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You may have heard of implantation cramps from mothers around you. These are rare, but can be an early sign of pregnancy.
At this stage, it’s too early to take a pregnancy test but you’re probably impatient for answers. It’s important to know what symptoms to look out for, like implantation cramps and spotting.
If you are cramping, you may wonder if you’re pregnant. Some women even worry that something is wrong. But while rare, some pain from implantation is normal and should not be a cause for concern.
In this article we’ll dive deep into implantation cramps: why they happen, how common they are, what they feel like, and what to do if you are experiencing them.
Key Takeaways
- Implantation cramping is a normal, although rare, part of early pregnancy.
- Some women look for implantation and cramping as good signs. If you are hoping for implantation but not feeling pain, don’t lose hope. Very few women can actually feel implantation.
- More reliable signs are from progesterone rise after implantation has already occurred. These symptoms include breast tenderness, appetite changes, and constipation.
- Still, even these signs are not definitive. Tracking your progesterone levels is a great way to gain valuable insights into your body during this critical time.
- A pregnancy test can also yield an accurate result as early as one day after your missed period.
What Are Implantation Cramps?
Implantation cramps can be a rare early indication of pregnancy. They happen after the fertilized egg has traveled down the fallopian tube and has attached to the uterine wall.
After implantation, the placenta begins to develop, and fetal growth occurs.
While implantation cramps are a normal symptom of early pregnancy, they can be confusing. They may feel similar to menstrual cramping, but they’re different.
They’re also not a universal symptom of implantation. Most women, in fact, do not experience them.
Still, others may have painful cramps during this time. Implantation cramping is a normal, although painful, part of early pregnancy. Let’s talk about how to know if you’re having them.
How Can I Tell if I'm Having Implantation Cramps?
Implantation cramping and menstrual cramping can feel similar. Here’s how you can identify implantation cramps:
- Implantation cramping and pain are typically not as severe. These cramps are mild, subside quickly, and do not worsen in severity.
- These cramps occur earlier in your cycle. However, if you usually have cramps a few days before your period starts, it may be hard to distinguish between implantation cramps and menses.
- Spotting from implantation is typically much lighter than a typical menstrual period. Implantation bleeding does not contain clots and may resemble pinkish discharge or small brown flecks.
- Implantation spotting may last only two days or even a few hours. If you experience cramping followed by a medium or heavier flow that lasts several days, this is most likely your period.
Read More: Implantation bleeding Vs Periods | What Does Implantation Bleeding Look Like?
Note: If you experience severe cramping and vaginal bleeding, accompanied by changes in heart rate or new lightheadedness, see your gynecologist immediately. While rare, ruptured ectopic pregnancies and infections can lead to these symptoms.
Cramps hurt. But where do women typically feel cramping during implantation? Let’s discuss.
Where Do Implantation Cramps Hurt?
Implantation cramps hurt your lower abdomen just like period pain. It may feel like pulling, twisting, or pricking pain.
While some women also experience pain in their lower back, some feel cramping on one side of their body. Although the pain is similar to period cramps, it typically occurs earlier. But, when?
Let’s talk about when you can expect pain from implantation.
When Does Implantation Cramping Usually Start?
Implantation can start as early as 7 days after ovulation, but can also last as long as 11 Days Past Ovulation. During this window is when you can experience implantation cramping and spotting.
Cramping that occurs before this window is likely not from pregnancy. High levels of progesterone during ovulation can cause cramping and other symptoms.
Once implanted, the placenta releases Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG). hCG levels are on the rise during this time. But, they are still not high enough to cause a positive pregnancy test until at least three days after implantation.
This rise in hCG also causes progesterone to increase as well. This progesterone release causes the other symptoms of early pregnancy.
Many women notice progesterone-related symptoms after ovulation. This is known as your premenstrual syndrome. However, after implantation, the spike in progesterone can cause them to be more intense than usual. We’ll talk more about these signs and symptoms later.
How Long Does Implantation Cramping Last?
Implantation cramping may occur over a few days, a few hours, or even minutes. It may happen as late as 12 days after ovulation, but it should not last longer. Cramping that continues after 12 days past ovulation is likely associated with menses.
If you usually have cramping before your period, this pain may be related to your cycle and not implantation. Now, let’s discuss why implantation cramps occur.
Why Do Implantation Cramps Happen?
Implantation is a vital step in the pregnancy process. Even if you have a fertilized egg, you won’t get pregnant until it attaches to the lining of your uterus.
Because of this, the period of implantation can be a nerve-wracking time for women who hope to be pregnant.
Let’s discuss implantation in detail, but before that, another process occurs: Fertilization.
Fertilization
This is the very beginning of pregnancy, when the egg and sperm meet in the fallopian tube. After this critical step, the fertilized ovum moves into the uterus, where implantation begins.
Implantation
Implantation happens in three distinct phases.
Phase I
The first phase is when the newly fertilized egg (blastocyst) comes in contact with the uterine wall.
Phase II
Next, specific cells from the blastocyst help it attach to the uterine lining.
Phase III
In this phase, the blastocyst cells embed themselves deeply into the uterus, facilitating an exchange of blood flow between the newly forming placenta and the mother.
During this phase, small arteries in the uterus are reconstructed into larger vessels. This reconstruction creates a new, low-pressure blood flow to the growing blastocyst.
To help the blastocyst embed, prostaglandins soften the uterine lining. They can also cause the uterus to contract.
The last phase is what causes cramping and spotting. Establishing a circulatory exchange is essential for fetal growth, but forming this critical connection can be painful.
Some blood vessels break, allowing them to be threaded together, which can cause light spotting.
Note: Most women do not experience cramping or bleeding during implantation. These changes happen at a minute, cellular level. It’s easy for them to go unnoticed. Just because you do not have pain or spotting, does not mean that implantation has not occurred.
With that being said, let’s talk about when you could expect to have cramping from implantation
Does Every Woman Experience Implantation Pain?
Not every woman experiences implantation pain. In fact, they’re fairly rare. So if you are in your implantation window and not having cramps, you could still be pregnant. There are other signs of pregnancy that you can look out for after your implantation window.
What Are Other Implantation Signs to Look Out For?
Rising hCG after implantation causes progesterone to increase as well. This spike can lead to symptoms like:
- Bloating
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Changes in taste and smell
- Gastrointestinal changes
- Breast tenderness or swelling
- Headaches
- Mood Swings
- A small dip in temperature
All of these can indicate that implantation has occurred. However, they are not specific to pregnancy. You may also experience these symptoms just before your period as part of your premenstrual syndrome as a result of increasing progesterone levels after ovulation.
This is because your progesterone levels increase after ovulation and cause these symptoms.
So, if you notice any of these while ovulating or just before your menses, they may not be due to a possible pregnancy.
Still, some women may not have any of these symptoms. Tracking your progesterone levels can help determine implantation, even if you aren’t feeling any of these signs.
What Should You Do if You Think You Are Having Implantation Cramps?
If you think you are having implantation cramps, try these home remedies:
- Apply a warm (not hot) compress or bundle up in a blanket. By keeping warm, you can promote blood circulation and ease implantation cramps.
- Do light exercise for circulation and stress—walking can help physically and mentally.
- Try gentle stretching or yoga to reduce implantation cramps.
Implantation pain should pass relatively quickly. Tracking your progesterone levels during this time can help alleviate some anxiety and provide you with more information about what is happening in your body.
However, if you are having severe or persistent pain, you should see a healthcare provider. Several things can cause this, including ovarian cysts, ectopic pregnancy, urinary tract infection, or miscarriage. Some of these are rare, but they are still a cause for concern if you are experiencing extreme pain.
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