¿Cuál es la diferencia entre el sangrado de implantación y un período?

¿Qué es el sangrado de implantación?

When you ovulas, one of your ovaries releases an egg into your Fallopian tubes. If you have sexo sin protección up to three days before or within 24 hours of this release, there's a chance that the egg could become fertilised with esperma. El sangrado de implantación puede ocurrir en las primeras etapas del embarazo cuando el óvulo fertilizado se adhiere al revestimiento uterino.

"Implantation is when the fertilised egg is embedding into the wall of the womb, which usually happens around the time your period would have been due," explains Amina Hatia, midwifery manager of the UK embarazo and baby loss charity Tommy's. "A veces esto provoca un sangrado muy leve conocido como sangrado de implantación."

¿Cómo se ve el sangrado de implantación?

If you are trying to get embarazada, bleeding can be the sign of a period. However, the colour and quantity of blood seen with implantation bleeding is different from ordinary menstrual blood. You may see it when you wipe after going to the toilet or in your underwear.

"No debería ser suficiente para empapar las compresas o la ropa interior, y es de color rosa claro o marrón en lugar de muy rojo, y solo debería durar un día o así," dice Hatia.

"Light bleeding without pain is common in el embarazo temprano - before 12 weeks - so don't panic if you experience this, but always contact your doctor or midwife and get checked out straightaway just to be sure."

Investigación suggests light bleeding happens in 15% to 25% of early embarazos. Aunque puede ser preocupante, Tommy's afirma que muchas mujeres que experimentan sangrado vaginal en el primer trimestre continúan teniendo un embarazo viable.

Calambres de implantación

Sometimes, you may feel light cramping that feels a little like dolor menstrual during implantation. Not everyone feels this cramping, and the intensity varies from person to person. Some describe implantation cramping as a dull ache or light twinges, or even a pulling sensation. Like period pain, the sensations can be felt in the lower abdomen and the lower back too.

Every ciclo menstrual is a different length and isn't necessarily 28 days long. Therefore, it is difficult to say exactly when your implantation spotting and cramping may occur.

If you notice any spotting or very light bleeding around the date you would have your period and you suspect you might be embarazada, it's important to take a prueba de embarazo. Si estás embarazada, habla con tu médico de cabecera y menciona cualquier sangrado que tengas, para que se puedan descartar otros factores.

¿Cuáles son los otros signos de un embarazo temprano?

If you have a regular monthly menstrual cycle, the earliest and most reliable sign of pregnancy is a retraso en el período.

Other symptoms of early pregnancy include fatiga, aversión a ciertos alimentos or cravings, a stronger sense of smell, swollen breasts and nausea, although las náuseas usually kicks in from between four and six weeks of pregnancy.

¿Qué más puede causar sangrado en el inicio del embarazo?

Light bleeding or spotting in the first 12 weeks of embarazo can be normal. However, you should speak to your doctor, midwife or Early Pregnancy Unit - at your local hospital - to be checked just in case. Bleeding in pregnancy after the first trimester is not common and you should contact A&E or your hospital maternity unit immediately so you can be examined.

There are a few reasons why you might experience light bleeding or spotting during the first trimester. Embarazo hormones can cause changes to the cuello uterino, lo que a veces puede provocar sangrado, especialmente después del sexo. Ocasionalmente, el sangrado vaginal también puede ser causado por una infección, la cual debe ser tratada rápidamente.

¿Cuándo es más grave el sangrado en el primer trimestre?

Bleeding can sometimes be a sign of something more serious. It's important to seek urgent medical attention for any vaginal bleeding if you have had a positive prueba de embarazo. Su médico podrá realizar algunos exámenes y pruebas simples para descartar cualquier cosa grave.

A aborto espontáneo is when a pregnancy ends before 24 weeks and symptoms can include bleeding that is bright red and needs a pad, cramping, or back and stomach pain. According to Tommy's, some women may experience what is known as a 'threatened aborto espontáneo'. Esto se diagnostica cuando hay sangrado continuo con o sin dolor, pero la mujer aún está embarazada.

Un embarazo ectópico can also cause bleeding, stomach pain on one side, pain in the tip of the shoulder or discomfort when going to the toilet. This is when a fertilised egg implants outside the womb, usually in the Fallopian tube. This is a medical emergency, and it's especially important to see a doctor urgently if you get one-sided pain at around the same time as bleeding.

A embarazo molar is a rare complication in which a fetus doesn't form properly in the womb and a baby doesn't develop. Bleeding, severe morning sickness and an unusually swollen abdomen are all symptoms.

Sin embargo, es importante que te revise tu médico o la unidad de maternidad, quienes podrán confirmar si tu sangrado es un problema o no.