When is the soonest implantation can occur

Your body undergoes a dramatic process from the time of conception to the first positive pregnancy test. One of the most significant steps is implantation.

Implantation is an early sign of pregnancy

After the fertilized egg travels down the fallopian tube toward the uterus, it divides into multiple cells and eventually becomes a growing cluster of about 100 cells called a blastocyst. 

You can think of this blastocyst as sort of like an orange because it has a thin outer layer and a larger inner group of cells. The inner group eventually becomes the embryo while the outer layer will form the part of the placenta that attaches to the lining of the uterus. When that attachment happens, that results in implantation.

Implantation occurs 6 to 12 days after conception

"Implantation occurs 6 to 12 days after conception or day 24 to 26 of your cycle," says Sherry Ross, an OB-GYN at Providence Saint John's Center. 

Since implantation happens so close to the start of your next period, any spotting you may experience is often mistaken for the beginning of your menstrual cycle. But instead of experiencing your usual PMS symptoms, your body will produce the human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG, hormone instead.

HCG is what pregnancy tests detect to indicate you're pregnant. For the most accurate reading, you should take a pregnancy test after your first missed period.

Implantation symptoms include bleeding and cramps

One of the most apparent signs of implantation is light bleeding or spotting. An estimated 15% to 25% of women will experience bleeding in the first trimester.

But because the other symptoms that come with implantation are similar to your usual menstruation, it can be difficult to differentiate the two. Therefore, some women may not suspect pregnancy until they miss a period. 

Here are some common signs of implantation:

  • Vaginal bleeding and spotting. "When the embryo implants itself in the uterine lining, there can be normal bleeding or spotting described as implantation bleeding," Ross says. The type of bleeding can be light red, brown, or pinkish. Implantation bleeding typically lasts 2 to 7 days. You can wear a panty liner to catch any spotting or discharge that may occur in the days after implantation.
  • Mild uterine cramping. The hormonal shifts that happen from implantation may cause cramping or light pressure in your abdomen. This cramping is generally minor compared to the cramps you experience before and during your period. Cramping typically lasts for a few days. You can take Tylenol for it, but if the cramping becomes severe schedule a visit with a doctor, because it could be a sign of a miscarriage.
  • Clear or white vaginal discharge. You may notice a difference between the clear and stretchy mucus during ovulation and the thicker, white or yellow discharge that can happen after implantation. Vaginal discharge is less common than spotting, Ross says, but if you do experience it, you can expect it to last only 1 or 2 days.
  • Swollen or tender breasts. After implantation, rising hormone levels may cause your breasts to swell or feel tender. This often continues throughout your pregnancy. 

And if you're still not sure if these are symptoms of your regular menstrual cycle or of early pregnancy, take a pregnancy test to verify any suspicions. Just make sure to follow the directions for the test, and take the test at the right time, or you may get an inaccurate result.

Insider's takeaway

Implantation is when the fertilized egg attaches to the uterus. It occurs 6 to 12 days after conception.

Signs include spotting or bleeding, cramping, discharge, and tender breasts. Since these symptoms can also occur around your menstrual cycle, it's important to take a pregnancy test to confirm. Pregnancy tests are most accurate after your first missed period. 

Sara Lindberg

Sara Lindberg is a contributing writer for INSIDER and a freelance health, fitness, and wellness writer. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in exercise science and a Master's degree in counseling. She's spent her life educating people on the importance of health, wellness, mindset, and mental health. She specializes in the mind-body connection, with a focus on how our mental and emotional well-being impact our physical fitness and health.

Implantation is when a fertilized egg, which has divided, multiplied, and turned into a cluster of cells called a blastocyst, attaches to the uterine wall. Generally, this happens approximately between six to 12 days after ovulation, and once it does, a pregnancy has officially begun.

The timing of ovulation may seem like a detail that only concerns an OB/GYN, but knowing when implantation occurs is important for those trying to conceive. Implantation timing influences both how to time sex for pregnancy and when to take a pregnancy test to ensure the most accurate results. Learn more about implantation and its role in pregnancy and when implantation occurs.

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Ovulation and Implantation Timing

Implantation happens when a fertilized egg burrows into the uterine lining and begins to grow. When this can occur for each person is dependent on their overall cycle length, which is not the same for everyone, and when the egg was fertilized.

Generally, ovulation happens about 14 days prior to the beginning of menstruation. An egg is released from either the left or right ovary, after which it will live for about 24 hours unless it is fertilized. If fertilization does not happen, the uterine lining is sloughed off, and menstruation begins.

You don't have to have sex at the exact moment of ovulation—just close to it. In fact, ideally, you will have sex a few times in the days before ovulation occurs. Sperm can live for up to five days inside the body and meet up with an egg making its way through the fallopian tube to the uterus. Sperm then breaks through the barriers surrounding the egg to fertilize it.

The fertilized egg then travels the remaining way to the uterus, a journey that takes several days. Implantation itself usually occurs between six to 12 days after the egg is fertilized.

Approximate Timing of Ovulation and Implantation by Cycle LengthCycle LengthOvulation and FertilizationImplantation28 daysDay 14Day 20 to 2430 daysDay 16Day 22 to 2632 daysDay 18Day 24 to 28

8 Signs of Ovulation That Help Detect Your Most Fertile Time

Implantation and Pregnancy Tests

Pregnancy tests are very specific about their timing because they test for the presence of a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Because hCG is produced by a developing placenta, the body cannot produce it until after implantation happens.

This is why the levels of hCG in the body vary depending on how long after implantation you take a pregnancy test. In the very early stages of pregnancy, there is very little hCG in the urine because there hasn't been enough time between implantation and testing for it to build up in the body.

A pregnancy that has been implanted four days prior to the expected start of your period is just beginning to send signals to the body. Testing this early is usually not recommended unless there is a very specific reason, as false negatives can occur.

An Overview of Home Pregnancy Tests

Signs and Symptoms of Implantation

Most people do not have any specific signs or symptoms to indicate that implantation has occurred. However, some people may experience the following indicators that implantation has occurred.

Implantation Bleeding

A small number of pregnant people experience a phenomenon called implantation bleeding. Implantation bleeding usually involves only very light spotting. But occasionally, it can be confused for a menstrual period, or even a first-trimester miscarriage, because of its timing.

What Are Implantation Cramps?

Implantation Dip

For people tracking their basal body temperature (BBT) on a fertility calendar, a brief, one-day drop in BBT can occur during implantation. This is commonly referred to as an implantation dip and can indicate pregnancy in those who chart their BBT.

Early Pregnancy Symptoms

Typically, signs or symptoms of pregnancy do not occur immediately following implantation. Although not always the case, most people start to experience early pregnancy symptoms like nausea, fatigue, and breast tenderness around the time of their missed period.

Problems With Implantation

Most often implantation of an embryo happens without a hitch, but occasionally a problem may occur.

Ectopic Pregnancy

Occasionally, implantation occurs outside of the uterus. This is an ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy is often called tubal pregnancy because many of these pregnancies occur in the fallopian tube. That said, some of these pregnancies also occur in places like the ovary, abdomen, or cervix.

When the egg is not within the confines of the uterus, the pregnancy is not viable. Ectopic pregnancies are also dangerous for the pregnant person, as they can cause severe hemorrhaging.

Treatment can include medication and/or surgery, which may involve the removal of the fallopian tube. Ectopic pregnancies can occasionally have ramifications in future pregnancies, including recurrence of ectopic pregnancy. However, most people go on to have subsequent successful pregnancies.

Late Implantation

When an embryo implants at the latter end of the six- to 10-day implantation window, it is called late implantation. More specifically, late implantation is typically defined as that which occurs between the 8th and 10th day.

Implantation can occur successfully during this period and it is usually not a cause for concern. However, some studies indicate an incremental increase in the likelihood of miscarriage the later the implantation happens, although the strength of this association is not yet fully understood.

While you can't control when or where an embryo implants, maternal smoking and advanced maternal age may make later implantation more likely.

Failure to Implant

Another issue that can occur is the failure of the embryo to implant. If this happens during a typical cycle of trying to get pregnant, you will likely have no way of knowing.

However, when using fertility treatments, you may know when an embryo does not successfully implant. When this happens three or more times in failed in vitro fertilization (IVF) attempts it is called recurrent implantation failure (RIF).

The causes of failure to implant are not always known but are thought to be a combination of uterine abnormalities (such as endometriosis, polyps, or infection) and/or embryonic abnormalities (often chromosomal). Additional risk factors related to the parents may include smoking, age, body mass index, and stress.

A Word From Verywell

Implantation is a key milestone of the pregnancy journey. Understanding how and when it occurs can help you conceive and test.

The process of conception can seem daunting, but know that as long as you regularly have sex, your chances of getting pregnant within a year are generally very high. In fact, 85% or more of couples conceive within one year of trying, with rates even higher for those younger than 30.

What is the earliest possible implantation?

Implantation takes place anywhere between 6 and 12 days after you ovulate. It most commonly occurs 8 to 9 days after conception. So the exact date of implantation can depend on when you ovulated, and whether conception occurred early or late in the ovulation window.

Does early implantation mean anything?

The timing of when a fertilized egg implants in the uterus affects the chances of whether it can develop successfully. 1 Implanting too early or too late may mean the uterine lining and the body's hormone levels do not provide optimal support for the embryo.

What are signs of implantation?

Indications that implantation has happened can include bleeding and cramping. Implantation bleeding is spotting or light bleeding that takes place about 1–2 weeks after fertilization. It is usually short-lived and lighter than a normal period..
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