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What does Implantation Cramps Feel Like, When It Starts, Timing

By: Author Dr Akatakpo Dunn, MBBS, PG Dip Ultrasound, Prof Dip O&G (RCPI) Medical Director & Lead Obstetrician/Ultrasonologist, Verah Clinic & Maternity

Posted on Last updated:

Questions: What does implantation cramps feel like? Where does it occur? When does implantation cramps start?

When young girls are trying to conceive, it’s important that they take note of body changes that can occur before and after missing their period.

This is because pregnant women, especially first-time moms, will easily miss very early signs of pregnancy.

Implantation cramping and bleeding are pregnancy symptoms that may show up days before your menstrual period starts, and like most women, can easily be confused with menstrual period pain.

Because some women will also have cramps in their lower abdomen within 1 to 3 days before period will start, it’s vital you understand what your implantation cramps feel like and how to differentiate it from your menstrual period.

To do this, you must understand your menstrual cycle, and if you’ve been observant and recorded the first day of your menstrual period over four to six months, you can tell if your menstrual cycle is regular or not.

The menstrual cycle is simply the difference in the number of days between your periods, and majorly it is controlled by hormones.

For instance, if a woman’s last menstrual period (LMP) started on the 2nd of June, and the following period began on the 29th of June, it implies that her menstrual cycle length is 27 days.

To determine your menstrual cycle, it may require some discipline over months. All you have to do is chart and record the first day period starts, and do this for a few months.

If you already know your menstrual cycle length, and if it’s regular, it becomes easy to estimate when ovulation and implantation cramps will occur during your cycle. In a typical 28-day cycle, ovulation happens around 14 days before your next period, but this can vary from about 11–21 days depending on your cycle length. Medical News Today+1

This guide explains

  • The meaning of implantation cramping and bleeding

  • What does implantation cramps feel like

  • How to know it’s implantation cramps and not your period cramps

  • Implantation cramps timing

  • Where implantation cramps occur in your abdomen

What are implantation cramps and bleeding?

Your body is made up of different systems, and particularly, the reproductive system is involved with ovulation and formation of the embryo (your baby).

A woman’s reproductive organ is made up of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and the ovaries. The ovaries are located on the side of the uterus and they spontaneously release one or more eggs into the fallopian tube.

Usually, if your menstrual cycle is regular, ovulation will take place roughly in the middle of your cycle (about 14 days before your next period in a 28-day cycle), but this timing can differ from woman to woman. Patient

After ovulation occurs, the egg is picked up by fallopian tube fimbriae and ready for fertilization.

If you’ve already had sexual intercourse, sperm will swim through your cervix to the fallopian tube where it fertilizes the egg released during ovulation.

If you’ve not had sexual intercourse, the egg released is not fertilized and it will simply degenerate and be absorbed by your body. However, if there is already sperm waiting before ovulation, there is a better chance conception will occur.

At the ampullary region of the fallopian tube, the sperm fuses with the released egg and forms the embryo that is subsequently transferred into the uterus.

At the uterus, the embryo is slowly buried into the blood-rich lining covering the inner wall of the uterus, the endometrium.

During this process, called implantation, some women will feel mild to moderate cramping in their lower abdomen. A small amount of light bleeding or spotting may also occur when the embryo attaches to the lining. This usually happens around 6–12 days after ovulation (about 10–14 days after fertilization). Cleveland Clinic

(Note: Not every pregnant woman will notice implantation symptoms, and they are not a reliable way to confirm pregnancy.) Flo+1

When does implantation cramps start?

Usually, before getting pregnant and during your menstrual period, your uterus contracts and relaxes, resulting in mild to severe pain in the abdomen.

This pain is due to hormones in your body that force your uterus to contract. Just like cramps during periods, some will experience cramps in their belly and back even before menstrual period will start. This type of pains that occur before period is a sign that your period is approaching.

On the other hand, implantation cramps will start before your period commences, typically 6–12 days after ovulation and a few days before you expect your next period. In some women, a cramping belly pain about a week before period may be a sign that implantation has occurred, but many women will not feel anything at all. Medical News Today+1

If your period is about to start in a week’s time, and then you suddenly get light spotting and cramps at the same time, it’s possible you are pregnant, but period-type cramps can also happen for other reasons. Only a pregnancy test can confirm pregnancy. Medical News Today+1

What does implantation cramps feel like?

During your period, the hormone prostaglandins will force uterine muscles to contract and push out blood from your vagina.

Depending on your threshold for pain, and the levels of prostaglandins in your body, you will have mild to moderate belly cramps during a menstrual period.

Like most women, it’s not abnormal if you start having cramps one or two days before your expected period, as pain will fade away toward the end of period.

On the other hand, if you are pregnant, you may have belly cramps that occur earlier and about a week from your period. Pain due to implantation is usually less severe than your period cramps, and cramps tend to come and go without stopping your daily activities. Some women describe a dull ache, mild pulling, or “pinching” feeling low in the abdomen or pelvis. Medical News Today+1

Also, spotting can occur around the time you have cramps in your abdomen. Implantation spotting is usually very light, often pink or brown in color (old blood), may be on and off, and typically stops within a few hours to 2–3 days. It is usually not heavy enough to soak pads or tampons. Cleveland Clinic

Where do you feel implantation cramps?

First of all, not all pregnant women will feel implantation cramping. So, if you’ve already taken a pregnancy test and wondering why you did not experience implantation cramps and bleeding, you shouldn’t worry.

Secondly, implantation bleeding and cramps can be felt in your lower abdomen (with right or left side referred pain), though some women will experience slight discomfort at the back. Sometimes the feeling is central, like light period pain.

What does implantation bleeding and cramping signify?

If you are expecting a baby, mild abdominal cramps before your menstrual period may be due to pregnancy. Other signs of pregnancy (apart from implantation cramps) are:

Breast pain

When you are expecting your period, it’s normal that you begin to observe changes in your mood and also your breast.

If you become pregnant, even before missing your period, you may experience breast tenderness and notice your breast is heavier or fuller because of early hormonal changes. NICHD+1

Missed period

If you are yet to have period after having mild cramps, then it’s likely you’re pregnant. A missed period is an early way to know you are pregnant, and it means pregnancy hormones are preventing your period from showing up. (Stress, weight changes, illness, and some medicines can also delay your period, so a test is still important.) Patient

Other symptoms of pregnancy are feeling tired easily after your usual activity, an increased frequency of urination, change in your mood, nausea, and vomiting. You can read more about early pregnancy symptoms on Mayo Clinic.

When should I test for pregnancy after implantation cramps start?

If you are having implantation pain and spotting, taking a pregnancy test too quickly may get you disappointed.

Implantation cramps and a negative pregnancy test is common if a test was carried out many days before your next period or very soon after implantation, when the hormone level is still low.

After fertilization, it will still take some days for your baby to be attached to your womb and start growing.

When implantation occurs, your body begins to secrete a glycoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), that continues to rise in early pregnancy.

This hormone is easily recognized by blood and urine pregnancy tests, and sometimes, if the level of this hormone is low, it will result in a negative result when you are actually pregnant.

Most home pregnancy tests are more accurate from the first day of your missed period, and many are over 97–99% accurate if you test a week or two after your period was due, provided you follow the instructions carefully. Mayo Clinic

If you test early and it is negative, but your period still does not come, repeat the test after a few days or one week, or see your doctor for a blood test.

For more on how and when to test, see MedlinePlus and NHS guidance:

The truth is, most health care professionals will advise that you either:

  • Take a pregnancy test from the first day of your missed period, and

  • Repeat the test or see your doctor if it is negative but you still have pregnancy symptoms or no period after about one week.

If you have any vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy that is heavy, associated with strong one-sided pain, shoulder pain, dizziness, or fainting, you should see a doctor or go to the emergency room urgently, as this may be a sign of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy and not simple implantation bleeding. MedlinePlus+1