What Is Implantation Bleeding?


When TTC (trying to conceive) or pregnant, any kind of spotting or bleeding can shoot up your anxiety levels. Weirdly though, there is such a thing as normal bleeding during pregnancy- including implantation bleeding. However odd it feels to say, implantation bleeding could be a reason to celebrate (with some asterisks)! The problem is that symptoms of implantation bleeding can look like a period for some people, so let’s look at the differences.
Definition and Overview
Implantation bleeding basically means light spotting or bleeding for a couple of days when a fertilized egg attaches itself to the lining of the uterus. It is usually a normal, harmless part of pregnancy. It may come with some light cramping or other symptoms.
How Common Is Implantation Bleeding?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, roughly a quarter of people will experience actual implantation bleeding during early pregnancy. So it’s a relatively common occurrence, but don’t worry if it doesn’t happen to you- it’s not a necessity for pregnancy.
When Does Implantation Bleeding Occur?
According to the Mayo Clinic, if you’re going to get implantation bleeding it will be ten to fourteen days after ovulation. Some of you eagle-eyed readers will already realize the problem with this- that is just before when your period should start! It’s not perfectly matched, but close enough that some of us may confuse the two of them- especially if you have irregular periods. There are ways to tell the difference, some we can see, and some we can’t- like our hormones. The big one is Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG), which, once you’re pregnant, will start to rise in a way it doesn’t when you’re on your period. There is also your Basal body temperature, which goes up after ovulation and should remain high throughout pregnancy. Using devices like the Mira Hormone Monitor and the Mira Max Wands, you can keep track of your own natural hormones from the comfort of your own home! Using our app alongside these means you can keep all your data in one place to understand your unique patterns better and help distinguish between implantation bleeding and other spotting. Combining these with our Basal Body Thermometer readings can give you a clear picture of your unique circumstances.
Disclaimer: The Mira hormone monitor and wands are not intended for use in the detection or monitoring of pregnancy.
How Implantation Bleeding Happens
Pregnancy might, on paper, sound simple, but it’s actually a biologically complicated process with a lot of moving parts- including egg implantation.
The Process of Implantation
First, we need to ovulate. Once that egg is out of the ovaries and meets a sperm, it will become fertilized and travel out of the fallopian tubes and toward your uterus. From there, it will start the process of dividing going from an egg to what’s called a blastocyst. This transition normally happens between five and six days after the sperm fertilizes the egg. The blastocyst will then bury itself into the uterine wall. If all is going well, then early pregnancy begins. If not, then the egg will be passed during menstruation. Implantation bleeding happens when the blastocyst attaches to the uterine lining. It can feel odd that this happens to some people and not others, but it all depends on where on the uterine lining the egg ends up. Our fertilized egg is just going with the flow with no control over where it lands. If it happens that it lands on a blood vessel, then those blood vessels are just going to have to make room!
Why Does Implantation Bleeding Occur?
When the fertilized egg attaches it can disrupt the blood vessels in the lining- making them bleed. That’s where the bleeding or the spotting happens when implantation bleeding occurs.
The Role of the Uterine Lining
Our lining is full of blood vessels, it’s why we bleed when we’re on our period, but also making it the perfect place for our fertilized eggs to develop into an embryo and a fetus. This blood gives all the warmth and oxygen that a developing embryo needs, and it’s also where the placenta will form from. We will pass our nutrients onto the embryo through our uterine wall and eventually our placenta, so it’s important that we look after ourselves and our uterine health, taking in the right nutrition. A great way to do that can be taking supplements like the Mira Prenatals, which have been designed by our experts to give you all the pregnancy important vitamins.
What Implantation Bleeding Looks Like
Actual implantation bleeding has a lot of differences from period bleeding- like the color, texture, and flow. Good to know when trying to see the difference between the discharge before a period vs early pregnancy symptoms.
Color and Consistency: Pink, Brown, or Red?
The color of the discharge is a very important one to keep an eye out for. Implantation bleeding color tends to be a brown or pink discharge, whereas menstrual bleeding can be bright red. The consistency will also differ, with the implantation bleeding being a very thin or watery consistency, whereas menstrual bleeding can be thicker and may contain clots.

Differences Between Spotting and Heavy Bleeding
When looking at the differences, spotting is very light bleeding, so there may only be a few drops of blood visible on toilet paper or in your pantyliner. On the other hand, heavy bleeding will require you to use pads or tampons to stop it leaking out of your underwear and into your clothes and or furnishings.
Typical Duration of Implantation Bleeding
Generally, pregnancy spotting will last a maximum of two days, which is another way to determine implantation bleeding vs periods, as your bleeding from a period should last an average of three to seven days.
Implantation Bleeding vs. Period
Generally, as we’ve seen, implantation symptoms tend to be less intense, e.g. bleeding is lighter in color and consistency as compared to menstrual bleeding. Still, there are some other differences to consider when trying to tell the two apart.
Key Differences in Timing
As we mentioned, there is a very slight difference in timing between implantation bleeding and your menstrual bleeding. If day one is the start of your menstrual cycle, and ovulation happens on day fourteenth, then your cycle would end on the twenty-eighth day, resetting to day one of your period. Implantation bleeding would start between days twenty-four and twenty-eight. This is where the confusion happens- especially if you are someone who does not have a regular cycle! This is why we suggested using something like the Mira Hormone Monitor to distinguish the difference in your cycle timing and the differences in your hormones.
Disclaimer: The Mira hormone monitor and wands are not intended for use in the detection or monitoring of pregnancy.
Flow Intensity and Duration
A period is more likely to involve more blood and for longer- it’s just generally more intense than implantation spotting.
Associated Symptoms: Cramping, Discharge, and More
You might get some nausea or light implantation cramps with your implantation bleeding, which are generally not as strong as menstrual cramps or nausea with menstruation. You also might get the frequent need to urinate! We’ve described the spotting as thin and watery, but some people will find it has the same consistency as their regular discharge.
Symptoms Associated with Implantation Bleeding
Of course, nothing in the human body can just be a one-time thing, and other symptoms have to come with it!
Light Spotting and Mild Cramping
As we’ve said, if it is implantation bleeding you will get light spotting, and you might get some mild implantation cramping to go along with it- but it shouldn’t be anywhere near as intense as your regular menstruation symptoms.
Early Pregnancy Symptoms That May Accompany It
Alongside the spotting and cramping, it’s possible you might start to get some pregnancy symptoms alongside it (exciting!). The most obvious would be missing your period but if you have irregular periods you might miss this or mistake the implantation bleeding for a short, light, period. You might start to develop some fatigue, mood swings, tenderness in your breasts, and the start of morning sickness. It is also entirely possible to miss some of these symptoms if they are similar to your PMS symptoms!
When Implantation Bleeding May Not Be a Sign of Pregnancy
Light spotting between periods can be implantation bleeding, but it could be something else. It could be an STI such as trichomoniasis. According to the Mayo Clinic, the most prevalent signs of this STI in women can be thin and bad smelling discharge (could be clear, white, gray, yellow, or even green), genital redness or burning or itching, pain during urination or sex, and discomfort in the lower area of your stomach- however bleeding after sex or between periods can be a symptom too. It is also possible that the bleeding between periods is due to something very serious like an ectopic pregnancy or a miscarriage- both of which need medical attention. When you’re not in an emergency or you aren’t sure it can be useful to have someone to point you in the right direction. The friendly fertility experts at the Mira Hormone Health Clinic for Fertility can be those people for you, helping you navigate these changing times.

A little extra support from an expert can go a long way
Book an online consultation with one of our Hormone Health Coaches.
Schedule NowWhen to Call a Healthcare Provider
As stated, implantation bleeding is usually entirely benign. However, there are some times when your symptoms could indicate something else entirely. If your symptoms are severe or you aren’t sure what is happening, get in contact with your doctor or healthcare provider for help and support.
Heavy Bleeding or Clots: What It Could Indicate
Heavy bleeding or clots are not typical of implantation bleeding and could be signs of a complication in your pregnancy, such as a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, PID (pelvic inflammatory disease), or even cervical cancer. If you have heavy bleeding and clots please contact a healthcare professional as soon as possible.
Warning Signs of Complications (e.g., Ectopic Pregnancy or Miscarriage)
Starting with ectopic pregnancies, according to the Mayo Clinic, there are some symptoms it shares with pregnancy, such as missing a period, breast tenderness, nausea, and fatigue. The changes come in that you may get pain in your abdomen or pelvis. The pain might be mild and dull or severe and sharp. It’s also possible that the pain may come and go. Symptoms of miscarriage can include diarrhea and vomiting, feeling faint or lightheaded, the passing of pregnancy tissue, and the disappearance of pregnancy symptoms such as breast tenderness. Another big red flag for both of these is shoulder tip pain, which, if you get, you need to seek immediate medical advice. This is because, according to a study in the Lancet, it is a sign of internal bleeding, which irritates the diaphragm which we may feel in our shoulder tip.
How to Differentiate Normal and Abnormal Bleeding
Any bleeding during pregnancy can be a little anxiety-inducing, but there is such a thing as normal bleeding in early pregnancy such as implantation bleeding. If you are seeing spotting, then that is within the bounds of normalcy. However, if you are getting period-like bleeding that isn’t typical. It is perfectly reasonable to contact your healthcare provider to get a second opinion on what is happening if you see spotting or bleeding of any kind during your pregnancy, but if you are experiencing heavy bleeding, you need to be seen right away.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does implantation bleeding occur?
Around ten to fourteen days after ovulation- right when your period should start.
What does implantation bleeding look like?
Thin pink or brown spotting.
Brown discharge instead of period, could I be pregnant?
You could be, especially if you have other pregnancy symptoms, but this isn’t always the case.
How long does implantation bleeding last?
It can last a few hours but should only last a maximum of two days.
If I have implantation bleeding, will a pregnancy test be positive?
Yes, the test can be positive, but in some cases it can be not enough hCG to detect in urine, so it’s better to wait until the first day of a missed period.
Mira’s Editorial Process
All content produced by Mira meets stringent editorial standards, ensuring excellence and accuracy in language and medical precision. Every piece undergoes thorough fact-checking and review by qualified professionals. Check out our full editorial process to learn more.