Implantation Bleeding

Many women like myself scour their BBT charts for ovulation, early pregnancy or implantation signs. One of the more commonly looked for implantation signs is an implantation dip. But is an "implantation dip" a real sign of embroys implantation? Is it a genuine sign of early pregnancy during the tww?

As per my previous blog entries, ovulation can be detected on a bbt chart by slight shift in temperature mid cycle. An implantation dip is a one-day drop in temperature on a bbt chart, occurring about one week after ovulation. The dip appears during the luteal phase which is the time between ovulation and your expected AF. Implantation of the embryo usually occurs between 7 and 11 of the luteal phase and this is why some people attribute this suddent one-day dip in temperature to implantation. 

Implantation bleeding is also called implantation spotting. Implantation bleeding or spotting does not usually look like a regular menstrual period but is scanty and usually a pinkish or brownish discharge. The closer to the day when AF is supposed to begin that the bleeding is noticed, the less chance of it being implantation bleeding.

Having an implantation dip occurs usually when you are pregnant, but please note that it is not a reliable symptom of pregnancy. Of course women can have the so called implantation dip when they are not pregnant, and plenty of women who are pregnant do not show an implantation dip on theor BBT chart.

When the egg is released from the ovary, it travels down the fallopian tube towards the uterus. If the egg meets up with a viable sperm during the trip and the egg is is fertilised, it will attempt to implant in the lining of the uterus. Once implantation happens the blastocyst becomes the embryo. Due to the blood rich nature of the endometrial lining, a few drops of blood could move through the cervix and down the vagina. This blood is referred to as implantation bleeding. Usually blood pregnancy tests will become positive within 3-4 days after implantation and HPT tests usually becomes positive 4-5 days after implantation. If implantation is not successful, the egg will flush out of the body with the normal menstrual flow.

Some signs of implantation or possible pregnancy include:

• Implantation cramps - small cramps inside the uterus
• Implantation spotting or bleeding - short brief spotting (a couple of drops of light or dark blood)
• A second temperature shift on the BBT chart
• A temperature dip at about 7 to 10 days after ovulation

 All sounds very exciting so i'm fxing that i'll be able to experience implantation bleeding this time around.