Symptoms of implantation tend to be similar for all women, not just women who get pregnant using in vitro fertilization (IVF). Implantation symptoms can sometimes signal that pregnancy is beginning, although not all women notice symptoms. During IVF, a woman's eggs are fertilized outside her body, then transferred into her uterus several days later. Implantation occurs when the fertilized egg (the embryo) starts to bury itself into the wall of the uterus, one to two weeks after the transfer. Some implantation symptoms that occur after IVF can be caused by hormone injections given to women after embryo transfer takes place. While it is sometimes possible for women to detect implantation on their own after IVF, the only true way to confirm a pregnancy is with a pregnancy test. If a woman hasn't noticed any symptoms of implantation, a doctor may use an ultrasound to observe whether implantation occurred.
Spotting and Bleeding
Some women report a slight spotting or a light amount of blood about a week or so after the embryo is transferred to the uterus. As the embryo burrows into the uterus, some tissue can shed from the uterine lining and this may cause bleeding. The amount of blood will be much lighter than a period. However, many women using IVF become pregnant and never notice implantation bleeding.
Cramping
Cramping is also a common symptom reported around the time of implantation. Some women report constant, moderate pains and cramps for one to three days as the embryo implants in the uterine wall. These pains may feel like mild menstrual cramps.
Basal Body Temperature Fluctuations
Many women use fertility tracking methods to help them conceive. One popular method to track fertility is to take basal body temperatures (BBT). This method requires a woman to take her temperature every morning before she gets out of bed. If she does this over several months, she may notice distinct temperature patterns in her cycles. If she gets pregnant and implantation occurs, temperatures during that cycle will be much higher than normal as the embryo starts to develop and the pregnancy takes hold. Women can compare past BBT patterns to temperatures during an IVF cycle to see whether any clear differences exist, and whether implantation has taken place.
