Spotting, Could I Be Pregnant?

Spotting, for a small percentage of women, is a sign of pregnancy. Spotting is also a signal of the start of a woman’s menstrual cycle. It is estimated that approximately twenty percent of women have spotting or bleeding upon implantation. There are also several other reasons that could cause spotting in pregnancy.

Implantation Bleeding

Implantation bleeding or implantation spotting typically occurs six to eleven days past ovulation. The fertilized egg will burrow into the woman’s lining connecting itself to the woman’s uterus. When this burrowing occurs, it will sometimes cause bleeding or spotting. Implantation bleeding is typically light pink to brown in color and scanty amounts. However, some women have mistaken implantation bleeding for the start of the their period.

Other Causes of Spotting

Other causes of spotting that could occur during pregnancy include irritation of the cervix, cervical polyps, ectopic pregnancy, and miscarriage. There is also spotting that occurs for no apparent reason. The most obvious cause of bleeding is the start of menstruation. Although bleeding that resembles an actual menstrual cycle does sometimes occur, this is a very unusual and uncommon occurrence.

If you have already tested and received negative results, consult your doctor if you are still concerned that you could be pregnant.