Spotting After A Positive Pregnancy Test: What It Could Mean
Nothing in this article is or should be construed as medical advice for any medical questions, consult your doctor.
One minute youre auditioning baby names in your head, and the next, you feel something down there. You run to the nearest bathroom to check it out and see small spots of blood in your underwear. Youre likely worried. Early pregnancy can be an emotionally volatile time there are many unknowns.
Its important to call your doctor anytime you experience bleeding or spotting while pregnant. That said, its more normal than you may realize, and many women go on to have healthy pregnancies.1 According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists , bleeding or spotting in the first trimester happens in 15% to 25% of pregnancies.1 Some reasons are serious, but many are not. Lets take a closer look.
Top 10 Reasons For Positive Pregnancy Test Now Bleeding
Lets investigate the reasons for bleeding after positive pregnancy test:
If Youve Had A Chemical Pregnancy What Can You Do To Try And Ensure A Successful Pregnancy Next Time
“The vast majority of chemical pregnancies are caused by problems with the genetic make-up of the embryo itself and so cannot be prevented,” says Dr Philippa.
“However, stopping smoking, giving up alcohol and any recreational drugs, eating healthily and being at a healthy weight may help and certainly will help your own health.”
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Q: Are You Supposed To Have Bright Red Bleeding When You Have A Positive Pregnancy Test
A: Bleeding is very common and can happen in up to 50 percent of all pregnancies at any time. Bleeding does not always mean there is a problem. Bleeding very early in the first trimester can indicate implantation, which is normal, bit sometimes it can be a sign of something more dangerous, such as an ectopic pregnancy or a multitude of other potential issues. The best course of action with any bleeding in pregnancy is to consult your Obstetrician to get proper evaluation.
Answered by Dr. Marra Francis
How Long After Sex Do You Take A Pregnancy Test
This is a question that many people have, especially if they are sexually active. The answer, unfortunately, is that there is no one definitive answer to this question. Pregnancy tests vary in how soon they can detect a pregnancy, and the level of hCG in the urine or blood also varies from woman to woman.
Most pregnancy tests can detect a pregnancy about six days after ovulation. For women with a very high level of hCG, however, a pregnancy test may be able to detect a pregnancy as early as two days after ovulation. It is important to keep in mind that not all pregnancy tests are created equally, and some may be more sensitive than others.
If you are trying to conceive, it may be a good idea to wait until at least six days after ovulation to take a pregnancy test. This will give the test enough time to detect the hCG in your urine. If you are not trying to conceive, you may want to take a pregnancy test earlier, as the hCG level may be lower.
If you are experiencing any symptoms of pregnancy, such as nausea, fatigue, or breast tenderness, it may be a good idea to take a pregnancy test sooner. If you are unsure of when you ovulated, or if you have a irregular menstrual cycle, it may be a good idea to take a pregnancy test a few days after you think you may have ovulated.
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Bleeding During Early Pregnancy
If youve had bleeding early in your pregnancy, youre not alone. Many other pregnant women have early bleeding, too. And in most cases, nothing is wrong. But your healthcare provider still needs to know about it. They may want to do tests to find out why youre bleeding. Call your provider if you see bleeding during pregnancy. Tell your provider if your blood is Rh negative. Then they can figure out if you need anti-D immune globulin treatment.
When Does Implantation Bleeding Occur
Only about one-third of people experience implantation bleeding in early pregnancy. If it happens to you, it will occur 10 to 14 days after fertilization, says Lauren Barlog, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health at Rutgers NJ Medical School. “It typically occurs around the time of your next expected period.”
In fact, because of the timing, some people might confuse implantation bleeding for a light menstrual period. They don’t realize what it is until a pregnancy test comes up positive, says Zev Williams, M.D., Ph.D., chief of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Columbia University Medical Center.
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2011. 4. 28. ·Early pregnancy signs and symptoms. POSITIVE RESULT ON TEST BUT BLEEDING VERY HEAVY. Early pregnancy signs and symptoms. brown discharge – scared! TMI. Early. Second Opinion] No period for 2 months, had heavy bleeding one time during sex and no bleeding since. Negative pregnancytest took several. 22 years old. Diagnosed with pcos with no ultrasound to diagnose. Doctor’s Assistant: The OB/GYN Doctor can help. Just a couple quick questions before I transfer you. I became worried a week before my expected period, however, b/c I was having preg. symptoms…sore/enlarged breasts, extremly tierd, bloating…more so than during PMS. I took a HPT on the 16th and got a negative result. I waited until the 19th, still no period, and took two more tests with both of them being positive.. .
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What Does Miscarriage Blood Look Like
Bleeding that occurs during a miscarriage doesn’t always look the same. It can be light pink or red, brown or black and grainy, or even look just like a normal period. If the loss occurs early in your pregnancy, there may be minimal clotting, but the farther the pregnancy progresses, clots might be denser and larger and you might notice tissue that you don’t normally see with a period.
Miscarriage bleeding tends to be heavier than bleeding during a menstrual period and could last longer than your period normally does. You should let your health care provider know if you fill more than two pads per hour for two consecutive hours.
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Symptoms Of Ruptured Ectopic Pregnancy
If you have an ectopic pregnancy, you may experience the same early pregnancy symptoms as in a typical pregnancy, such as nausea, tiredness, and breast tenderness. Additional signs that the pregnancy is ectopic most often develop six to eight weeks after your last normal menstrual period but can occur throughout the first trimester. These symptoms include:
- Cramping or pain on one side, or in the lower abdomen
- Irregular vaginal bleeding or spotting
- Pain during intercourse
- Rapid heartbeat
If these symptoms are recognized, most often an ectopic pregnancy can be diagnosed before it ruptures. However, more than 50% of people with ectopic pregnancies do not have any of these symptoms before an ectopic pregnancy ruptures.
When an ectopic pregnancy causes a rupture, additional symptoms develop. Any of the following warrant an immediate visit to the emergency room:
- Sudden, severe abdominal or pelvic pain
- Dizziness or fainting
- Pain in the lower back
- Pain in the shoulders
Can You Really Get Your Period While Pregnant
The short answer is no. Your period, by definition, only occurs after you ovulate, and you cannot ovulate when you are pregnant.
During the first half of your cycle, your uterine lining thickens in preparation for a possible pregnancy. After ovulation, your progesterone levels increase, maintaining your uterine lining.
If you dont get pregnant, progesterone levels drop after about two weeks, and your lining begins to shedthis is your period.
If the egg hasbeen fertilized, and if it successfully implants in your uterine lining, then it will start secreting the hormone hCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin. This hormone signals to your body to keep your uterine lining intact. You may still experience some form of bleeding or spotting, but, by definition, it is not your period.
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Should I Take A Pregnancy Test During Implantation Bleeding
You can take a home pregnancy test during implantation bleeding. Keep in mind that the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin that pregnancy tests detect only starts being produced in your body the moment the fertilized egg is implanted in the uterus â which is the trigger for implantation bleeding. The earlier you take the test, the less hCG there is to detect, meaning that the test may not yet be accurate. If you have the patience to wait, youâll get a more accurate test result if you wait until after the first day of your missed period.
If you get a positive test result, schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider to confirm your pregnancy. And you can get an estimate of when to expect your baby by using our handy tool to calculate your due date.
Treatment Of Early Miscarriage
Not all miscarriages need treatment. The choice of whether to wait for the pregnancy to completely pass without any treatment is up to you. Our doctors are committed to providing options for all patients, including the pros and cons of all available options when miscarriage is diagnosed. All patients with Rh-negative blood, regardless of which option they choose, need treatment with Rh-immune globulin, an injection that prevents a woman from forming substances in her blood that may attack the baby during a future pregnancy.
When a diagnosis of miscarriage is made, options include:
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What Causes A Chemical Pregnancy
We believe that chemical pregnancies happen because of chromosomal problems with the developing baby. Chromosomes are block of DNA, which contain instructions for your babys development.
Sometimes something can go wrong at the point when you get pregnant and the baby gets too many or not enough chromosomes. If this happens, the baby cant develop properly.
Treatment And Home Care
Once bleeding begins, it is usually not possible to stop a pregnancy loss. Sometimes, the bleeding begins days or weeks after the loss has occurred.
While early pregnancy loss does not usually require professional care, it can be important to rest. Over-the-counter pain relief can help manage cramps. If there is bleeding, use pads rather than tampons.
Pregnancy tissue may remain in the uterus, but it typically passes out of the body after 2 weeks. If this does not occur, a doctor may recommend one of the following options, depending on the duration of the pregnancy:
- taking a pill at home or in the clinic that causes the remaining tissue to pass to pass
- having a procedure called dilation and curettage, or D and C, to remove the tissue
Also, anyone who experiences pregnancy loss may need emotional support. Speaking with loved ones can help, and support groups and specialist counselors are also available.
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Can You Have Implantation Bleeding And A Negative Pregnancy Test
Yes. If you test too early, before levels of hCG have started to rise rapidly, you risk a negative pregnancy test even if youre actually pregnant. Home pregnancy tests have a limited accuracy and can be notoriously hard to read. Always wait the appropriate amount of time before testing to get the most accurate results.
Implantation Bleeding Vs Period: How To Tell The Difference
How can you tell if its implantation bleeding or your period? Depending on how you typically experience menstruation, this could be a bit of a waiting game. Implantation bleeding is usually lighter than a normal period. If you experience bleeding thats considered to be heavy spotting or bleeding, that would be more than implantation bleeding, Lamppa says. But if you tend to have light periods anyway, you might not notice a huge difference.
Your period will typically last longer than implantation bleeding, Macleod adds. If you bleed for a day or two, its more likely to be implantation bleeding. If it stretches beyond that time frame, you may have gotten your period. Still not sure? Wait a few more days and take a pregnancy test.
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How Long After Implantation Bleeding Can I Test
Kelly Berry
Implantation Bleeding FAQs
Spotting or slight bleeding is enough to strike fear into the hearts of anyone TTC, but when you suspect implantation bleeding that fear can quickly turn to excitement. When youre trying to become pregnant, every little twinge can send your mind racing and you may be eager to take a pregnancy test. If youve ever wondered how long after implantation bleeding can I test then read on. Spotting can be a sign of early pregnancy but not a guarantee and knowing what to look for is key. Playing the waiting game is hard, so in this post, well cover all things implantation bleeding from what implantation bleeding is to what it looks like and how many days after implantation you can test. Heres what you need to know about implantation bleeding and testing.
How Common Is Implantation Bleeding
According to the American Pregnancy Association, approximately one third of women experience implantation bleeding in early pregnancy. All in all, theres no real way to know whether spotting indicates pregnancyonly a test can tell. Bleeding in the first trimester is common, although I would never say normal, says Michael Cackovic, MD, a maternal fetal medicine physician at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio. According to him, about 25 to 30 percent of women will experience some bleedingincluding implantation bleedingin the first trimester.
If you have no implantation bleeding, thats perfectly normal too. Dont worry! It has no bearing on the success of your pregnancy, says , APRN, CNM, a certified nurse midwife at Mayo Clinic.
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Is It Implantation Bleeding Or My Period
Itâs possible to mistake implantation bleeding for a very light and early period at first. However, there are some differences to pay attention to. Although every womanâs period is different, itâs still possible to guess that it’s implantation bleeding by the color and amount of bleeding, and by where you are in your menstrual cycle, as well as by looking out for other early signs of pregnancy â more frequent bathroom trips, fatigue, and nausea .
These are the main signs and symptoms of implantation bleeding compared to a period:
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The amount of blood. Implantation bleeding isnât heavy itâs more like a discharge or light spotting thatâs about a few drops of blood on your underwear.
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The color of the spotting. The blood from implantation is more of a pinkish or brown color, rather than a bright red some women normally see during a period.
Changes In Bathroom And Stomach Habits
In addition to nausea and vomiting, you may experience other stomach problems when you first become pregnantlike constipation, frequent urination and bloating, to name a few.
Constipation is normally characterized by fewer than three bowel movements a week, hard stool, dry stool or stool that is difficult to pass. The progesterone that starts to form from the placenta slows the bowels down, says Brown. Constipation can occur early on in pregnancy, but can come back during the third trimester, too.
Frequent urination is common. Symptoms can start even earlier than your missed period, since the fertilized egg implants itself into the uterus and begins making the pregnancy hormone hCG, prompting you to run to the bathroom more often.
Bloating can happen early on in pregnancy, and may continue throughout your nine months. The progesterone hormone causes your muscle tissues to relax, slowing down digestion. That, in addition to an expanding uterus, can put pressure on your rectum and cause it to feel heavy.
Heres how to keep your stomach happy during pregnancy:
- Aim to get at least 25 grams of fiber a day from foods like leafy greens and whole grains.
- Talk to your OBGYN about any iron supplements youre taking.
- Discuss with your OBGYN whether you need to try over-the-counter medications.
- When you feel the urge, do not hold in bowel movements.
- Take it easy on foods that may upset your stomach, like beans, cabbage and fried items.
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