If you’re trying to get pregnant, you’ve probably done your fair share of googling around
implantation. There are many facts, questions, and misconceptions swirling around
about this incredible part of early pregnancy; it can be confusing. It’s time to set the
record straight.
From timelines and testing to signs and symptoms, welcome to your one-stop shop on
all things implantation.
What is Implantation?
Though you won’t know you’re pregnant until you see those two pink lines, your body
has been hard at work from the moment conception occurred. There’s a lot going on
behind the scenes, and it all starts with implantation.
Implantation is the time when the fertilized egg successfully attaches and implants into
the lining of the uterine wall. Although the egg may have been fertilized over a week
before, it’s only after implantation that your body starts producing hCG—human
chorionic gonadotropin, also known as the hormone that’s picked up by pregnancy
tests.
When Does Implantation Occur?
Sperm meets egg, and 40 weeks later, it’s baby time! Sounds simple, right? Let’s back
things up a bit, Biology 101 diagram-style.
Your ovary will release an egg into your fallopian tube, and if you had sex up to about a
week prior to ovulation, sperm will be waiting in your fallopian tube. If fertilization is
successful (yay!), the egg will begin to divide and travel down your tube toward your
uterus. This process usually takes about a week; after that, implantation happens.
On average, implantation occurs about 8-10 days after ovulation, but it can happen as
early as six and as late as 12. This means that for some women, implantation can occur
around cycle day 20, while for others, it can be as late as day 26. This is part of the
reason why counting your pregnancy weeks can be confusing.
How Long Does Implantation Last?
Although most pregnancies are 40 weeks, the process of implantation represents only a
fraction of that time. Implantation typically lasts only a few days.
Once it’s complete and the fertilized egg—now called an embryo—is burrowed snugly
inside your uterine wall, it will begin to produce hCG. Your body’s progesterone levels
will also begin to rise, nourishing your uterine lining and preventing your period from
beginning.
Beta Pregnancy Confirmation After Your Embryo Transfer

Then comes the determination of the levels of the hormone beta-hCG in blood. The
hormone produces the embryo and passes to the mother via the placenta. This is the
first measurable sign of embryo implantation.
During an in vitro fertilization treatment, it is performed 13 or 14 days after the egg
collection. When it comes to egg donation treatments or frozen embryo transfers, it is
taken 13 or 14 days after starting the administration of progesterone. The standard
waiting period is seven days after a blastocyst transfer and nine days for a three-day
embryo.
What Does Implantation Feel Like?
There are a lot of misconceptions around whether or not someone can actually feel
implantation, so let’s set the record straight.
For most people, implantation feels like nothing at all. Some report feeling implantation
symptoms like mild cramping right around the time of implantation, but doctors aren’t
certain if there’s even an association between the two. Do your best to stay cool, calm,
and collected during that two-week wait—just because you’re not feeling any
implantation symptoms doesn’t mean it’s not happening.
Implantation Symptoms
Since there’s no real correlation between when implantation happens and actual
implantation symptoms, it’s best to think instead about implantation symptoms and how
they relate to early pregnancy.
The most common implantation symptoms of early pregnancy include the following:
 Implantation cramps. Some women may notice some minor cramping right
around the time implantation is taking place. Though there’s no way to know for
sure what’s actually going on, what we do know is that this cramping is due to the
rise in progesterone that occurs during the second half of your cycle, whether
you’re pregnant or not.
 Implantation bleeding. Defined as a small amount of bleeding or spotting that
can occur after conception and a few days before your menstrual cycle,
implantation bleeding is light, stops on its own, and doesn’t require treatment. It’s
experienced by about one-third of all pregnant women, although there’s no
scientific data that proves the correlation between implantation and bleeding.
 Nausea. Often some of the first tip-offs that something might be up, nausea and
vomiting are popular—and unpleasant—implantation symptoms in early
pregnancy. You may also start noticing changes in your appetite or that you’re
getting grossed out by foods you previously loved.
 Tender breasts. As your hormones change, you may notice your breasts
starting to swell and feeling a lot more sensitive than usual.

 Constipation and bloating. Things feeling like they’re starting to slow down?
You can thank those pregnancy hormones yet again for constipation, a common
implantation symptom. You may also notice you’re looking extra bloated during
this time, so it might be time to break out the leggings.
 Fatigue. Growing a baby is hard work! If you’re feeling more tired than usual,
that’s often a sign of early pregnancy, caused by a rise in progesterone and
increased blood volume.
 Headaches. Another side effect of your increased blood volume during
pregnancy, headaches are a common implantation symptom.
 Mood swings. Notice yourself getting extra bothered by even the smallest of
things? Mood swings are a common implantation sign during early pregnancy.