Everything About Implantation Cramps: Time and Symptoms
Feeling mild cramps in your lower belly just before your periods? If yes! Then congratulations! It’s a sign that your journey toward parenthood has started. It is because these things are also referred to as implantation cramps.
When a fertilized egg embeds in the lining of the uterus, women feel these cramps. However, sometimes, women wonder if these signs may be due to PMS or eating something. So, how can you differentiate between implantation cramping and PMS cramps?
If you’re feeling confused, don’t worry! This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about cramps, how to identify them, and how they differ from PMS cramps.
Let’s explore and reveal all these early signs of pregnancy together!
Causes of Implantation Cramping
Implantation is the natural process in early pregnancy. With the successful implantation, the beginning of a new life starts. This new individual gets nutrients from the mother through implantation. Many women wonder what happens inside the body that leads to implantation or what will be the causes of implantation cramps.
So, to kill this curiosity, here are some causes that result in cramping.
Blastocyst Attachment
The main reason for the cramps during implantation is the zygote attachment to the uterus lining. This fertilized egg travels from the fallopian tube to the uterus and tries to make its way into the uterine lining.
As it attaches to the thick endometrium lining, it causes the blood vessels to rupture and also undergo more changes. All these changes result in implantation cramps.
Uterus Changes
As the uterus has to nurture the little developing embryo, it undergoes some changes. It enhances its blood flow and contracts to support the baby. These changes in the uterus also become a prominent reason for cramps.
Hormonal Shifts
Another cause of implantation cramping is the change in hormones; during and after implantation, the progesterone and hCG hormone levels increase. This increased level causes the body to adjust, which results in cramping.
Body Inflammatory Response
Our body’s immune responses are so fast that we remain safe from all types of infections, right? So, our body reacts to implantation as a natural inflammatory reaction. This immune response causes cramps or a feeling of discomfort.
Symptoms of Implantation Cramping
To help you make a more accurate guess, here I am mentioning some more symptoms of cramps during the implantation process.
If you experience all of these symptoms, then you can find out implantation is happening. These symptoms include:
- Mild pain in the lower abdomen
- Cramps 6-12 days after ovulation
- Light bleeding or spotting
- No severe pain or bleeding
All of these symptoms are subtle and very rare to observe. But if you are tracking your pregnancy, then you can definitely note them.
Where and What do Implantation Cramps Feel Like?
Feeling a discomfort in your stomach! And wondering if it’s a sign of early pregnancy! Oh no, not at all! Not all cramps mean you are pregnant or implantation is about to occur.
If you want to track implantation cramping, then you should only look for cramps in your lower abdomen or lower back. If your cramps are happening at any of these locations, only then can you think of implantation. Moreover, this feeling of discomfort is only localized at one side, depending on where the fertilized egg will implant.
Now, coming to what these cramps feel like. So, the sensation of implantation includes the following signs:
- A light pulling or tugging sensation.
- Gentle twinges or fluttering.
- A dull ache or slight pressure in the pelvic area
What Should You Do If You Experience Severe Cramping pain?
As of now, you know that cramps during implantation are mild. Sometimes, these are so light that women do not even feel them. So, if you experience severe cramping pain 6-12 days after ovulation, then you should consult your doctor.
Moreover, if severe pain is followed by excessive bleeding, dizziness, and vomiting, then it can be a medical emergency.
The reasons for severe pain include:
- Ectopic pregnancy ( a situation where a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus)
- Miscarriage or other complications.
How Common Do Implantation Cramps Occur?
Cramps are a normal and initial sign of early pregnancy, right? But now the question comes: do all women experience these cramps or notice them? So, my friend! Not all women experience these cramps. From the studies, it is clear that only 25-30% of women feel implantation cramps.
So, what about others? The remaining 70-80% of women mistake implantation cramps for period cramps. That means, during the implantation phase, cramps do occur, as it is a natural process of pregnancy. But only a few women notice them.
Different between Implantation Cramps and periods Cramps
Cramps in the abdomen can happen due to unlimited reasons, like may be due to eating unhealthy food, PMS, implantation, or any other organ system disturbance.
But, often the cramps are associated with the periods. So, women who are experiencing cramps think their periods are about to occur. Later, they find out they are pregnant. So, to help you clear all types of confusion related to cramps, here is a table.
This table contains clear and main differences between the implantation cramps and periods cramps.
Feature
Implantation Cramps
Period Cramps
Timing
Occurs 6–12 days after ovulation, just before your period.
Starts 1–2 days before or with the onset of the period.
Intensity
Mild and brief, often described as a twinge or light pull.
Moderate to severe, with a sharper or throbbing sensation.
Duration
Lasts a few minutes to a couple of days.
It can last for 2–3 days or more during menstruation.
Location
Localized to the lower abdomen, it may feel like pinching.
Spreads across the lower abdomen and lower back.
Associated Symptoms
This may include light spotting (implantation bleeding).
Often accompanied by heavy bleeding and fatigue.
Hormonal Cause
Triggered by the implantation of a fertilized egg.
Caused by uterine contractions to shed the lining.
Pregnancy Connection
A potential early sign of pregnancy.
Indicates the start of the menstrual cycle.
FAQ
Conclusion
Cramps after 6-12 days of conceiving are due to implantation. These implantation cramps are the signs that something big has started within your body. However, there are various reasons for these cramps, but the main one is the implantation of a fertilized egg in the uterus lining.
Not all women notice these early signs of pregnancy because they just feel like PMS cramps. Only around 25% of women see and feel these cramps of pregnancy.
In this guide, you will learn all about cramps and other signs of pregnancy. So, you should focus on these subtle signs of pregnancy and consult your doctor in case of an emergency.
