by Bella Cooper

Created on: October 05, 2009   Last Updated: October 07, 2009

Vaginal spotting during pregnancy may cause alarm, but it does not necessarily mean there is a problem with the pregnancy. Several different things can cause spotting at various points during the progression of the pregnancy. Here is a guide describing what can cause spotting and under what circumstances you should seek medical advice.

First lets discuss the difference between vaginal spotting and bleeding. Discharge that is pink or brown that does not fill a pad is considered spotting. Blood of this type is older blood rather than the fresh, bright red that comes during menses. If you experience fresh bleeding at any point during the pregnancy, you should contact your doctor immediately, as this could be a sign of miscarriage.

There are several times during the pregnancy where spotting may occur and it is more common than you may think. In fact, twenty percent of woman reporting spotting some time in the first trimester. First, at the time the egg implants onto the cervix, spotting can occur as blood can be released from the uteral lining. For some women, this is actually one of the first signs of pregnancy. Implantation typically occurs about six to ten days after fertilization, and the spotting is usually light lasting up to two days.

Spotting can also commonly occur shortly after sexual intercourse or a pap smear. Another possibility is that spotting may be a sign of an infection like Chlamydia or a vaginal infection.

There are also instances of unexplained spotting during early pregnancy, that do not lead to complications. If you are concerned, you should always contact your doctor even if it is just to get reassurance that everything is developing properly. Spotting can also be an early sign of a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. It is important to rule out these possibilities. If you feel abdominal pain and cramping in addition the spotting, you should certainly go to your doctor right away.

Later during your pregnancy, spotting can occur during placenta previa, which is when the placenta implants into the uterus. Another option at this stage is that the placenta has separated from the uterus prematurely. These are potentially dangerous situations, so call your doctor immediately.

As you near the end of your pregnancy, spotting can be a sign that labor is soon to begin.

While spotting can be scary, there are many reasons why it may be completely normal and not a sign of problems in the pregnancy.

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