When menstruation is absent, many questions arise. "Why hasn't my period come?" is a common question. Another common one is "What should I do to get my period to come today?" For this reason, in this blog post we would like to talk about bleeding or spotting when one's period does not arrive -- and one type of bleeding in particular: implantation bleeding.
What happens if I experience spotting but my period doesn't actually come? Could I be pregnant?
If you experience a delay in your period and, in addition, there is a bloody or brownish discharge, you could be facing what we call implantation bleeding. This light bleeding while not on your period, occurring around the expected date of menstruation and featuring a pinkish discharge, could be a sign of pregnancy.
When does implantation bleeding occur?
Implantation bleeding can occur from 6 days after pregnancy-causing intercourse to a maximum of 13 days after the sexual relationship. However, implantation bleeding does not always occur when pregnancy occurs and, sometimes, it goes unnoticed.
Does implantation bleeding have any symptoms that allow it to be differentiated from a period?
Some women have light or irregular periods and when these women experience implantation bleeding, they often think that they are not pregnant.
The keys to differentiating between menstruation and implantation bleeding are color, duration, and intensity. Implantation bleeding has a browner, less intense, and longer-lasting color than a period, but it can be more or less difficult to distinguish depending on each individual's menstruation. Likewise, some symptoms that may accompany this bleeding are cramps (mild aches), abdominal spasms, and/or nausea.
If you have questions about any spotting or bleeding that occurs during pregnancy, it is important to check with your specialist.
