People who are trying to conceive often pay extra attention to their bodies, searching for any sign that implantation—when the fertilized egg has attached to the uterus—has occurred. But can you actually tell when implantation is happening? There may be signs that the fertilized egg is implanting into the uterine lining, signaling the start of a pregnancy.
The short answer is no—at least in regard to physical symptoms alone. "We don't usually talk about symptoms of implantation," says Jingwen Hou, M.D., an OB-GYN specializing in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Kaiser Permanente in Hawaii. "Rather, we talk about early pregnancy symptoms."
That said, your body might still hint that implantation has happened. For example, some people experience spotting or cramps, and these symptoms can be related to implantation, says Dr. Hou. Here's what you need to know about the most common signs of implantation, and what they can tell you about whether or not you have conceived.
What Is Implantation?
For conception to occur, the ovaries must first release a mature egg during ovulation. The egg gets fertilized by sperm in the reproductive tract, then it journeys to your uterus through the fallopian tubes.
Implantation is when the fertilized egg implants itself into the uterine lining and starts to construct the placenta and embryo, says Dr. Hou. It happens one to two weeks after ovulation, and it indicates the beginning of a pregnancy.
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Can You Notice Signs of Implantation?
Some people notice signs of implantation as the fertilized egg implants into the uterine lining. The most common are cramping and bleeding, but they tend to be very subtle.
Indeed, implantation symptoms can sometimes be confused with early menstruation, which can be vague and nonspecific, according to Chloe Acevedo, M.D., an OB-GYN at Atlantic Medical Group Women's Health in New Jersey. "The only way to confirm if symptoms are due to implantation or PMS is with a pregnancy test."
Also, what some people consider "implantation symptoms" might actually be premenstrual symptoms. Some examples are sore breasts, nausea, darkening of the areolas, fatigue, headaches, bloating,mood swings, a metallic taste in the mouth, and changes in appetite, says Dr. Acevedo.
Possible Implantation Symptoms After Conceiving
Keep reading to learn more about the possible signs of implantation, from vagin*l bleeding to nausea to sore breasts.
Implantation Bleeding
Approximately 10 to 14 days after fertilization, some people experience a small amount of spotting or bleeding. According to Dr. Hou, this is presumed to be related to implantation. "We don't have a good study showing how common it is, but based on different reports, implantation bleeding occurs in 10% to 30% of pregnancies," adds Dr. Hou.
Implantation bleeding happens when the fertilized egg implants itself in the uterus, irritating the uterine lining and causing it to shed. It usually lasts one to three days and occurs around the usual time of your period. Because of this, many people think they're experiencing early or light menstruation.
If you have a 28-day menstrual cycle and ovulate on day 14, for example,implantationwould occur between day 20 and 24 of your cycle. If your cycle is longer, implantation would occur between four and eight days before your next expected period.
So how can you tell the difference between implantation bleeding and your period? Unlike early menstrual bleeding, which tends to be red, implantation bleeding is usually light pink or brown. The flow is also typically lighter, and it doesn't progressively get heavier like a normal period.
Implantation bleeding can also be confused with other types of spotting, including bleeding near ovulation and anearly miscarriage or chemical pregnancy(a nonviable pregnancy).
If you have unusually light bleeding around the time of your menstrual period and the bleeding does not turn into a heavier, normal flow, it's a good idea to take apregnancy testand make an appointment with your gynecologist to confirm the pregnancy and begin your prenatal care. If the bleeding persists, becomes heavy or contains clots, you’ll need to contact your doctor right away, as this may indicate an early miscarriage.
Implantation Cramps
Can you feel implantation? Although the answer is no, Dr. Hou says some people do experience minor cramps when the fertilized egg implants itself into the uterus. "We are not clear if that's related to implantation," she cautions. The cramps often happen around the same time as implantation bleeding and feel similar to menstrual cramps. They typically come and go in your lower abdomen or lower back.
Implantation or PMS?
Symptoms of very early pregnancy can mimic PMS. These include breast tenderness, nausea, fatigue, bloating, and headaches.
Sore Breasts
After implantation, your breasts may become very sensitive to the touch, thanks to an increase in estrogen, progesterone, and the pregnancy hormone hCG. This usually happens one to two weeks after conception, and it'll feel more pronounced than normal PMS-related soreness.
Nausea
Your digestive system slows down when you get pregnant, so some people will experience nausea, constipation, and indigestion (although full-fledged morning sickness is still a few weeks away). Progesterone and hCG hormones also contribute to these conception symptoms—and so does the heightened sense of smell that many pregnant people experience.
Darkening of the Areolas
Pregnancy hormones also affect nipple cells (called melanocytes) and cause them to darken, which can occur in very early pregnancy (though for others, the change occurs later in the pregnancy).
Fatigue
As your body prepares to grow a baby, you may feel more tired than normal. You can partly blame fatigue on the rise of progesterone and increased energy demands as your body does the work of growing a pregnancy.
Headaches
Are you experiencing tension headaches even though you aren't prone to them? Increased blood volume and surging hormones may be the culprits.
Bloating
Unfortunately for your skin-tight jeans, rising progesterone levels can cause excess bloating—similar to what you might experience during PMS. Constipation might also accompany this frustrating sign of implantation.
Mood Swings
Just like some people feel extra emotional before their period, they might feel extra moody after implantation due to the rise in pregnancy hormones.
Metallic Taste
Thanks to rising levels of estrogen, people may notice a bitterly metallic taste in their mouths following conception, says Dr. Acevedo.
Changes in Appetite
It's not uncommon to have a shift in your taste preferences after getting pregnant, whether you're suddenly averse to coffee, your favorite dessert, or something else.
I'm Having Implantation Symptoms—Now What?
What should you do if you experience bleeding, cramping, nausea, sore breasts, or other implantation symptoms? "You can take a home pregnancy test," says Dr. Hou.
But since implantation happens one to two weeks after ovulation, it may be too early to get an accurate reading. It's better to wait about a week after implantation when levels of hCG will be high enough to detect.
If your home pregnancy test is still negative one week after your missed period, but you think you may be pregnant, see your health care provider for guidance. Your gynecologist can give you a physical exam along with anhCG blood test, which measures levels of the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). At around week 6 to 8 of pregnancy, they may also performan early pregnancy ultrasoundto look for signs of pregnancy, including a yolk sac, fetal pole, and fetal heartbeat.
