What Does Implantation Bleeding Color Tell About Your Reproductive Health?

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Implantation bleeding color can tell a lot about the status of your pregnancy. The main cause behind the difference in color is the amount of time the blood takes to leave the womb. Blood released during the process of implantation is often faded unlike in the case of menstrual bleeding. Another distinctive characteristic of implantation discharge is that there are no clots passed. In general, the colors of implantation discharge range from (faded) red, brown to black.

What does Implantation Bleeding Color Tell about Your Health?

The main reason why the color of implantation bleeding may vary from one person to the next is the amount of time taken between bleeding and flowing out. In the event that the bleeding takes place and the blood flows out almost immediately then the discharge will have a reddish shade. If this takes longer, the blood is no longer fresh when it reaches out there. This therefore explains the darkish-brown color. Reddish discharges are generally known to be dense unlike darkish ones.

Symptoms to Look Out For Other Than Implantation Bleeding Color

Other than the color of the outflow, you’ll want to take a keen look at period of the month when the bleeding occurs. Normally, this occurs about one week before the next menstrual session is due. Note that it is not mandatory to experience this bleeding. Some women experience it during their first pregnancy but it doesn’t show up in subsequent pregnancies. Others don’t experience it at all.

Read also: Signs Of Implantation: What To Look Out For

Another way to tell if the vaginal discharge is as a result of implantation is by noting the density of the outflow. Unlike menstrual bleeding, in implantation bleeding only a small amount of blood is released. This lasts anywhere between one to three days and rarely goes beyond five days.

Many women tend to confuse between implantation bleeding and spotting in early pregnancy. However, the main difference between is that the former is usually accompanied by mild cramps. The cramping does not last for too long and often disappears on its own. Another glaring difference between early pregnancy spotting and implantation bleeding is with breast tenderness. Implantation bleeding is characterized by noticeably tender breasts.

There are some women who confuse implantation bleeding for signs of stress – known to be a mini period. But if the bleeding is accompanied with constipation, nausea, fatigue, breast tenderness, increased body temperature and/or food aversion then these are indications of pregnancy.

Read also: Implantation Bleeding – Top 5 Signs Indicating Early Pregnancy!

If there’s too much pain (unbearable) or dense bleeding that lasts beyond three days then this could point to an ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy is one that takes place when the implantation takes place in the fallopian tube as opposed to the uterine wall (where it naturally should). Implantation on the cervix or abdomen is also categorized as ectopic pregnancies and may all lead to abnormal bleeding and pain.

Symptoms of implantation bleeding can at times prove very tricky to understand, therefore, if any of the sighs reviewed above are noticed, it’s advisable to take a pregnancy test to ascertain the reason behind the outflow. This test should ideally be taken some seven days before the periods are due.

Treatment for Implantation Bleeding

There’s nothing abnormal with implantation bleeding and therefore there’s no specific treatment for the same. It is just a physiological process of the body responding to physical and hormonal changes in preparation for the pregnancy. Most women will live to carry the pregnancy safely after the bleeding. So to this end there’s absolutely no cause for alarm.

However, if there is too much bleeding or unbearable pain that lasts for more than 24 hours you should get in touch with your gynecologist as this could be an indication of ectopic pregnancy (or miscarriage). Here’s what to do if you notice signs related to implantation bleeding:

Read also: Implantation Bleeding or Period? 5 Leading Signs of Implantation Spotting

Make sure to know your (and your partner’s) blood type. Depending on the outcome of this, it may be necessary to have an Rh-immune globulin injection at early stages of the bleeding. Besides this, you should have a pregnancy test done to ascertain if, for sure, the bleeding is due to pregnancy. At the same time, it’d be unwise to insert a douche, tampon have sex while you’re bleeding as this could only trigger more complications.

It is also wise to keep track of the volume of the outflow. If you feel the bleeding is increasing day by day or lasting longer than the three recommended days then visit a gynecologist for a check-up. In the same vein, you’ll want to avoid stressing yourself over the issue. Experts warn that any sort of fear during pregnancy may be picked up by your unborn baby (this will in turn affect your child’s future).

Self Care measures To Avoid Stress and Panic

Heat Therapy
Applying some mild heat over the affected region may help keep the pain at bay all be it for some time. You can try an electric pad. Only be careful not to use too much heat. You may also ask your partner to massage you around the aching parts of your body.

Read also: Discover the Most Common Implantation Symptoms

Water Therapy
Take at least 8 glasses of water per day. This will keep your muscles properly hydrated and flexible enough to accommodate the pregnancy. Another great water therapy to kill the pain is taking a warm bath. The heat may relax your ligaments and therefore reduce the pain.

Anti-constipation Therapy
One of the reasons behind implantation bleeding that is painful beyond the norm is constipation. For this particular reason, experts recommend eating foods that have high fiber content. Remember to take lots of water too.

Anti-sex therapy
As we mentioned earlier, inserting anything down there is a big no-no. This also applies to sex. If you’re experiencing any kind of bleeding, you’ll want to abstain from sexual intercourse until everything gets back to normal.

Read also: Implantation Spotting or Light Bleeding – Signs and Symptoms

Conclusion

Even though bleeding that comes as a result of implantation is normal, experts recommend keeping a keen eye on the signs and symptoms that accompany this discharge. A key feature to take note of is implantation bleeding color.

My name is Margaret Scott, I am a certified specialist in Obstetrics and Gynecology. I graduated from the Washington University School of Medicine and the University of Oregon. I did my internship at the University of Southern California. I worked at the Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center, at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena and Keck Hospital of the University of Southern California. Now I am a member of several medical associations, the author of scientific articles and a well-known lecturer in CHRs.