How intense can implantation cramps be

It is unusual to have intense cramping pain during implantation, so anyone who experiences painful cramping between periods should be assessed by a doctor. Implantation tends to happen 6 to 12 days after ovulation when pregnancy occurs. This is about the same time that a person would usually expect a period to start. If an egg has been fertilized, the body prepares the uterus lining to receive and protect the egg.

Some light bleeding or spotting may accompany implantation cramping. This is called implantation bleeding and is lighter than a regular period. Because of the similarity of symptoms between menstruation and implantation, it helps to know the other early signs of pregnancy.

If someone thinks they are pregnant, it is a good idea to take a home pregnancy test. A good time to do this is 1 to 2 weeks after noticing the early signs of pregnancy.

Pregnancy tests are available to buy in supermarkets, health stores, and online. If a fertilized egg has implanted into the uterus wall, the body will already have started to form the placenta. In this situation, the pregnancy hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin hCG , begins to rise.

Around 2 weeks after implantation, hCG levels will be high enough for a pregnancy test to be positive. If the pregnancy test is positive, the next step is to make an appointment with a doctor.

The doctor can confirm whether the home test is correct. Anyone who already knows they are pregnant and is experiencing heavy bleeding or cramping should speak to a doctor. These symptoms may indicate a problem with the pregnancy. How to ease implantation cramps What are other signs of implantation?

When to take a pregnancy test. When an egg is fertilized, it happens in your fallopian tubes, explains G. The fertilized egg then travels to your uterus, where it will burrow into the lining. This mild discomfort is also known as implantation cramping. Every woman is different, but implantation cramping generally occurs between day 20 and 22 from the first day of your last period if you have a day cycle, Ruiz says. So how long do implantation cramps last? Again, it varies, but usually you can expect that the cramping will last one to two days before wrapping up, Ruiz says.

Now that you know what they are and when to expect them, you may still be asking yourself: What do implantation cramps feel like? You may experience some discomfort that comes and goes. You may have some pain in your lower back and abdomen too. It can be hard to distinguish between the two. The difference between implantation and PMS cramping is a positive pregnancy test, Ross says. If you're trying to get pregnant , the twinges may leave you wondering if you're experiencing PMS or implantation symptoms.

Here's how to tell the difference to determine whether you've successfully conceived. Implantation occurs when a fertilized egg attaches to the uterine lining, signaling the start of a pregnancy, says Jingwen Hou, M. While many women don't show any signs of conception, about 30 percent experience implantation cramps.

Sometimes implantation cramps are accompanied by light pink or brown spotting; you can also have implantation bleeding without cramps. Not everyone experiences implantation cramping. It usually happens 10 to 14 days after ovulation —about two to seven days before your regular period is scheduled to arrive.

Because of the timing, many women mistake implantation cramps for PMS. Implantation cramps feel like menstrual cramps, and they're mild in intensity. This would put it:. Besides cramping, you might also have some light bleeding. It would be light pink or brown rather than red like your period, and it would be very light. The spotting would last only a few days at the most. If you miss your period, you'll have another strong indication that what you were feeling was implantation. For best results, take a pregnancy test a few days to a week after you expect your period.

If you're having cramping and it's not implantation, you might have a digestive problem, such as gas or a stomach flu. Or you may be feeling an egg release from your ovary. The name for this ovulation pain is Mittelschmerz. You would feel it on one side of your lower abdomen about halfway through your menstrual cycle — so earlier in your cycle than implantation cramps.

These signs may indicate something that needs medical attention, such as an ectopic pregnancy , an ovarian cyst , appendicitis, or a miscarriage. Implantation cramps are rarely severe enough to warrant treatment, but if they are making you uncomfortable, you might try:.

As your pregnancy progresses, there may be other reasons for cramping. Read about cramping in your first trimester as well as later in pregnancy in our article on cramps during pregnancy. BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world.

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