How long do implantation cramps last in early pregnancy

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Here’s the most comprehensive post on pregnancy implantation (including how long does implantation cramping last) plus other pregnancy tips.

If you’re a first time mom you may be surprised to learn about something called “implantation cramping”. Who knew becoming pregnant could feel so much like a period!

It doesn’t happen for everyone, but many women can experience mild cramping when a fertilized egg lodges itself into the uterine lining.

If that sounds way more technical than you’re used to, there’s probably a lot about the process of becoming pregnant you’ll want to learn.

So, here’s everything you need to know about pregnancy implantation (including how long implantation cramping lasts) and tips for a successful first pregnancy.

It’s important to understand the entire process of becoming pregnant, especially if you’re a new mom. So, before we get to implantation cramping and how long it lasts, let’s go over some of the basics.

The Implantation Process

Most of us are familiar with the sperm meeting the egg in the process of fertilization, but the details on what happens afterward may be a little fuzzy.

So, here’s a simple breakdown:

Once the victorious sperm attaches to an egg, the newly formed zygote embarks on its own journey.

The cells of the egg start to rapidly divide as it goes down the fallopian tubes and into the uterus. The fertilized egg goes from a simple cell to a zygote to a blastocyst, all while the uterine lining thickens. Once there, it nestles into the uterine wall. This is when the implantation happens.

If there’s successful implantation, the blastocyst becomes an embryo that begins to grow and the pregnancy hormone, hCG (Human chorionic gonadotropin) is released.

This is the substance responsible for turning a home pregnancy test positive. hCG levels will continue to rise as the pregnancy progresses. This also sets several other processes in motion as the body prepares to carry your baby to term.

How long after sex does Implantation happen?

The timeline for how long after sex implantation happens can be pretty variable and relies on a few key factors: mainly the timing of intercourse in relation to ovulation.

Sperm can survive in the vagina for about 5 days. So, any unprotected sex that occurs within five days of ovulation may provide enough available sperm to fertilize an egg. This means fertilization can happen almost immediately or up to a few days.

Once an egg is fertilized, it can take anywhere from 5-10 days for implantation to occur.

So, the total time from sex to implantation can be between 5-15 days.

What is implantation cramping?

Implantation cramping is mild cramping that sometimes happens when the fertilized egg burrows into the uterine wall. This is usually felt in the abdomen or pelvis.

If you don’t typically experience cramps with your menstrual cycle you may not know what to expect from implantation cramps. But, many women describe the feeling as a moderate tingling, prickling, or pulling sensation.

Normal implantation cramping is nothing to be concerned about and is a healthy part of the pregnancy process for many women.

The uterus is a muscle, so cramping is expected during early pregnancy and even throughout your pregnancy from time to time, when that muscle contracts.

But, cramping is only one of several symptoms that can indicate implantation has occurred.

What are the symptoms of implantation besides cramping?

Most women won’t even know implantation happened until after they miss their period, but there are some signs you can look out for.

Keep in mind, many of these implantation symptoms are incredibly similar to what you may experience with your menstrual period. So, you may need to practice a little patience to know for sure and see if your period starts.

Still, eager new moms can look out for a few signals from their bodies that may indicate implantation happened. Along with implantation cramping, you may experience:

• Implantation bleeding (temporary, light bleeding or spotting that is light pink or brown in color).
• Tender breasts (breasts may feel more full and tender due to increased blood flow in the body).
• Increased basal body temperature (body temperature remains slightly elevated throughout pregnancy).
• Missed period (a missed period is the surest sign of successful implantation and the best indicator to take a pregnancy test).

NOTE: If you’re pregnant with multiples (twins, triplets, etc.) Implantation cramping may be more intense and bleeding may be heavier.

What are the signs of failed implantation?

Failed implantation is pretty hard to discern as the process usually manifests as a woman’s typical menstrual cycle. However, you may experience heavier than normal bleeding and more intense period cramps than you’re used to.

In rare cases, failed implantation can be discovered through what’s known as a chemical pregnancy. This is when a fertilized egg fails to progress after implantation but enough hCG is produced to turn a pregnancy test positive.

This false positive result may lead a woman to confirm the pregnancy with their doctor, only to find that the embryo hasn’t survived.

Thankfully, chemical pregnancies are very rare.

If implantation fails, you’ll likely not know.

Why does implantation cramping happen?

When the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine wall, this can activate prostaglandins (hormone-like lipids that deal with injury and illness).

These elements are found in the tissue of most humans and animals. And when activated, they may trigger the muscles of the uterus to contract, causing cramping.

The process of implantation is technically a mild trauma, so the body may respond accordingly.

How long does implantation cramping last?

Implantation cramping is generally very mild and only lasts for a couple of days at the most if it happens at all.

Most women feel a few twinges of pain that are barely noticeable and gone just as quickly as they start, while others may experience light cramping, sporadically for up to 3 days.

This can vary from person to person and from pregnancy to pregnancy.

What can I do to relieve cramping?

Thankfully, implantation cramping doesn’t last for long. But, if you need some relief, heat is your best friend. Try taking a warm shower or bath, employ some exercises for relaxation or use a safe pain reliever.

Because you may be pregnant, be sure to steer clear of any medications that could be harmful to your baby. If you have any doubts, ask your doctor and pay close attention to labels.

Here are some pregnancy-safe medications to keep in your arsenal:

• Tylenol
• Sudafed (avoid multi-symptom products and don’t not use Sudafed PE)
• Robitussin
• Most Vicks Products

And here’s a comprehensive list of safe medications during pregnancy from AWH. This covers all sorts of issues including allergies, constipation, and yeast infections.

Give yourself permission to take it easy during this time, remember to drink lots of water, and get plenty of sleep.

Tips for Successful Implantation

As mentioned above, sperm can survive for up to 5 days after intercourse, but an egg only has about 24 hours. So, there’s a relatively tight timeline each month to become pregnant.

Because of that, it’s important to understand your cycle and when your fertile window starts.

Many women use a basal body temperature thermometer and BBT charting to track their monthly cycles. Or, you can use an ovulation predictor kit or Ava bracelet.

Predictor kits are the best for pinpointing the start of ovulation by measuring hormones in the urine.

Some women use BBT charting and predictor kits together to get a more comprehensive view of their menstrual cycle, ovulation timeline, and fertility window.

If you’re able to pinpoint your fertility window, you’ll know exactly when to plan intercourse for the best chances of pregnancy. (Healthy women in their 30s have around a 20% chance of becoming pregnant each month if they have intercourse during their fertile window).

Fertility is highest the 2 days prior to and on the day of ovulation so experts recommend intercourse every other day starting 2-4 days prior to the anticipated day of ovulation.

There are a few things men can do to help ensure successful fertilization and implantation, as well. It’s not all up to the woman!

The male partner must also contribute healthy and plentiful sperm. So, make sure both partners are eating well and living a healthy lifestyle.

You may also consider adding foods that increase sperm count to your partner’s diet.

Some examples of sperm-friendly foods are:

• Eggs
• Spinach and leafy greens
• Dark chocolate
• Walnuts
• Beef
• Pomegrante
• Oysters

And men should avoid:

• Fried foods
• Processed meats
• Alcohol (can lower testosterone levels and affect the health of sperm)
• Caffeine
• Soy
• High fat dairy products (contains estrogen which can decrease sperm production)

Does implantation cramping mean it’s time to test?

Now that we’ve established how long implantation cramping lasts, let’s talk about when to test for pregnancy.

Some women believe pregnancy is calculated from conception, but it actually starts on day one of a woman’s last menstrual cycle.

So, how long after implantation can you test?

It’s recommended to wait until after your first missed period to test for pregnancy. But, if you just can’t wait, you can test as early as 1-2 weeks after intercourse.

However, there’s a high likelihood of receiving a false negative result if you test too early. This is because the body needs time for hCG levels to rise high enough to be reliably detected.

If you test early and get a negative result, but sure to check again after a bit more time.

If you feel you may be experiencing early pregnancy symptoms, this may be a signal your hCG levels are high enough to take a test. Though, most pronounced pregnancy symptoms like mood swings won’t happen until around weeks 4-6.

Early signs of pregnancy:

Outside of implantation bleeding and the symptoms of implantation above, you may also experience other 7 DPO symptoms like:

• Headaches
• Nausea
• Nipple sensitivity
• Food aversions
• Food cravings
• Vaginal discharge
• Increased urination

Pregnancy symptoms at 7-12 weeks

• Heartburn
• Nipple changes
• Changes in the skin (more/less breakouts)
• Changes to hair and nails
• Back pain
• Noticeable weight gain

Most of the undesirable pregnancy symptoms will begin to subside around week 13 (the second trimester), but it’s possible to experience some or all of these symptoms throughout a pregnancy.

When should I be concerned about implantation cramping?

If you believe you’ve had successful implantation and your cramping is severe or lasts longer than a couple of days, reach out to your doctor as soon as possible. Severe cramping is anything that gets steadily worse in pain and/or lasts for hours at a time. 

Implantation pain is not a severe pain so there’s likely something else going on.

Intense pain and pain in conjunction with fever and nausea could be due to an ovarian cyst or ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy is when a fertilized egg grows somewhere outside a woman’s uterus. 90% of the time, the egg implants in a fallopian tube which is called a tubal pregnancy.

While rare, ectopic pregnancy can affect fertility and future pregnancy and can even be life-threatening.

And, if you experience heavy bleeding, at any point during your pregnancy, be sure to reach out to your doctor right away for treatment of a possible miscarriage.

FAQs

What are the signs of successful implantation?

Implantation may cause:

– Mild cramping similar to premenstrual cramps
– Light bleeding or spotting that is pink or light brown in color
– Elevated basal body temperature
– Sore breasts

A missed period is also a pretty sure sign implantation was successful.

When do implantation cramps start?

If your menstrual cycle is regular, you’ll likely experience implantation cramps 4-8 days before your period normally begins.

Where do you feel implantation cramps?

Implantation cramps are felt in the lower abdomen or throughout the pelvis, where you’d normally experience period cramps. However, implantation cramps are generally much milder and only last for a short amount of time.

The Bottom Line

How long does implantation cramping last? Here’s the bottom line:

• Implantation generally occurs 5-15 days after intercourse.
• If implantation is successful, some signs are cramping, spotting, elevated basal body temperature and sore breasts as well as a missed period.
• Implantation cramping should be mild and only last a couple of days at the longest. Most women feel a few twinges and it’s over with, while others may experience light cramping here and there for 1-3 days.
• Intense cramping and heavy bleeding could be signs of an ovarian cyst, ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage.
• You can take a pregnancy test as soon as 1-2 weeks after intercourse or 7-12 days after an egg implants successfully, but doctors recommend waiting until after your first missed period.

If you have concerns about your ability to get pregnant, reach out to your doctor or a fertility specialist to ensure there are no underlying issues preventing pregnancy.

Usually, it’s just a matter of getting the timing right.

So, don’t get discouraged if you’re not having success right away. You likely just need to take a closer look at your ovulation and fertility window.

If you’re under 40 and haven’t had success after about 12 months, this is typically when doctors suggest coming in. They’ll usually ask if you’ve been trying consistently and using best practices, so make sure you know your stuff when you schedule your appointment.

That way, you can get down to the bottom of things more quickly.

Want More?

If this post on how long implantation cramping lasts was helpful to you, be sure to check out these other great resources and information for a first pregnancy:

• 12 Fun baby gender predictions
• The ultimate list of gender reveal ideas for new mothers
• 60+ creative baby announcement ideas for friends and family
• Easy and effective pregnancy workout ideas for a quick burn
• 10 Important first time mom labor tips
• 3 First time mom books worth a read

Your Turn

If you need more info for how long implantation cramping lasts or have other first pregnancy questions, let me know in the comments!