by Gideon C. Panter, M.D.
The site of implantation: It is believed that bleeding occurs as the placental villi invade the lining of the uterus to obtain contact with the maternal blood vessels.

The phone call that reports bleeding in early pregnancy is always poignant. Christine N. called me at 8:30 one night. Her voice was filled with urgency and worry as she said, “I’m so frightened! Tom and I had just sat down in the theatre when I felt something wet in my pants. When I got to the ladies room I saw that my panties were stained red – I’ve been bleeding. What should I do? Am I having a miscarriage?”

prepared by Father Tom Knoblach, Ph.D.
Consultant for Healthcare Ethics, Diocese of St. Cloud
revised April, 2005

by Sue Ek

It sounds ridiculous! People usually laugh when they hear it, but that doesn't stop Mrs. Joy DeFelice, R.N., B.S.N., P.H.N., of Spokane, Washington, from studying the powerful effects light can have on a woman's menstrual cycle.

"It's an amazing phenomenon," said Joy, "yet once you know what to look for, it can be very apparent."

In 1976, Joy began observing and working with the effects that artificial and natural light can have on the cervical mucus patterns of women. Over succeeding years, she observed additional areas within the menstrual cycle that were also affected by light. Specifically, she has found that it is the presence of light during the woman's primary sleeping hours that can affect the hormones which govern her menstrual cycle.