Bleeding while waiting for the pregnancy test: should I panic?

Not All Vaginal Bleeding is Bad

To answer your question, no. This is not a time to panic. Of course, you're scared. Vaginal bleeding isn't supposed to happen when you're pregnant. But before you start thinking all of those terrible thoughts that we're so capable of coming up with, let's look at the big picture.

Reasons for Vaginal Bleeding

A fetus in its barrier of amniotic fluid is amazingly strong. If your uterus is sloughing off some blood, that does not mean the baby (if you are pregnant) is being directly affected. There are a number of non-serious reasons why you might be experiencing vaginal bleeding, and most of them are nothing to worry about.

1. The most logical reason is that you are not actually pregnant. Your period might be late, and you're always on time. You're bloated and irritable, neither of which is a definite tell-tale sign either way. You really want to be pregnant. But then, while you're waiting for your pregnancy test stick to give you an answer, you feel yourself bleeding. Or maybe you've just made an appointment with your OB-GYN, and she won't be able to fit you in until tomorrow. You did two home pregnancy tests, but one was positive and the other was negative. So, you need to go to the doctor to find out for sure. But when you're going to the bathroom, you notice blood on the toilet paper when you wipe.
2. Stress is a common reason for vaginal bleeding. What's going on in your life? Are you happy at work? Is your home life going okay? Are you and your significant other on the same page most of the time? Are you on the same page about wanting to be pregnant or not? That's a biggie. Stress can be caused by so many reasons. Do a quick inventory of what life stressors you could be going through right now.
3. Your periods might be getting out of sync for some reason. Even if they have always been on schedule, maybe the way your life is right now is causing your periods to change. It might not even be due to a stress-related reason.
4. You might have some tiny growths in your uterus called fibroids or polyps. They aren't quite the same thing, but they can cause similar problems, and either one can sometimes cause vaginal bleeding. While the thought of having fibroids or polyps may be disconcerting, they are seldom dangerous. They can, however, cause you some pain in addition to the vaginal bleeding. There is a possibility, too, of having they surgically removed. But hold on! You don't know for sure, so don't go there yet.

If You Are Not Pregnant

You've been wanting to be a mother for a long time. For a little while, it seemed like your dream was finally coming true. Then the bleeding. Your heart is breaking, but there are options.

Infertility can be your worst nightmare. Through our IVF clinic, fertility treatment is available to couples and single men and women who want to be parents. IVF has become one of the highest regarded methods of having a baby.

We're Here for You

We realize that having a child is the biggest joy a person can have, but it is not always possible to do that without help. Furthermore, we offer assistance to people around the world who come to our IVF clinic in Greece. Our IVF clinic abroad has helped hundreds of people become parents via egg donation and IVF. We would love to talk with you about your options.