We all know the difference between implantation and period, right? If you don’t, then this blog post is for you. There are many different types of periods that women go through (i.e. menstrual cycle), but implantation is not one of them! In this blog post we will explore implantation vs period to help clear up any confusion, and hopefully answer your question.
In This Article
What is Implantation?
We all know implantation is the implantation of a fertilized egg into your uterine wall, but what does that really mean? For implantation to occur there must be successful intercourse (penetration) which leads to sperm traveling up through the cervix and uterus until they meet with an egg. Then implantation occurs when this fertilized egg attaches itself to the uterine lining. In implantation, a fertilized egg will attach to your uterus and cause it to grow rapidly in size as well as thickness! The implantation process begins around day 19 of your menstrual cycle.
What is Period?
Periods are a part of many women’s lives every month, but implantation is not! Periods are a part of the menstrual cycle, which occurs around once every 28 days. The average amount of time between periods for women is usually four to seven days and implantation does not occur during this timeframe at all. When implantation happens it can be confused with period because there will be some spotting but overall implantation is a completely different process from periods.
What is the Difference Between Implantation and Period?
Implantation : Implantation is the culmination of fertilization, which usually begins five days after an egg has been released for ovulation. It’s the process where cells from two different people meet and continue growing together inside one woman’s uterus. Implantation typically occurs within 10-12 days after conception.
Period : A period can be experienced at any time during a woman’s monthly cycle, but most times it happens every 26-28 days. It’s the shedding of the uterine lining, which is what implantation builds up. Also period is a blood discharge from the uterus and vagina, in most cases of menstruation. This discharge comes from a combination of old uterine walls and vaginal wall tissue sloughing off each month. A period lasts from three to five days on average, with most people experiencing light or no bleeding on one or more days during that time.
Do implantation and period feel the same?
No Period and implantation do not feel the same. Periods last anywhere from 3 days to 2 weeks, and most women’s cycles start with a few days of menstrual flow most times of the year for approximately two-three days. Implantation is most likely to happen around day 14-20 with each woman having their own schedule, so implantation will happen over a longer length of time than periods will last at any given time throughout the month. Unlike periods that usually start as an infrequent event that can differ in duration or intensity with some months being more frequent/less intense than others (for example: spotting versus menstruating), implantations are about as regular as they come and can vary in length but implantation is generally at least between 12-18 hours long.
Periods and implantations can feel very different from each other, but for some women they may have a similar feeling because of the way that their body responds to implantations in comparison with how it responds to periods. It’s also possible to experience both implantation and menstrual cramping at the same time, which can cause implantation to feel like a heavier period.
Bottom Line
It’s important to know the difference between your period and implantation. Implantation is when a fertilized egg implants into the uterine lining and begins to grow, while menstruating means that it has been less than 14 days since you last ovulated or had sex. If you’re experiencing pain in your lower abdomen or light bleeding after having unprotected sex, it may be possible that an egg was released from its follicle but did not become fertilized. This can happen as many as 5-10% of the time with each cycle, so don’t worry if this happens!
