Implantation bleeding may occur in early pregnancy. It’s generally light and lasts just a few days. It usually occurs 10-14 days after conception, or around the time of your missed period.
How long does it last?
Implantation bleeding is one type of bleeding that may occur in early pregnancy. Some doctors believe that implantation bleeding occurs when an embryo attaches itself to the lining of your uterus. However, not everyone will experience implantation bleeding or spotting.
Implantation bleeding is generally light and short, just a few days’ worth. It usually occurs 10-14 days after conception, or around the time of your missed period. However, vaginal bleeding has been reported anytime in the first eight weeks of pregnancy.
Spotting is also common before the start of a menstrual period. So — is your bleeding pregnancy-related? Here are some additional identifiers, other early pregnancy symptoms to watch for, and notes on when to see a doctor.
Implantation bleeding may appear as light spotting — blood that appears when you wipe — or a light, consistent flow that requires a liner or light pad. The blood may or may not be mixed with cervical mucus.
You may see a range of colors depending on how long the blood has taken to exit the body:
- A fresher bleed will appear as a shade of light or dark red.
- Blood may look pink or orange if it’s mixed with other vaginal discharge.
- Older blood may look brown due to oxidation.
Be sure to take note of the color and consistency — as well as the frequency — of your bleeding. These are details you’ll want to share with your doctor for diagnosis.
Implantation bleeding is diagnosed through a process of elimination. This means that your doctor will rule out other possible causes of bleeding, such as polyps, first.
If you experience heavy bleeding or clotting, see your doctor right away. This may be a sign of an early miscarriage.
The color and consistency of implantation bleeding may vary from person to person and pregnancy to pregnancy. But if you think you might be pregnant, there are other symptoms that you can watch for.
Frequent urination, fatigue, and nausea are some of the earliest pregnancy symptoms. Your breasts may also become tender or swollen due to the hormonal changes that occur shortly after conception.
Other pregnancy symptoms include:
- cramping
- constipation
- bloating
- moodiness
- food aversions
Early symptoms aren’t always the best indicator of whether you’re pregnant. Some women will have all of these symptoms even when they aren’t pregnant, and others may have none of these symptoms even though they are pregnant.
One of the most reliable symptoms is a missed menstrual period. But if your cycles are irregular, it may be difficult to tell if you’ve truly missed your period.
If you do think you’ve missed a period — or are experiencing other unusual symptoms — it may be time to pick up a home pregnancy test. You can also get a pregnancy test done at your doctor’s office.
Pregnancy test makers claim home pregnancy tests are up to 99 percent accurate. Tests may pick up the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) as soon as the first day of your missed period, sometimes earlier.
This hormone doubles in concentration every two or three days in early pregnancy. How soon you may test positive or negative depends on the sensitivity of your test and how long it’s been since the embryo has implanted inside the uterus.
The closer you are to the start of your normal menstrual period, the less chance you’ll have a false negative on a pregnancy test. You may consider testing if your period is late or you have many early pregnancy signs. For the most reliable reading, consider waiting a week past when your period should have started.
If you’re unsure of your results, you may also request a blood pregnancy test through your doctor. Concentrations of hCG reach the blood before the urine, so a blood test may give a positive result sooner than a urine test.
It’s important to tell your doctor whenever you experience abnormal spotting or bleeding — regardless of whether you’re pregnant. Although light bleeding during early pregnancy doesn’t necessarily mean anything negative, you should still see a doctor to be safe.
If you do get a positive home pregnancy test, make an appointment with your doctor. They can confirm your test result and discuss your options for family planning. This may mean navigating prenatal care or discussing choices.
No matter what you decide, your doctor can connect you with resources for support and answer any questions you may have.
A positive pregnancy test may signal the end of your hot yoga class or glass of wine with dinner, but it doesn’t mean you have to give up everything you enjoy. Having sex while you’re pregnant is perfectly safe, and for many women, quite pleasurable. (Hello, second-trimester raging hormones!)
However, some women may experience bleeding after sex while pregnant, and wonder if it’s normal and what they can do to prevent it from happening.
We talked to two doctors about why you might be bleeding after sex, what you should do about it, and ways to prevent it while you’re pregnant.
Unless your doctor has told you otherwise, it’s safe to have sex during all three trimesters. While you may need to experiment with new positions, especially as your belly grows, in general, not a whole lot should change from your pre-pregnancy bedroom sessions.
That said, you may experience some new side effects such as vaginal spotting or bleeding after having sex.
But not to worry! Spotting or light bleeding in the first trimester is quite common. In fact, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) says about 15 to 25 percent of women will experience bleeding during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
With that in mind, here are six typical causes of bleeding after sex.
Implantation bleeding
You may experience bleeding after the fertilized egg implants in the lining of the uterus. This bleeding, while light, can last 2 to 7 days.
It’s not uncommon to have discharge after having sex, even when you’re not pregnant. And if you’re experiencing implantation bleeding, some of the spotting you see could be mixed in with semen and other mucus.
Cervical changes
Your body undergoes significant changes during pregnancy, with your cervix being one area, in particular, that changes the most. Painless, short-lived, pinkish, brown, or light red spotting after sex is a normal response to changes in your cervix, especially in the first few months.
Since your cervix becomes more sensitive during pregnancy, a small amount of bleeding can occur if the cervix is bruised during deep penetration or a physical exam.
Vaginal lacerations
Kecia Gaither, MD, MPH, FACOG, an OB-GYN and director of perinatal services at NYC Health + Hospitals, says you may experience vaginal lacerations or cuts with excessively rough intercourse or use of toys. This happens if the thin epithelium of the vagina tears, causing vaginal bleeding.
Cervical ectropion
During gestation, Gaither says the cervix can become more sensitive and easily bleed during intercourse. Cervical ectropion is also the most common cause of bleeding towards the end of your pregnancy.
Infection
Tamika Cross, MD, an OB-GYN based in Houston, says trauma or an infection can cause bleeding after sex. If you have an infection, cervicitis, which is an inflammation of the cervix, could be to blame. Cervicitis symptoms include:
- itching
- bloody vaginal discharge
- vaginal spotting
- pain with intercourse
Early sign of labor
Bleeding after sex might have nothing to do with your recent activity, but it could be an early sign of labor. Cross says a bloody show, which is a bloody mucus discharge, can occur as you get to the end of pregnancy. This happens as a result of your mucus plug loosening or dislodging.
If you notice this after having sex and you’re within a few days (or even hours) of your due date, mark the calendar, because that baby is getting ready to make their appearance.
In some cases, bleeding after sex could point to a more serious problem, especially if the amount of blood is more than light spotting.
According to the ACOG, heavy bleeding after sex isn’t normal and should be addressed right away. They also stress that the further along you are in your pregnancy, the more serious the consequences.
If you’re experiencing heavy or prolonged bleeding after sexual activity, contact your doctor. You may have one of these more serious medical conditions.
It’s important to note that all of these more serious conditions can occur absent from sex.
Placental abruption
If the placenta detaches from the uterine wall during pregnancy, Gaither says you could be dealing with placental abruption, a potentially life-threatening condition for both mother and baby.
With placental abruption, you may experience abdominal or back pain during and after sex, along with vaginal bleeding.
Placenta previa
When the placenta overlies the cervix, your healthcare provider will likely diagnose you with placenta previa. Gaither says this can cause catastrophic, life threatening hemorrhaging with sexual intercourse.
This typically occurs during the second to third trimester. Sex isn’t a cause of placenta previa, but penetration can cause bleeding.
What makes placenta previa sometimes tricky to spot is that the bleeding, while profuse, comes without pain. That’s why it’s critical to pay attention to the amount of blood.
Miscarriage
Although sex doesn’t cause you to miscarry, if you notice heavy bleeding after penetration, your pregnancy may be at risk of ending.
Heavy vaginal bleeding that fills a pad every hour or lasts for several days is the most common sign of a miscarriage. Call your doctor right away if you’re experiencing these symptoms.
Any amount of vaginal bleeding after sex is likely to trigger some worry and concern in most moms-to-be. And since your doctor is the expert on everything pregnancy-related, checking in with them is a good idea.
However, if the bleeding is heavy and consistent or accompanied by pain in your abdomen or back, Cross says to go to the emergency room immediately, so the doctor can do a full evaluation to determine the cause of the bleeding.
The first line of defense for treating bleeding after sex is to abstain from intercourse, especially if you’re dealing with a more serious condition such as placenta previa or placenta abruption.
Beyond that, Cross says your doctor may recommend pelvic rest, which is avoiding anything in the vagina until further notice, or antibiotics if dealing with an infection.
Depending on the stage and severity, Gaither says medical interventions could be needed to treat the following conditions:
- For ectopic pregnancy, medical or surgical treatment and blood transfusion may be needed.
- For vaginal lacerations with profuse bleeding, surgical treatment and blood transfusion may be needed.
- For placenta previa and placental abruption, cesarean delivery and a blood transfusion may be needed.
Since bleeding after sex is often caused by underlying issues, the only true form of prevention is abstinence.
But if your doctor has cleared you for sexual activity, you might want to ask them if a change in sexual positions or decreasing the intensity of your lovemaking sessions could prevent bleeding after sex. If you’re used to rough sex, this may be the time to ease up, and go nice and slow.
Unless your doctor has told you otherwise, pregnancy sex is not something you need to put on the no-go list. However, if you experience light bleeding or spotting after sex, take note of the amount and frequency, and share that information with your doctor.
If the bleeding is heavy and consistent or accompanied by significant pain or cramping, call your doctor right away.