Help, bleeding!

It could be implantation bleeding; just wait and see if it stops. If not, call the doctor on Monday. If yes, take an early pregnancy test in 2-3 days.

It might also be a burst blood vessel. If the bleeding stops and the test is negative, that was likely the cause—nothing serious.

If you experience this more often in between or more often during/after sex, you should see the doctor.

Haha, you're welcome! Yes, it could be a few different things. Just keep an eye on it to see if it happens more often. If it does, then take them to the doctor.

Just, did it stop now and was there a lot? I think it was a vein, maybe from having a bit more vigorous sex?

I wouldn't worry too much about it. I had this both during my previous pregnancy, which ended in a miscarriage, and during this one. It was due to implantation both times. There's nothing more you can do right now except wait. I did have a very faint line on a sensitive pregnancy test two days after the bleeding started. But sometimes I also had unexplained bleeding that just meant my period was coming. So it could still be anything. Our hormones can sometimes cause these kinds of symptoms.

Maybe you're just getting your period a bit earlier than usual. Don't worry too much about it. I used to have unexpected bleeding every now and then each month, ranging from light to heavier.

Clautjuh, outside your normal period? Because that's not normal; if you have extra bleeding, you should see a doctor.

Oh no, you don't need to run to the doctor right away for that. Otherwise, every woman who has implantation bleeding – which I had twice out of four pregnancies – or just gets her period a bit earlier, would have to run to the doctor? That's obviously a bit over the top. It's not unusual. A doctor would also say, wait and see. Sometimes, without the pill, I had some bleeding around my ovulation, or 3 days before my period. Then my period would start. It was also related to coming off the pill. All hormonal influences. But everyone should do what feels right for them. I'm just pointing out that there can be several reasons.

I can only speak from my own experience. With my son and daughter, I didn’t have any implantation bleeding. Last November I was pregnant again; that time, I got my period on a Friday/Saturday. That week, on the Tuesday before, I’d felt a sharp stab in my uterus. On Wednesday I started losing fresh red blood, so I thought I was just getting my period a bit early. We were in Italy for a few days, so I couldn’t test until Saturday morning, and it was positive. That morning I’d put in a tampon but only took it out in the afternoon because we were busy and stuff. I noticed then that I’d barely bled at all. Unfortunately, at 4 weeks plus 3 days it became a miscarriage. The next cycle felt exactly the same: again my period on a Friday, and on that Sunday evening I was sitting on the couch and felt another sharp stab, followed by a tender uterus, some cramps, etc. I told my partner I think I’m pregnant again, and tomorrow morning I’ll probably bleed again. And indeed, I bled the next morning. It was just in the morning, though, with fresh red blood. And at 12 dpo I bled again. I thought something had gone wrong, but the tests turned positive quickly. And the result is 21 weeks pregnant with a girl.

That's really disappointing, indeed. But unfortunately, your cycle can sometimes be irregular. But I always saw the first day of my period as a fresh start. Cycle day 1.

Clautjuh, you said every month or so... I assume you don't get implantation bleeding every month?

Bleeding outside of your period can be a sign of things like cervical cancer. No, after one episode of mid-cycle bleeding you don't need to run to the doctor, but if you have it every month like you said, it's better to go.

I had only been off the pill for 3 months, so 2 of those months I wasn't pregnant. And during both months, I did have some bleeding in between. Once around ovulation and both times a day or two before my period. That's also part of coming off the pill. Since I'm already over 30 and have had pap smears, I know it's not cervical cancer. I don't panic easily.

I'm not saying you should be in a panic, but just because it happened to you like that doesn't mean that bleeding in between periods is always normal and just fine for everyone.