Plant losses

What they are and why they appear

The implant losses are very slight vaginal blood loss, which can occur at the beginning of pregnancy.

Their origin is entirely physiological (benign), since it depends on the implantation of the fertilized egg in the uterus: the invasion of the endometrial cavity by the blastocyst - which penetrates the basal decidua and rapidly increases in it - causes an injury of local tissues and blood vessels, which produces a small hemorrhage; the blood that does not penetrate into the gaps of the endometrium but pours into the uterine cavity gives rise to implant losses.

Associated characteristics and symptoms

It is a mild hemorrhage, which gives rise to irregular pinkish or brownish losses. Sometimes, implant losses are associated with slight cramping pain in the uterus.

Not all pregnant women experience this sign, which actually appears rather rarely (in 20-30% of pregnant women). Therefore, a woman may be pregnant even if she has not experienced any implant loss.

If present, planting losses appear about four weeks after the last menstruation and last from a few hours to a couple of days. For this reason, implant losses can be confused with normal menstruation; for the same reason, at the first obstetric ultrasound some women discover that their pregnancy started a month earlier than they thought.

It should be reiterated, however, that the extent of the flow and any associated cramps is generally milder than is experienced with the common menstrual flow. Losses, for example, can be limited to pinkish mucous secretions.

What can simulate an implant leak?

It should be noted that slight losses (spotting) can also occur for reasons beyond pregnancy; for example, slight inflammations or vaginal, cervical or uterine infections, as well as transient hormonal imbalances, can cause abnormal losses in the second half of the menstrual cycle. A gynecological examination is desirable to better frame the origin of these losses.