Is spotting a sign of pregnancy?

Pregnancy symptoms can range from the expected to the surprising. There's the trademark nausea of morning sickness, the joint pain of carpal tunnel, and the vivid dreams that catch you off guard.

One thing about pregnancy is certain: Each pregnancy, and the symptoms that come with it, is unique. For some women, light spotting and bleeding can be a symptom of early pregnancy.

If you're not sure if you're pregnant, but you've noticed blood in your underwear or when you wipe, you might find yourself wondering if this is your first clue a positive pregnancy test is in your near future.

For many people, light spotting is perfectly normal in very early pregnancy.

- Kristin Cohen, certified nurse-midwife and women's health nurse practitioner

"It's hard to say in the moment what may be causing spotting," says BabyCenter Community member Toofers5. "With true implantation bleeding, you'll see a positive home pregnancy test within two to four days of first noticing." Every pregnancy is different, though, so it may take longer than that to see a positive test.

The most reliable way to confirm a pregnancy is with an at-home test or by seeing your healthcare provider, but we know you might be waiting and watching for the earliest sign before it's time to test.

Here's what you need to know about early pregnancy spotting and what it might mean.

What does early pregnancy spotting look like?

Implantation bleeding is light spotting that can occur in the earliest days of pregnancy when the newly fertilized egg implants in the wall of the uterus. Between 15 and 25% of women will experience spotting during pregnancy, some of which is implantation bleeding.

Typically, implantation bleeding is very light, lasting for one or two days. It may be pink or light brown.

"I had some light pink spotting a little after 5 weeks," says BabyCenter Community member BazookaJane. "It only lasted for a little bit – everything has been fine since."

While some women may bleed enough to necessitate a pad or panty liner, most will only notice the spotting when they wipe. Implantation bleeding shouldn't be enough to soak a pad. It may last a day or two, or as long as a week.

If you're bleeding heavily, it's more likely your period, not implantation bleeding.

How soon does pregnancy spotting start?

Typically you'll notice implantation bleeding a week or two after conception. If you've been tracking your cycle, this will be around the same time you miss your expected period.

"Sometimes spotting occurs before a pregnancy test is taken and is mistaken for the beginning of a period, while other people experience light spotting after getting a positive test result," says Kristin Cohen, DNP, WHNP-BC, a certified nurse-midwife, women's health nurse practitioner, and member of BabyCenter's Medical Advisory Board. "Regardless of the timing, once you have a positive pregnancy test, call your doctor or midwife to get your first prenatal appointment scheduled, and you can let them know about the spotting."

I have light spotting after sex. Could I be pregnant?

Implantation bleeding isn't the only cause of light spotting during pregnancy.

Sometimes, your cervix becomes more sensitive when you're pregnant. This is called a friable cervix and causes the cervix to bleed after sex early in the pregnancy. If you experience light spotting after sex, this could also be a sign that you are expecting.

There are other conditions that cause bleeding after sex, though, so it's always a good idea to check with your healthcare provider if you're not sure what's causing the bleeding.

"For many people, light spotting is perfectly normal in very early pregnancy and is no cause for concern," Cohen says. "Although it can be alarming to see any amount of bleeding, be reassured that plenty of people experience light spotting and go on to have healthy pregnancies."