What are the signs that implantation has occurred?

Implantation is an essential early stage in conception when cells attach to the uterine wall. Signs of implantation include bleeding, cramps, discharge and breast tenderness. These may be early signs of pregnancy.

What is implantation?

We don't know whether to blame Hollywood or the false reality of social media, but the phrase "getting pregnant" is trumpeted around as if it's a simple one-step process. But there are a lot of little, amazing things that have to happen in your body to lead to a pregnancy.

After the sperm and egg come together (fertilization), the combined cells begin to multiply quite quickly and travel through one of your fallopian tubes to your uterus. This cluster of rapidly growing cells is called a blastocyst.

Once in your uterus, this bundle of cells himself attach to your uterine wall. This step – implantation – causes an increase in all those fun pregnancy hormones (estrogen, progesterone and hCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin).

If implantation doesn't occur, your uterine lining is shed during your monthly period—a disappointment if you're trying to conceive, but a reminder that your body is likely preparing for another attempt.

But if there well When implantation takes place, your hormones – sometimes difficult, but they do their job – ensure that the placenta and the embryo (your future baby) develop and that your uterine lining stays in place and supports your pregnancy.

Implantation takes place between 6 and 12 days after ovulation. This usually happens 8 to 9 days after fertilization. The exact date of implantation may therefore depend on when you ovulated and whether fertilization occurred early or late in the ovulation window.

If you are hoping to become pregnant, it is normal for you to... you are very aware of your body and notice every change, no matter how small.

Assuming that the absence of symptoms means you are not pregnant? Not so fast. Keep in mind that most experiencing no signs of conception or implantation at all – and still being pregnant! – although some do experience signs of implantation.

Let's look at some symptoms you might notice if implantation has occurred, but keep our little disclaimer in mind:

Possible signs of implantation

Implantation bleeding

It's a bit unclear how often implantation bleeding occurs. Some sources claim that a third of all women who become pregnant experience implantation bleeding, but this is not supported by peer-reviewed research. (Something on the internet that might not be true? Say it ain't so!)

This is what we can tell you. Up to 25 percent of women experience bleeding or spotting in the first trimester – and implantation is one of the causes of first trimester bleeding.

This bleeding can be confusing because it can occur around the time your period would start. However, it usually occurs a few days to a week before your period.

Other differences can help you determine whether you are experiencing implantation bleeding or your period:

• implantation bleeding is likely light pink or brown (unlike clear or dark red menstruation)
• Implantation bleeding is more like spotting than actual blood flow

This spotting can be a one-off, last a few hours or even last up to 3 days. You may notice some pink or brown discharge when you wipe or on your underwear, but you won't need a pad or tampon – possibly for many months!

Cramps

It's no secret that early pregnancy causes a rapid shift in hormones. That's why you only get that second pink line on a pregnancy test after the implantation.

And the changing hormonal tide can also cause cramps. Moreover, a lot happens in your uterus when the fertilized egg implants and starts to grow.

Although there is no research showing that the implantation itself causes cramps, some women do experience abdominal tenderness, lower back pain, or cramps around the implantation site. This may seem like a mild version of how you feel before your period starts.

Uterine mucus

Let's talk about what's going on down there.

If you've checked your cervical mucus, good job, mommy-to-be! Knowing what is going on with your body can be beneficial if you want to become pregnant.

You may notice some changes in the cervical mucus around the time of implantation.

During ovulation, your cervical mucus is clear, stretchy and slippery (a bit like egg white).

Ejaculation

If the uterine lining is tough and thick, it is less accessible to sperm cells. Therefore, try to ensure that ejaculation takes place at a time when the uterine lining is clear and thin.

After implantation, your mucus may have a thicker, “gummy” texture and be clear or white.

And in early pregnancy, the increase in progesterone and estrogen can cause your mucus to become even thicker, more abundant, and white or yellow.

But we hate to say it: Cervical mucus can be affected by a number of things (hormones, stress, sexual intercourse, pregnancy, implantation bleeding or your period, etc.).

Start tracking your cervical mucus while you're not pregnant and a more useful indicator may be how it differs from your norm during each phase of your cycle. 

Bloated feeling

Rising progesterone (which occurs early in pregnancy) slows down your digestion. This can make you feel bloated. But as many of us know, this feeling can also be a very common symptom of your period. Do you want to know why? Progesterone also rises when your period is approaching. Thanks, hormones.

Sensitive breasts

After implantation, the level of hCG, estrogen and progesterone rises rapidly. This can make your breasts feel very sore (these hormones are real multitaskers!) Although many women experience swollen or tender breasts before their period, this is likely to be more noticeable than normal in early pregnancy.

Nausea

Perhaps the most famous pregnancy symptoms: nausea, also called “morning sickness” (although it can occur at any time of the day).

Increased progesterone levels after implantation can make you feel nauseous. But this also occurs around 4 or 5 weeks of pregnancy (around the time you miss your period).

Progesterone slows down your digestion, which can contribute to nausea. Rising hCG levels and a more sensitive sense of smell can make the problem worse – so now might be a good time to avoid cooking liver and onions.

Headache

While good and necessary for a successful pregnancy, those wildly rising hormone levels (especially progesterone) can also give you post-implantation headaches.

Changes in mood

Do you find yourself content and happy one minute and the next minute you're crying at a commercial on TV? Or are you excited to see your partner at night and then bite his head off over nothing? Maybe you suffer from mood swings.

Estrogen and progesterone and hCG rise very quickly after implantation. This can make you feel “off” or moodier than normal.

Drop in temperature

Although this may sound strange, your body temperature drops for 1 day as a result of implantation. If you track your body temperature to determine your most fertile days, you probably already have a log of your daily body temperature over a few months.

Usually the temperature is lower before ovulation, then rises and falls again before menstruation begins. If you become pregnant, your temperature will remain elevated.

Simple, right? Not entirely, because the temperature drop is not always a sign of implantation. Some women seem to experience a 1 day drop in temperature around the time of implantation. This is different from the drop in temperature that means your period is coming – in the case of an impending period, your temperature would remain low.

In the case of an implantation dip, your temperature drops for one day and then rises again. This is thought to be due to a rise in estrogen, but this is not entirely clear.

The first signs of implantation

Trying to get pregnant can be both an exciting and nerve-wracking time. The days and months of your cycle can feel like an eternity when you're waiting for a baby and it's easy to notice every little change in your body and wonder if that means you're pregnant. That's not a bad thing – knowledge is actually power – and it is even very normal.

Some women notice signs and symptoms that implantation has occurred. Signs may include mild bleeding, cramps, nausea, bloating, breast pain, headaches, mood swings and possibly a change in basal body temperature.

But – and here's the frustrating part – many of these signs look a lot like PMS. Furthermore, most women experience no signs of implantation at all and are in fact pregnant.

The best way to know for sure if you are pregnant is to take a home pregnancy test or call your doctor. (Keep in mind that even if you experience implantation symptoms, it will take a few days for enough hCG to build up to make the test positive).

The “2-week waiting period” – the time between ovulation and when you usually get a positive pregnancy test – can test all your patience. Continue to pay attention to yourself and your body, find activities you enjoy to take your mind off the waiting – and know that you are going to be a fantastic parent.