Ovulation occurs when the ovary releases an egg and some women experience bleeding and spotting around the time they are ovulating, which is a normal occurrence. In fact, it's fairly common for women to spot or bleed at some point in their menstrual cycles.

What does ovulation bleeding look like?

Ovulation spotting tends to look like a few drops of blood on toilet paper or your underwear and can show up for about one to two days. 1 Because it's often mixed with cervical fluid (which increases during ovulation), it could appear light pink or red in color.

What does it mean when you bleed during ovulation?

In the days leading up to ovulation, estrogen levels steadily rise. After the release of an egg, the estrogen levels dip, and progesterone levels begin to increase. This shift in the balance between estrogen and progesterone levels can cause light bleeding, which is usually much lighter than a regular period.