Looking for an early sign you may be pregnant? Light bleeding or spotting after conception, also known as implantation bleeding, is an early and normal sign of pregnancy. This type of bleeding occurs after a fertilized egg or embryo attaches to the wall of the uterus. This can result in light bleeding or spotting about 10 to 14 days after conception.

“About 25% of women will experience implantation bleeding during the first trimester,” says Alissa Wormington, APRN, Nebraska Medicine nurse practitioner. “Because of the timing of implantation bleeding, occurring about when a woman would be expecting her period, it can be mistaken for her menstrual cycle."

The bleeding may be bright red or brown and is usually just enough for a panty liner. It may be a constant flow or intermittent, usually lasting a few hours to three days. 

You can confirm you are pregnant by doing a home pregnancy test. If the test is negative, repeat the test in seven to 10 days, recommends Wormington. Your human chorionic gonadotrophin hormone, produced by the placenta when pregnant, may not be high enough to be picked up by the test. The hCG hormone generally rises gradually, so repeating the test sooner may continue to provide a negative result, Wormington says.

If you experience significant cramping and pain, you should go to the emergency room immediately, says Wormington. These symptoms could signal an ectopic pregnancy in which the embryo implants outside the uterus, which is a medical emergency.