Ovulation bleeding: Causes, colors, and what’s normal

What does ovulation bleeding look like?

Ovulation bleeding is typically very light, often just a few drops of blood that you may notice in your underwear or when going to the bathroom. If it mixes with cervical mucus, it might also look like pink or brownish discharge, or like small specks of red blood mixed with the (usually egg white-like) discharge. Ovulation bleeding should only last for a day or two.

If you’re not tracking your ovulation, or if you experience bleeding during ovulation for the first time, it may come as a surprise to notice bleeding mid-cycle. Ovulation bleeding is normal and not a cause for concern, but it can be helpful to know what it looks like so that you can tell it apart from other kinds of bleeding.

Bleeding between periods is often referred to as spotting, and it can happen for a number of reasons – ovulation being one of them. There are also several other possible reasons why we might experience spotting during our cycles:

• Pregnancy: It’s common to experience light bleeding in early pregnancy, and this can happen for a number of reasons, although it’s always best to get it checked out.
• Hormonal birth control: It’s especially common for spotting to occur when you first start hormonal birth control or when switching between methods, but it can happen at other times, too. For example, when you take a break or take sugar pills between pill packets. This type of spotting is known as a withdrawal bleed.
• Uterine fibroids or polyps: These are noncancerous growths in or around the uterus that can cause bleeding.
• Ovarian cysts: Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that develop on the ovaries. They are common and, in most cases, they don’t cause any symptoms and usually go away on their own. However, they can cause bleeding, pain, or bloating, and you should see a doctor if you have symptoms of an ovarian cyst.
• STIs: Some sexually transmitted infections (STIs), like chlamydia, can cause bleeding.

• PCOS: Irregular bleeding as a result of difficulties ovulating is a common sign of PCOS.

• Perimenopause: When our bodies start transitioning towards menopause, periods become more irregular, and we may also start experiencing some spotting between periods, this is known as perimenopause.

• Gynecological cancer: Cervical, uterine, vaginal, vulvar, and ovarian cancer can cause bleeding in some cases.  

If you notice unexpected bleeding during your cycles and you’re not sure what’s causing it, it’s always a good idea to speak with your healthcare provider.

What causes ovulation bleeding?

Ovulation bleeding is caused by the hormonal shifts that happen around ovulation. In the follicular phase (before ovulation), estrogen levels are high as the body prepares to ovulate. After ovulation, in the luteal phase, estrogen levels drop, and the body starts producing more progesterone to prepare for a potential pregnancy. It’s this drop in estrogen and rise in progesterone that can cause the uterine lining to shed a little, resulting in ovulation bleeding. 

Ovulation bleeding doesn’t happen every time we ovulate – in fact, one study into bleeding patterns of women with regular cycles found that only about 5% of the participants experienced mid-cycle spotting (although the study doesn’t specify that only ovulation bleeding is included in this number). It also didn’t happen in every cycle for those who did have this kind of bleeding. 

How do I know when ovulation is happening?

The menstrual cycle consists of two main phases – the follicular and luteal phases – and your ovulation marks the shift between the two. While the timing of ovulation varies from person to person (and cycle to cycle), we usually ovulate roughly two weeks before our next period. So, how can you know when ovulation happens? Let’s go through a few different ways you can predict it!

Using Natural Cycles

Natural Cycles can also help you know when your ovulation happens. The app’s intelligent algorithm uses your body temperature and (optional) ovulation tests to confirm your ovulation in each individual cycle, taking out the guesswork! 

There are many calendar-based apps out there that let you track your cycle using period dates, and while these can help give an idea of when ovulation happens, they are based on general assumptions about the menstrual cycle and aren’t personalized to each individual. Since we don’t always ovulate on the same day every cycle and not everyone has the same cycle patterns, these methods aren’t tailored to you. Natural Cycles provides more accuracy as a temperature-based method since it adapts to your body and cycle.

Tracking body temperature

Did you know that our body temperature also changes during the menstrual cycle? A small but significant increase in basal body temperature (the body’s resting lowest temperature) happens after ovulation due to the rising levels of the hormone progesterone. Tracking your basal body temperature throughout the menstrual cycle can help you understand when you ovulate.

Tracking cervical mucus 

Cervical mucus (often referred to as discharge) is a substance that forms in the cervix and discharges through the vagina. Our cervical mucus typically changes during the menstrual cycle, and tracking it can help identify when you ovulate – usually, cervical mucus has a consistency similar to raw egg white around ovulation, and this helps the sperm reach the egg because the consistency is easy for sperm to swim through.

Taking ovulation tests

Ovulation tests, also known as LH tests, test for the presence of luteinizing hormone (LH) in urine and can help you narrow down your ovulation and fertile days. LH levels peak around 24-72 hours before ovulation, so a positive test result is a good indication that ovulation is on its way.

Ovulation bleeding vs. implantation bleeding

Implantation bleeding, as the name suggests, happens when the fertilized egg attaches or implants in the uterine wall, and it’s one of the earliest signs of pregnancy. However, not everyone will experience implantation bleeding either.

If you’re trying to get pregnant, you might be wondering how to distinguish between ovulation bleeding and implantation bleeding. First off, the timing of the two bleeds will be different. Ovulation bleeding happens around ovulation, while implantation bleeding starts later in the cycle – since implantation happens around one or two weeks after ovulation if the egg is fertilized, implantation bleeding will usually occur around the time when you’d normally get your period.

You may also be able to tell the two types of bleeding apart by looking at what else is going on in your body. Ovulation bleeding may be coupled with other signs of ovulation, like egg-white cervical mucus, high libido, or ovulation pain. In contrast, many don’t notice implantation since it happens so early in the pregnancy. While some may feel a pulling or tingling sensation in the belly, implantation bleeding is not necessarily accompanied by other symptoms.

Tracking your cycle, for example, with Natural Cycles, can also help you identify what type of bleeding you experience based on where you are in your cycle.

How much bleeding is normal during ovulation?

Ovulation bleeding is typically light – you may only notice a few drops of blood or even just a little bit of blood mixed with your discharge. If you experience heavier bleeding mid-cycle, you should reach out to your doctor for guidance.

What the color of your discharge during ovulation means

Speaking of discharge, or cervical mucus, there actually a lot we can learn about our body by looking at it. Some discharge will be present throughout the whole cycle – this is a normal part of the menstrual cycle – but there’s usually more of it in the fertile window leading up to ovulation. So, what should you look out for?

• Clear to light yellow: Our cervical mucus during ovulation often has an egg-white character, meaning that it’s clear and stretchy (like raw egg whites). You may also notice a light-yellow color if there’s blood mixed in.
• Brown: The brown color may happen if there’s older blood mixed in with the discharge. 
• Pink: Pink discharge can also happen if there is light bleeding mixed in, and the pink color usually indicates that the bleeding is fresh.
• Green: Green discharge can be a sign of infection, for example, an STI or urinary tract infection (UTI).
• Gray: Gray discharge can be a sign of bacterial vaginosis, a bacterial imbalance that often also causes a strong smell.

Tracking cervical mucus during the menstrual cycle is a great way of getting more knowledge about our individual cycle patterns, and it can also help us spot if something changes and may need medical attention. If you notice a change in vaginal discharge or other symptoms that something may be wrong, don’t hesitate to talk to your healthcare provider.

When is bleeding during ovulation a sign of concern?

Bleeding during the menstrual cycle can happen for a number of reasons, including ovulation, and it’s often harmless. However, if you experience unusual bleeding, it’s best to ask your healthcare provider, who can help you determine why it’s happening.

You should also contact your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• Bleeding after sex
• Bleeding before puberty or after menopause
• Bleeding accompanied by severe abdominal pain
• Bleeding accompanied by fever, dizziness, weakness, or pelvic pain
• Suddenly, having much heavier or lighter periods
• Frequent spotting during your cycle outside of your period

Tracking bleeding patterns with Natural Cycles

Here at Natural Cycles, we’re passionate about helping you gain more knowledge about your body. The NC° app is the first and only FDA Cleared birth control app, and in addition to helping you prevent or plan a pregnancy, you’re able to keep track of any bleeding so that you can spot patterns over time and learn about your individual cycle. Why not check out if Natural Cycles could be right for you?