Understanding ovulation and implantation symptoms if you’re trying to conceive makes the journey more predictable. Knowing the symptoms also makes timing intercourse or taking pregnancy tests more purposeful. This article has all the details you need to know.
Ovulation Symptoms
Ovulation symptoms are different for every woman. While some women experience the same symptoms every month, others may not feel any, or their symptoms may vary.
Some symptoms of ovulation match those of implantation.
These are the most common ovulation symptoms you should know about:
Cervical Mucus
Most women experience a change in their cervical mucus around ovulation. The fluid coming out of the cervix prior to ovulation has the look and texture of egg whites. The mucus can look different for different women. Ovulation usually takes place when the concentration of the wet fluid is the highest.
A study following symptoms and hormonal changes accompanying ovulation found that it’s possible to identify the time of ovulation clinically without ovulation tests or body temperature tracking by tracking the mucus.
Lower Abdomen Pain
Mild cramping and pain in the lower abdomen can appear following the follicle rupture. Most women describe this event as a pop or twinge on either side (left or right ovary).
A feeling of heaviness or a burning feeling can also accompany the ovulation symptoms of lower abdominal pain.
Cramping and pain in the abdomen are common PMS symptoms, too. However, the cramping during ovulation tends to be much lighter in intensity. Still, this can vary from one woman to another.
Body Temperature Changes
Your basal body temperature can rise up to one degree Fahrenheit immediately following ovulation. Hormonal body changes cause the temperature to rise and stay at those levels if the implantation didn’t occur. In case fertilization takes place, the temperature slightly drops in a process known as an implantation dip.
Do note that it’s often impossible to correlate ovulation symptoms with egg release. You may reach your fertile window a few days sooner or later following the clinical changes in your body, including basal temperature increase.
Other Ovulation Symptoms
Ovulation symptoms that are less common but still occur in women include:
- Bloating
- Tender breasts
- Saliva changes
- Increased libido
Ovulation symptoms may or may not appear every month. A Better Health Channel study shows that up to 40% of women experience some type of discomfort or pain at this time.
Implantation Symptoms
Implantation occurs when the egg released from the ovaries during ovulation is fertilized. The fertilized egg implants in the uterus and marks the beginning of pregnancy.
Implantation occurs at a different pace for every woman. For some women, it can happen on the sixth or seventh day after ovulation. For others, it can take more than 12 days.
For the sake of brevity, we won’t go into details about the implantation process. Below, we focus on symptoms of implantation you may (or may not) experience.
Light Bleeding
Many women report spotting in the first and second weeks following fertilization. There are no studies yet that show how common this symptom is, but some reports say that up to 24% of pregnant women experience some form of spotting or light bleeding.
Is implantation bleeding normal?
In most cases, when it’s not followed by other signs and symptoms, implantation bleeding is completely normal.
Cramps
For some women, becoming pregnant can feel like you’re about to get your period. Implantation cramping is some of the very early pregnancy symptoms that are easy to confuse with menstrual cramps.
The cramps can persist for one or more days and usually come and go around the lower back and abdomen (to help relieve this pain, consider getting a pregnancy pillow for better sleep quality and support).
Other Implantation Symptoms – Early Pregnancy Signs
- Metallic taste in the mouth
- Sore breasts
- Morning sickness
- Implantation dip (slight drop of basal temperature)
- Nausea
- Bloating
- Fatigue
- Mood swings
- Appetite changes
All of these are early pregnancy symptoms you can experience at any point following the implantation and in your first trimester.
Telling the Implantation Symptoms Apart From PMS Symptoms
As mentioned earlier, PMS symptoms can look very similar to implantation symptoms. However, cramps related to implantation are often milder. PMS cramps are usually stronger in intensity.
When it comes to bleeding, the discharge following implantation is often too light to fill a pad or tampon. Implantation bleeding is light in color and ranges from light pink to light rust.
Menstrual period bleeding is more intense and has a bright to dark red color.
Implantation bleeding only lasts a few hours to a few days. Anything longer is most likely from your menstrual blood.
Implantation vs Very Early Pregnancy Loss Symptoms
It’s worth noting the difference between signs of implantation and those of miscarriage.
According to the Signs and Symptoms of Early Pregnancy Loss study from 2017, the three main symptoms of early pregnancy loss include vaginal bleeding, nausea, and vomiting.
The bleeding from implantation is light and doesn’t contain clots. In early pregnancy loss, the blood color is darker and can also include clots. It’s also possible to pass other tissue through the cervix in the case of a miscarriage.
Heavy bleeding followed by pain can be due to a medical emergency like ectopic pregnancy. If you believe you are pregnant but experience heavy bleeding that doesn’t end in a day or two, consult your healthcare provider for an exam.
When to Take a Pregnancy Test?
If you’re experiencing early signs of pregnancy, you’re probably super excited to do the test. Home pregnancy test works by detecting pregnancy hormones, notably the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone. This hormone will appear in your urine following successful implantation.
The levels of the hCG hormone are the highest in the morning. For a more accurate reading, take a pregnancy test on the morning of the day when your period should start.
Some home pregnancy tests claim they can show a positive result in as little as one day following the implantation. However, most women get a positive pregnancy test result a few days after a missed period.
Ovulation and Implantation Symptoms Explained
Implantation signs and symptoms can sometimes be hard to distinguish from ovulation, PMS, and early pregnancy loss signs. Although it’s not possible to distinguish 100% which condition the symptoms indicate, signs of implantation often include light bleeding and light cramps.
You can always take a pregnancy test or visit your gynecologist if you want to be sure about your pregnancy progress. Last but not least, to make the journey less overwhelming, don’t rely too much on unverified pregnancy information online. Always consult your gynecologist about additional questions you may have about conception and implantation.
