Pregnancy is a phase in life that is very special to all women and they want to be sure about everything, however, minute the issue may be. With a life beginning to form inside them, we have to agree that the responsibility is huge. One of the initial doubts a woman has during her pregnancy is about cramping during implantation. Implantation cramping is not as easily understood as implantation bleeding, and this makes it necessary for us to know more about this concept. The first thing you need to know is that cramping during pregnancy is absolutely normal and in a way, it’s absolutely good news. This is the first sign that will confirm your pregnancy. However, in some cases, cramping might indicate totally different issues that need immediate medical attention. These issues are discussed towards the end of this article. Let’s now proceed to know more about implantation cramping in detail.
What is Implantation Exactly?
You need to understand what exactly implantation means to further understand the concept of cramping during implantation. We know that ovaries contain eggs and that when one of these eggs meets the male sperms, it fertilizes. This process of fertilization takes place in a tube called the fallopian tube. From this tube, the egg gradually moves to the uterus. Once in the uterus, the egg tries to attach itself to the lining of the uterus. This lining, in medical terms, is called the endometrial lining. If the egg is unsuccessful in attaching itself, it is washed out in the normal monthly menstrual cycle. However, if it does, this precise process where the egg attaches to the endometrial lining is called the process of implantation. Once we have this basic knowledge about what implantation means, we can proceed further to the cramping during this process.
What is Implantation Cramps?
Implantation cramping is when a woman experiences cramps in her lower abdomen due to the successful implantation of the egg on the endometrial lining. These cramps are similar to menstrual cramps, but not exactly the same. First, these are felt in the lower abdomen, and second, these cramps last, in most cases, just for a few minutes. The endometrial lining has a rich supply of blood and when the egg attaches itself onto it, a little blood is lost. This leads to both, implantation cramping and spotting/bleeding. Implantation cramps are said to be the earliest signs of a possible pregnancy.
When Does One Experience Implantation Cramping and How Long Does it Last?
Women usually start their ovulation cycle a fortnight or 15 days (approx. 2 weeks) before their next menstrual cycle. This is the time when fertilization takes place in most cases. Implantation cramping might be experienced anytime, from when the egg gets fertilized until 15 days later when the next menstrual cycle is approximately scheduled to begin. It is said that the egg takes a minimum of 72 hours to implant itself. However, this time might vary in certain cases but not more than 15 days. Sometimes, women may experience slight cramping even when the egg goes through the process of fertilization. As I have mentioned before, the cramps last for a few minutes, and seldom do they take hours to subside.
Sometimes cramping that indicates totally different issues might be mistaken as cramping during implantation. One of these might be cramping signaling a miscarriage. However, this cramping will be severe, unlike the slight implantation cramping. Two, cramping can also signal an ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy is a condition where the zygote without moving to the uterus, implants in the fallopian tubes itself. Both of these conditions require immediate medical attention, more so if you also observe discharge of tissue instead of slight bleeding. Consulting a doctor at the right time is the key to a tension free pregnancy.
Tiffany is a Medical Student and also works as a fitness coach in part-time. She is also a writer and writes on health and fitness articles. Tiffany loves to engage with users and help them provide various useful information on General Health. She provides researched-based information and also featured on various blogs and magazines.