You are here:
goodtoknow
Family
Why am I bleeding?

Why am I bleeding?

Average rating:

One of the scariest things that can happen to a pregnant woman is to discover she's bleeding. But it doesn't necessarily mean that there's a problem.

Read our helpful info on what the pregnancy bleed might be...

Implantation bleed

Symptoms of early pregnancy can be similar to the way you feel when your period's due. You may get a little breakthrough bleeding or 'spotting', called an implantation bleed, 6-10 days after conception, as the fertilised egg embeds itself in the womb lining.

In the first few weeks, some women find they have a light bleed around the time their period would have been due.

Sex or internal exam

During pregnancy there's an increased blood supply to the cervix and you may experience a small amount of spotting after sex or an internal examination. This is very common and it can be pink, red or brown.

Miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy

Blood loss in pregnancy can be a sign of miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy, especially if accompanied by pain or cramps. Any bleeding in early pregnancy is often referred to as a 'threatened miscarriage'. You can contact your midwife, who should be able to arrange an ultrasound scan. But if there's only a small amount of bleeding, just take it easy and see if it stops.

Bed rest used to be advised for women who bleed in early pregnancy, but there's no evidence that this makes any difference to the outcome. In any case, for reassurance contact your midwife.

Why am I bleeding? Infections, Anti-D >

Your rating

Rate this!

Average rating:

All pages in this article

1. Why am I bleeding?

2. Why am I bleeding? Infections, Anti-D

Where to next?

Your comments

ciara, posted 3 days ago

hi there i had unprotected sex 16 days ago and have done 2 tests both negative but i have been having all the symptoms of pregnancy and am wondering if it is too soon to tell. its all very complicated as i was on the injection and came of it in november and did not get a period and then had un protected sex with my partner and had the morning after pill.... then i had a slight bleed and things seemed ok but on the first day i started my pill which was not the first day i started my period we had sex again and the condom split and i could not have the morning after pill again and that was 16 days ago. ive had every symptom ive had on my first pregnancy but increased, the doc tool me off the pill to see was it side effects of that but it has not gone away and though i took another test it was also neg, but i feel pregnant and need to know if i am as this was not planned at all at all. i started to bleed yesterday so on day 15 and am still bleeding today with dizzyness and headaches, could this be implantation bleeding or what. the doc said ive to wait til tuesday to do another test but i just dont know what to do. on my last pergnancy i did a test a week after i concieved though i didnt know it at the time and it was neg and 4 weeks later i did another and it was positive. help please

Report comment
cherry, posted 4 days ago

hi i came off the pill nearly two years ago when i got married, and my periods have been regular for about 6/7 months now. but this month i was 6 days late and i havent had any period pain(like i always do) and im quite light (usually heavy) could there be a possiblity im pregnant?i did a test when i was late but it was negative, i have a feeling something isnt right, please help!

Report comment
brittany, posted 1 month ago

I've been bleeding every 2 weeks now or sooner.My stomach gets a little sick but its not to the point where I throw up, I've been getting headaches,and having a temp. I'm getting a little worried. Any ideas?

Report comment
msicarried b4!, posted 2 months ago

Hi im 19years old suffered a miscarriage july this year and i have been trying to get pregnant ever since i have tried everything....but my periods just keep coming does this mean i can not get pregnant. there are times when i feel lyk im pregnant but eventually it comes. right now im really confused i had my period i started bleeding xmas dai veri lite den neva bled for the rest of the day or the day after then started bleeding on the 27th quite light den heavy den very light....im getting aches and pains weeks l8ter feelin sick got no appetite whats wrong with me? help

Report comment
danielle, posted 5 months ago

I'm 16 and I had unprotected sex about a week ago, the guy didn't pull out either. I have had a few symptoms that make me think I'm pregnant, eating a lot, stomach cramps and lower back pain. the thing is my period isn't due until the 28th and I started bleeding yesterday. I don't want to take a test because it's too early but I would really like some ideas of what could be going on. Please could someone help me? I'm so scared. :( x

Report comment
julie, posted 10 months ago

im not sure if im pregnant but im bleedin heavely and have been over a week now could this be a misscarage it may sound daft but am askin

Report comment
michelle, posted 1 year ago

hi i need sum advice i had da contraception implant out over a month ago now but after i had it out i had unprotected sex a few days after i still avent had a proper period evertime i think ive com on i havent its reall small amounts of pink coloured bood ive done a pregnancy test but its negative im gettin a few cramps like period pains but not often i have a child allready and this what happened before i done 3 test with her n it turned out negative i dont really no what 2 fink i mean i aint been sick or anythink could u get back 2 me please

Report comment
Amanda, posted 1 year ago

Ok so I'm not quite sure what to think. I usually have a very heavy period. The first 2 days are light then until about the 5th day its heavy with cramps. Its the third day and its very light and barely any cramps. I have a horrible headache and a temperature. Could I possibly be pregnant or is this all in my head?

Report comment
will, posted 1 year ago

My friend thinks she's pregnant because she has bled out almost brown blood about 7 days after she had sex, she had sex 2 days after her period ended and she doesn't no if she is pregnant or not what could this be ? and do you think she should be concerned ??

Report comment
Chloe, posted 1 year ago

hi i am 16years old i came on my period just over 6 weeks now and i still havent come off, i am scared i might have been pregnant and misscarriaged but i am not sure, i really dont no what to do and just recently it has got a million times worse and there is so much

Report comment
jalie, posted 2 years ago

My friend is quiet confused,she last had her periods 30th of dececmber 2007 but her actual day of menstration was supposed to be 24th of december.She waited for her menstration for january but all in vain till today,but she has tested with the home hpt tests 4 times and all of them give positive results.what advise do you give her because she claims she last had i sexual intercals in december.the whole of january she almost didn´t have any sexual activity till 27 0f january 2008 almost 2 days to her january menstruation which she claims was 27,28,29 were all safe days for her to concieve. So we kindly need your help because this situation totally confusing.

Report comment
natasha, posted 2 years ago

MY BIG SISTER IS 6 MONTHS PREGNANT AND SHE IS BLEEDING I THINK SHE COULD HAVE A MISSCARAGE

Report comment