasts depends on the degree of damage to the capillary wall, but usually it does not exceed 1-2 days or even several hours, in contrast to the monthly, which lasts normally from 3 days.
5. Implantation bleeding may not be accompanied by any other symptoms, but sometimes manifestations of weakness and drawing pains or spasms. These feelings last not for long, and they do not bring much discomfort.

To determine what it is - implantation bleeding or menstruation, you need to carefully monitor your body and know all its features.

What pathologies can be accompanied by similar secretions?

If spotting does not correspond to the signs of implantation bleeding, then there is a high probability that any pathological process is taking place in the body. It can be:

• Myoma.
• Endometriosis.
• Cancer of the ovaries, cervix, vagina.
• The problem with the blood coagulation system.
• Disorders in the thyroid gland.
• Polycystic ovary.
• Pathological conditions in the uterine mucosa.
• Bleeding from the intrauterine device.
• The threat of termination of pregnancy.

Usually, such conditions are accompanied by severe pain, nausea, dizziness, rising temperature and general weakness. Also, bleeding is caused by taking various drugs that reduce blood coagulation, sedatives and antidepressants.

When you need help with a doctor

Sometimes the cause of discharge may be not implantation bleeding, but a pathological condition associated with pregnancy, hormonal failure, inflammatory or other processes in the female body that lead to such symptoms. Usually all the signs are more pronounced. That is, bleeding is more abundant, lasts longer, there are mucous or other inclusions, feelings of discomfort, pain and a pulling feeling in the lower abdomen are stronger.

If a woman is not sure that this is implantation bleeding or menstruation, then it's worth to consult a gynecologist for advice. Because timely treatment can save pregnancy with the threat of miscarriage, and in the presence of any disease to speed up the process of treatment and recovery.