If you’re experiencing spotting in the middle of the cycle, how do you know whether it’s ovulation or implantation bleeding? Learn how to tell the difference.
When you’re trying to conceive, the two-week wait between ovulation and your period—or, hopefully, a missed one—can feel like forever. You might be looking out for any early signs that you’ve conceived, especially signs of implantation.
Implantation bleeding isn’t common for the majority of people who get pregnant, but it does happen to at least 25% . If you’re experiencing mid-cycle bleeding, it may be a sign of implantation; however, it may also be a sign of ovulation bleeding, which also occurs around the same time.
So, what’s the difference between ovulation bleeding vs. implantation bleeding? While both types of bleeding happen mid-cycle, there are differences between color, timing, duration, and even associated symptoms that can help you tell them apart.
What is ovulation bleeding? Ovulation bleeding, also known as mid-cycle spotting, is a light vaginal bleeding that occurs around the time of ovulation. Ovulation is the release of an egg from the ovary, which typically happens around the middle of your menstrual cycle.
>>MORE: Top 5 Signs of Ovulation: What To Look Out for if You’re Trying To Conceive
Ovulation bleeding occurs because of the hormone fluctuations during this period. Right before ovulation, estrogen rises, triggering the release of an egg from the ovary. Then, right after ovulation, estrogen drops suddenly, and progesterone steadily rises to prepare the body for pregnancy.
Spotting has been shown to occur for people who have higher progesterone-to-estrogen ratios, and specifically high progesterone levels .
Not everyone experiences ovulation bleeding—in fact, it’s not very common at all. Studies report that less than 5% of people experience spotting in the middle of the cycle.
What is implantation bleeding? Implantation bleeding, on the other hand, is a light spotting or bleeding that can occur when a fertilized egg implants itself into the lining of the uterus. This typically happens six to 12 days past ovulation (DPO), which can be close to the expected start of your period.
Implantation bleeding is an early sign of pregnancy, but it doesn't happen in all pregnancies. About one in four pregnant people will experience implantation bleeding—if you’re trying to conceive and you don’t experience any spotting, that’s totally normal. It doesn’t mean that you’re not pregnant.
Ovulation bleeding vs. implantation bleeding: color, flow, duration, and timing Distinguishing between ovulation bleeding and implantation bleeding can be tricky because they share some similarities. Here's a breakdown of the key differences.
Ovulation bleeding vs. implantation bleeding: color and flow Both ovulation bleeding and implantation bleeding are light forms of bleeding, typically referred to as spotting. Unlike your period, you may only see a few drops of blood on your toilet paper or underwear.
Ovulation bleeding is typically light pink or even brown. The blood will skew pink if the blood is mixing with cervical fluids, which increase and thicken during ovulation.
Implantation bleeding is usually dark brown or brown, but it can also be light pink.
If you experience heavy bleeding mid-cycle, it could be a sign of an underlying issue. Be sure to consult with a medical professional.
Ovulation bleeding vs implantation bleeding: duration Both ovulation bleeding and implantation bleeding last for a short amount of time, much shorter than a period, which lasts three to seven days.
Ovulation bleeding typically lasts for just a few hours, or up to a day or two. Ovulation lasts about 12 to 48 hours per cycle; ovulation bleeding will happen during this timeframe.
Implantation bleeding can last from a few hours up to three days.
Ovulation bleeding vs implantation bleeding: timing You may be reading about the color and duration of ovulation bleeding vs. implantation bleeding and thinking—are there actually any differences?
It’s frustrating that ovulation bleeding and implantation bleeding can be the same color, flow, and even last a similar amount of time. Yet there is one key differentiator that you can determine: timing.
The main difference between ovulation bleeding vs. implantation bleeding is what point in your cycle they occur.
Ovulation bleeding happens during ovulation, which is the 12 to 48 hour window when an egg is released from your ovary. This is typically midway in your cycle, so around day 14 if you have a 28 day cycle, for example.
Implantation bleeding happens after ovulation. According to one study , implantation can happen as early as 6 DPO , but typically happens around 8 to 10 DPO .
Tracking your cycle to pinpoint your ovulation and days past ovulation is the best way to determine when your mid-cycle bleeding is happening—and therefore what type of bleeding you might be experiencing.
When to take a pregnancy test If you’re experiencing mid-cycle bleeding and are unsure whether it’s ovulation bleeding vs. implantation bleeding, the best way to know for sure is to take a pregnancy test—as long as you take it at the right time.
Pregnancy tests detect pregnancy by measuring the amount of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in your body. This hormone increases once implantation has occurred; while it starts rising immediately, hCG levels aren’t typically high enough for a pregnancy test to detect until you’ve missed a period.
While it can be frustrating and challenging to wait out those two weeks from ovulation (until you’ve missed a period), waiting until you’re close or after 14 DPO will ensure the most accurate results.
Ovulation bleeding vs implantation bleeding: the bottom line Both ovulation bleeding and implantation bleeding are light, short-lived types of mid-cycle bleeding. The main difference between the two is when they occur in your cycle: ovulation bleeding occurs at the midpoint of your cycle during ovulation; implantation bleeding occurs about six to ten days after ovulation, closer to your period.
By tracking your hormones, you can pinpoint exactly where you are in your cycle to get a better understanding of what type of bleeding you’re experiencing.
