Can Implantation Bleeding Be A Sign Of Pregnancy?

Posted on Tue, 5 Jan 2016

Question: I had early periods this month,( 1 week before expected date) maybe implantation bleeding. It started with brown spotting with discharge, followed by brown and then blood red bleeding. It is my fifth day after the spotting and bleeding is minimal today. Is it my early periods or implantation bleeding? Also, i got a beta hcg test done today, its value was 0.123 . Am i pregnant? Or is there a possibility of me being pregnant?

Answered by Dr. Deepti Verma (9 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
No possibility of pregnancy

Detailed Answer:
Hi dear, I have gone through your question and understand your concerns.
Early periods can be implantation bleeding, but the beta hCG levels you have mentioned are consistent with absolute non pregnant state.
Moreover, implantation bleeding occurs for 1-3 days, with scanty flow.
However, you had bleeding for5 days with complete blood flow.
There are almost no chances of pregnancy, and it was likely to be your early periods.
Hope you found the answer helpful. Please do get back for further queries.
Wishing you good health.
Regards
Dr Deepti Verma

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Deepti Verma (9 minutes later)

Thankyou doctor for your prompt reply, but my periods seemed lighter than ususal. I was diagnosed with pcod 2 months ago. I got my serum prolactin levels checked with beta hcg, and it was 46.4( prolactin) and 0.123( beta hcg). Also, i took unwanted 72 after oral sex this month. Is there even a slight chance of pregnancy? If no, then why are my hcg levels 0.123 and not <0.100 ? And is this increase in prolactin a sign of early pregnancy?

Answered by Dr. Deepti Verma (2 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Please furnish some information

Detailed Answer:
Hi dear, please tell me when did you took unwanted 72 so that I can explain you more clearly.
Regards
Dr Deepti Verma

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Deepti Verma (22 minutes later)

I took unwanted 72 after 2 hours of oral sex. On 23rd nov and got spotting followed by light flow on 7 dec

Answered by Dr. Deepti Verma (33 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Withdrawal bleeding due to unwanted 72

Detailed Answer:
Hi dear,
The light flow you had on 7 th December onwards was likely due to hormonal effects of the unwanted 72 pill. Emergency contraceptive pill intake is followed by withdrawal bleeding within 7-10 days of the pill intake.
In your case, it started as spotting and then light flow.
If you had only oral sex, then you should not be worried at all as oral sex do not leads to pregnancy.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Regards
Dr Deepti Verma

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Deepti Verma (6 minutes later)

Thankyou doctor, the withdrawl bleeding, starts within 7-10 days. But i had spotting after 15 days. Also, i have heard that is sperms can be transferred through hands if it was in contact with male genital before. Also, what could lead to increased levels of prolactin?

Answered by Dr. Deepti Verma (16 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Hyperprolactinemia

Detailed Answer:
Hi dear,
If the semen on the hands was entered into the vagina, then there are chances of pregnancy.
High prolactin is due to hormonal disturbances and is not due to pregnancy.
High prolactin levels cause delayed periods, irregular periods and milk secretion from the breasts.
Cabgolin should be given to treat hyperprolactemia.
Hope you found the answer.
Regards
Dr Deepti Verma

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Deepti Verma (10 minutes later)

Thankyou for your patience doctor, all i need to know is with the decribed situation, is there a chance of pregnancy for me? Or this beta hcg level of 0.123 a computer error?

Answered by Dr. Deepti Verma (3 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
No chance of pregnancy

Detailed Answer:
Hi dear,
Serum beta hCG levels of less than 5 units is indicative of the fact that there is absolutely no chance of pregnancy in the body.
I suggest you not to worry at all as there is no chance of pregnancy.
Regards
Dr Deepti Verma

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Deepti Verma (13 minutes later)

Thankyou for your assurance doctor. I am concerned that how early are hcg levels detected. Like as early as 5 th day, of continous bleeding and spotting( if implantation bleeding). I hope i havent taken the test too early. Please help me with the thought that levels wont rise.

Answered by Dr. Deepti Verma (5 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Repeat beta hCG after 48 hours

Detailed Answer:
Hi dear, the hCG levels start to rise after implantation, and the value gets doubled every48 hours.
To confirm, you should do a repeat beta hCG levels after48 hours of the previous test.
Regards
Dr Deepti Verma

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Deepti Verma (25 minutes later)

Thanks, have i taken the test too early ? Or am i getting worried unnecessarily? Also, why am i asked about my lmp when going for beta hcg test? N what date should i give them? 7 th dec, when spotting started? Or the actual last month's date. I also took a beta hcg test on 8 th( second day of spotting) the value was <0.100. And today after 3 days value is 0.123. Is there any chance that i might be pregnant?

Answered by Dr. Deepti Verma (10 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Do not worry

Detailed Answer:
Hi dear,
Do not worry so much. There is no need to panic.
Last menstrual period is asked while estimating hCG in order to calculate the gestational age, because the levels of hCG increases as the gestational age increases.
Your hCG levels are indicative of non pregnant levels.
Even the increase in 3 days is only minor, which can be lab error, and the values have not doubled.
Therefore, I suggest you not to worry at all.
Regards
Dr Deepti Verma

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee

Follow up: Dr. Deepti Verma (29 hours later)

Dear doctor, it is day 7 th and i am spotting again ( brown in color) . My usual periods were if 5 days, but since last two months after being detected with pcod. I had my periods for only 3 days. This month i guess i had early periods/ implantation bleeding. Starting a week before my expected mesturation date. Starting in 7 th with brown discharge and spotting, 8th was brown very light flow, 9,10, 11 was red flow, light with clots, 12th was extremely light flow, and today its brown discharge again. Also, i have an upset stomach and lost around 1 kg weight since monday. I hope this is not due to ectopic pregnancy. And i am really stressed with the same.

Answered by Dr. Deepti Verma (11 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Likely withdrawal bleeding

Detailed Answer:
Hi dear, this pattern of bleeding is consistent with the pattern of withdrawal bleeding due to emergency contraceptive pill.
Ectopic pregnancy can be diagnosed by ultrasound and you can get a transvaginal ultrasound done to confirm the ectopic pregnancy,if the urine pregnancy test is positive.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Regards
Dr Deepti Verma

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Deepti Verma (7 minutes later)

Thankyou doctor, i got my beta hcg test today, after 48 hours of last test ant the result was <0.100. Is the pregnancy completely ruled out? Or do i need to get a test done again in few days? Also, can unwanted 72 be a reason for high prolactin levels?

Answered by Dr. Deepti Verma (55 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Pregnancy completely ruled out

Detailed Answer:
Hi dear,
Yes, such low levels of beta hCG completely rule out the pregnancy. There is no need to do any further test.
No, unwanted 72 do not increase the prolactin levels.
Regards
Dr Deepti Verma

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Deepti Verma (3 minutes later)

Thankyou doctor, u've been a great help! What could have caused high prolactin levels? And how can they be controlled ? Is pcod a reason??

Answered by Dr. Deepti Verma (6 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Happy to help

Detailed Answer:
Hi dear,
I am happy to have helped you.
High prolactin levels are generally caused by hormonal imbalances, dysfunction of pituitary gland and can be found associated with hypothyroidism or PCOD.
Transient rise in prolactin can be due to breast stimulation.
You can get back to me for further queries by asking a direct question to me on the health care magic porta;.
Regards
Dr Deepti Verma

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Deepti Verma (11 hours later)

Dear doctor, my periods were due for 13 of this month. But since i had my withdrawal bleeding on 7th, when can i expect my periods for this month?

Answered by Dr. Deepti Verma (23 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Delay by 2-3 weeks

Detailed Answer:
Hi dear,
Expected next periods are usually delayed by 2-3 weeks due to the effect of the emergency contraceptive pill.
So, your periods are likely to come in next2-3 weeks.
Regards
Dr Deepti Verma

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Deepti Verma (5 minutes later)

Thankyou doctor, after how long of implantation bleeding can beta hcg test detect hcg? If the test is as sensitive as giving the values less than <0.100

Answered by Dr. Deepti Verma (12 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
7-10 days after implantation

Detailed Answer:
Hi dear, beta hCG can be detected in blood as early as 10-12 days post conception, or around 7-10 days after implantation.
Regards
Dr Deepti Verma

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar