Embryo implantation happens when the embryo comes in contact with the endometrium.
From that moment onsome symptoms may appear that indicate that implantation has occurred. These symptoms are very diverse and may be different in each woman.
When does embryo implantation take place?
Embryo implantation takes place when the embryo comes into contact with the endometrium.
At this point, we must differentiate between when the embryo implantation takes place after an in vitro fertilization assist, or when it takes place in a natural pregnancy.
In the case of the former, embryo implantation occurs between 5 and 7 days after fertilization, while in a natural pregnancy, it is usually between days 19 and 23, when the endometrium is more receptive.
By the time this happens, the embryo already presents several changes, starting with its cellular structure. Likewise, the endometrium must present changes in order to be receptive and allow embryo implantation. This is one of the reasons why it is important to know when the endometrium is ready to perform the embryo transfer and increase the chances of achieving pregnancy.
How can we detect when is the best time to perform the transfer?
Igenomix has developed the ERA test to analyze endometrial receptivity.
The information provided by the ERA test is key to determining whether or not the cause of implantation failure may be of endometrial origin. According to studies developed by Igenomix, 3 out of 10 patients with implantation failure have a displaced implantation windowwhich prevents the embryo from implanting.
The ERA test allows, through an endometrial biopsy, to detectthe implantation window for each patient. With the ERA results, the specialists can perform a personalized embryo transfer at the optimal moment.
What are the symptoms that may indicate that implantation has taken place?
From the days after the implantation takes place until the moment the result of the pregnancy test is available it is possible that some symptoms of positive embryo implantation may appear.
These symptoms are not the same for all women and may vary from one woman to another.
The most common symptoms are:
- Implantation bleeding. This can occur a few days after the embryo transfer or the moment when the egg is fertilized in the tube. It is usually scanty, brown or pinkish in color and may last a few days.
- Implantation pain. Like bleeding, it occurs a few days after the transfer or the moment when the egg is fertilized in the tube. It is similar to mild menstrual pain.
- Breast discomfort, swelling of the breasts (especially the areola and nipple).
- Pain in the lower back.
- Diarrhea, constipation.
- Stomach acidity.
- Frequent urination.
- Drowsiness, tiredness.
- Nausea, vomiting, dizziness.
- Intolerance to some smells or foods.