Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsImplantation vs. PMS SymptomsLess Common SyptomsSimilar SymptomsComplications
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Implantation vs. PMS Symptoms
Less Common Syptoms
Similar Symptoms
Complications
Implantation is when a fertilized egg attaches to the uterine lining in early pregnancy. This typically occurs six to 12 days after having unprotected sex. The process is not intense or painful, so you may not notice when implantation happens. But some subtle symptoms can occur.
This article reviews common implantation symptoms, what makes implantation different from PMS, other conditions that can mimic implantation and possible early pregnancy complications.
Mariia Skovpen / Getty Images
Common Implantation Symptoms
Implantation is usually a silent and painless process that occurs six to 12 days afterconception. Most people do not feel it happening. However, some report experiencing the following mild symptoms:
How to Tell the Difference Between Implantation Bleeding vs. Period Bleeding
Timing Starting From Ovulation
Several stages, beginning withovulation, lead to implantation as follows.
What Makes Implantation Different From PMS Symptoms?
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)are symptoms that can occur in a week or two leading up to your period. Implantation symptoms are subtle and occur around the same time, making it easy to mistake them for PMS. PMS symptoms include:
PMS belly cramps are stronger and more persistent than implantation cramps. They resolve within a few days of starting your period.Implantation cramps are typically milder and less persistent spasms or twinges. These cramps can occur throughout the first trimester.
Some people mistake implantation bleeding for their period. But with implantation bleeding, the flow and color are lighter, and it rarely produces blood clots. It lasts only one to two days rather than three to seven days, like a period.
Do You Test Positive for Pregnancy Before Implantation?
It takes HCG levels a few days after implantation to reach a detectable level.Most tests can detect pregnancy on or after a missed period, about two weeks after fertilization.
Less Common Implantation Symptoms
While the following symptoms may not occur until a few weeks into pregnancy, the hormone shifts can cause them with implantation:
Events and Conditions That Mimic Implantation Symptoms
Implantation symptoms are not exclusive to pregnancy. The following conditions and events can mimic implantation symptoms.
Complications can arise during early pregnancy. Two concerns are miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy.
Miscarriageis the loss of a pregnancy before 20 weeks. It can occur due to chromosomal abnormalities, hormonal issues, implantation failure, or problems with the uterus or cervix. Symptoms may include:
Anectopicpregnancyis when the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus. This can lead to severe complications, including rupture of the fallopian tube and internal bleeding. Ectopic pregnancies require immediate medical attention. Symptoms may include:
While symptoms of a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy can be scary, please note that they do not necessarily mean a complication is occurring. However, if you are pregnant or trying to conceive and experience severe pain or heavy bleeding, it’s critical to seek prompt medical attention.
Summary
Implantation symptoms are subtle signs some people experience when a fertilized egg attaches to the uterine lining in early pregnancy. These symptoms occur around six to 12 days after conception.
Symptoms may include light spotting, mild cramping, elevated body temperature, increased vaginal discharge, and breast changes. Because symptoms can overlap with other conditions, they are not definitive indicators of pregnancy. The most reliable way to confirm pregnancy is through a pregnancy test and consultation with a healthcare provider.
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Bleeding during pregnancy.Dhamecha R, Pajai S, Bhasin T.Acute abdomen in pregnancy: a comprehensive review of diagnosis and management.Cureus. 2023;15(6). doi:10.7759/cureus.40679Ochoa-Bernal MA, Fazleabas AT.Physiologic events of embryo implantation and decidualization in human and non-human primates.International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2020;21(6):1973. doi:10.3390/ijms21061973Kim Su-Mi, Kim Jong-Soo.A review of mechanisms of implantation.Dev. Reprod. 2017;21(4):351-359. doi:10.12717/DR.2017.21.4.35Itani R, Soubra L, Karout S, Rahme D, Karout L, J Khojah HM.Primary dysmenorrhea: pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment updates.Korean Journal of Family Medicine. 2022;43(2):101-108. doi:10.4082/kjfm.21.0103Herskovits AZ, Chen Y, Latifi N, Ta RM, Kriegel G.False-negative urine human chorionic gonadotropin testing in the clinical laboratory.Laboratory Medicine. 2019;51(1):86-93. doi:10.1093/labmed/lmz039Office on Women’s Health (OASH).Pregnancy tests.Fernández-Carrasco F J, Rodríguez-Díaz L, González-Mey U, Vázquez-Lara JM, Gómez-Salgado J, Parrón-Carreño T.Changes in sexual desire in women and their partners during pregnancy.Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2020;9(2): 526. doi:10.3390/jcm9020526Rebollar AO, Menéndez Balaña FJ, Pastor MC.Comparison of affect changes during the ovulatory phase in women with and without hormonal contraceptives.Heliyon. 2017;3(4). doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2017.e00282Nezhat C, Vang N, Tanaka P.Optimal management of endometriosis and pain.Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2019:134(4):834-839. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000003461Delamater L, Santoro N.Management of the perimenopause.Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2018;61(3):419-432. doi:10.1097/grf.0000000000000389Azizi M, Elyasi F.Biopsychosocial view to pseudocyesis: A narrative review.Int J Reprod Biomed. 2017;15(9):535-542. PMID: 29662961.Prager S, Micks E, Dalton, VK.Pregnancy loss (miscarriage): clinical presentations, diagnosis, and initial evaluation.In: Barbieri RL, Schreiber CA, Eckler K, eds.UpToDate. UpToDate; 2023.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Ectopic pregnancy FAQs.
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Bleeding during pregnancy.Dhamecha R, Pajai S, Bhasin T.Acute abdomen in pregnancy: a comprehensive review of diagnosis and management.Cureus. 2023;15(6). doi:10.7759/cureus.40679Ochoa-Bernal MA, Fazleabas AT.Physiologic events of embryo implantation and decidualization in human and non-human primates.International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2020;21(6):1973. doi:10.3390/ijms21061973Kim Su-Mi, Kim Jong-Soo.A review of mechanisms of implantation.Dev. Reprod. 2017;21(4):351-359. doi:10.12717/DR.2017.21.4.35Itani R, Soubra L, Karout S, Rahme D, Karout L, J Khojah HM.Primary dysmenorrhea: pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment updates.Korean Journal of Family Medicine. 2022;43(2):101-108. doi:10.4082/kjfm.21.0103Herskovits AZ, Chen Y, Latifi N, Ta RM, Kriegel G.False-negative urine human chorionic gonadotropin testing in the clinical laboratory.Laboratory Medicine. 2019;51(1):86-93. doi:10.1093/labmed/lmz039Office on Women’s Health (OASH).Pregnancy tests.Fernández-Carrasco F J, Rodríguez-Díaz L, González-Mey U, Vázquez-Lara JM, Gómez-Salgado J, Parrón-Carreño T.Changes in sexual desire in women and their partners during pregnancy.Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2020;9(2): 526. doi:10.3390/jcm9020526Rebollar AO, Menéndez Balaña FJ, Pastor MC.Comparison of affect changes during the ovulatory phase in women with and without hormonal contraceptives.Heliyon. 2017;3(4). doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2017.e00282Nezhat C, Vang N, Tanaka P.Optimal management of endometriosis and pain.Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2019:134(4):834-839. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000003461Delamater L, Santoro N.Management of the perimenopause.Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2018;61(3):419-432. doi:10.1097/grf.0000000000000389Azizi M, Elyasi F.Biopsychosocial view to pseudocyesis: A narrative review.Int J Reprod Biomed. 2017;15(9):535-542. PMID: 29662961.Prager S, Micks E, Dalton, VK.Pregnancy loss (miscarriage): clinical presentations, diagnosis, and initial evaluation.In: Barbieri RL, Schreiber CA, Eckler K, eds.UpToDate. UpToDate; 2023.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Ectopic pregnancy FAQs.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Bleeding during pregnancy.Dhamecha R, Pajai S, Bhasin T.Acute abdomen in pregnancy: a comprehensive review of diagnosis and management.Cureus. 2023;15(6). doi:10.7759/cureus.40679Ochoa-Bernal MA, Fazleabas AT.Physiologic events of embryo implantation and decidualization in human and non-human primates.International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2020;21(6):1973. doi:10.3390/ijms21061973Kim Su-Mi, Kim Jong-Soo.A review of mechanisms of implantation.Dev. Reprod. 2017;21(4):351-359. doi:10.12717/DR.2017.21.4.35Itani R, Soubra L, Karout S, Rahme D, Karout L, J Khojah HM.Primary dysmenorrhea: pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment updates.Korean Journal of Family Medicine. 2022;43(2):101-108. doi:10.4082/kjfm.21.0103Herskovits AZ, Chen Y, Latifi N, Ta RM, Kriegel G.False-negative urine human chorionic gonadotropin testing in the clinical laboratory.Laboratory Medicine. 2019;51(1):86-93. doi:10.1093/labmed/lmz039Office on Women’s Health (OASH).Pregnancy tests.Fernández-Carrasco F J, Rodríguez-Díaz L, González-Mey U, Vázquez-Lara JM, Gómez-Salgado J, Parrón-Carreño T.Changes in sexual desire in women and their partners during pregnancy.Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2020;9(2): 526. doi:10.3390/jcm9020526Rebollar AO, Menéndez Balaña FJ, Pastor MC.Comparison of affect changes during the ovulatory phase in women with and without hormonal contraceptives.Heliyon. 2017;3(4). doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2017.e00282Nezhat C, Vang N, Tanaka P.Optimal management of endometriosis and pain.Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2019:134(4):834-839. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000003461Delamater L, Santoro N.Management of the perimenopause.Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2018;61(3):419-432. doi:10.1097/grf.0000000000000389Azizi M, Elyasi F.Biopsychosocial view to pseudocyesis: A narrative review.Int J Reprod Biomed. 2017;15(9):535-542. PMID: 29662961.Prager S, Micks E, Dalton, VK.Pregnancy loss (miscarriage): clinical presentations, diagnosis, and initial evaluation.In: Barbieri RL, Schreiber CA, Eckler K, eds.UpToDate. UpToDate; 2023.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Ectopic pregnancy FAQs.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Bleeding during pregnancy.
Dhamecha R, Pajai S, Bhasin T.Acute abdomen in pregnancy: a comprehensive review of diagnosis and management.Cureus. 2023;15(6). doi:10.7759/cureus.40679
Ochoa-Bernal MA, Fazleabas AT.Physiologic events of embryo implantation and decidualization in human and non-human primates.International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2020;21(6):1973. doi:10.3390/ijms21061973
Kim Su-Mi, Kim Jong-Soo.A review of mechanisms of implantation.Dev. Reprod. 2017;21(4):351-359. doi:10.12717/DR.2017.21.4.35
Itani R, Soubra L, Karout S, Rahme D, Karout L, J Khojah HM.Primary dysmenorrhea: pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment updates.Korean Journal of Family Medicine. 2022;43(2):101-108. doi:10.4082/kjfm.21.0103
Herskovits AZ, Chen Y, Latifi N, Ta RM, Kriegel G.False-negative urine human chorionic gonadotropin testing in the clinical laboratory.Laboratory Medicine. 2019;51(1):86-93. doi:10.1093/labmed/lmz039
Office on Women’s Health (OASH).Pregnancy tests.
Fernández-Carrasco F J, Rodríguez-Díaz L, González-Mey U, Vázquez-Lara JM, Gómez-Salgado J, Parrón-Carreño T.Changes in sexual desire in women and their partners during pregnancy.Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2020;9(2): 526. doi:10.3390/jcm9020526
Rebollar AO, Menéndez Balaña FJ, Pastor MC.Comparison of affect changes during the ovulatory phase in women with and without hormonal contraceptives.Heliyon. 2017;3(4). doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2017.e00282
Nezhat C, Vang N, Tanaka P.Optimal management of endometriosis and pain.Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2019:134(4):834-839. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000003461
Delamater L, Santoro N.Management of the perimenopause.Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2018;61(3):419-432. doi:10.1097/grf.0000000000000389
Azizi M, Elyasi F.Biopsychosocial view to pseudocyesis: A narrative review.Int J Reprod Biomed. 2017;15(9):535-542. PMID: 29662961.
Prager S, Micks E, Dalton, VK.Pregnancy loss (miscarriage): clinical presentations, diagnosis, and initial evaluation.In: Barbieri RL, Schreiber CA, Eckler K, eds.UpToDate. UpToDate; 2023.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Ectopic pregnancy FAQs.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
