To become pregnant, the fertilized egg should travel down the fallopian tubes and burrows into the uterus. 

This process might seem simple but it’s not always the case. 

This article explains some problems associated with implantation, which don’t result in successful pregnancies.  

What Is Implantation?

After conception, the fertilized egg divides over several days while traveling  down the fallopian tube and reaching the lining of the uterus. 

On days 6-8, right at the beginning of week 3 after your last period, the fertilized egg is called a blastocyst.

The blastocyst divides into an inner layer that will eventually become the fetus, and an outer layer that becomes the placenta. 

Once the blastocyst reaches the uterine lining, it begins the process of implantation in the uterus. 

Most women don’t feel any specific symptoms to indicate that implantation has occurred. 

Only a small number of women may experience light bleeding or spotting, which can often be confused for a menstrual period. 

When the blastocyst implants into the endometrium, the placenta starts producing human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). 

HCG is the substance detected by pregnancy tests.

It is also responsible for nausea and other pregnancy symptoms you may be experiencing. 

The levels of hCG in the body will vary depending on how long after implantation you take a pregnancy test.

If you take a pregnancy test in the very early stages of pregnancy, the test may not pick up enough hCG to turn positive. 

Therefore, I recommend you wait until a missed period to test for a pregnancy to avoid disappointment. 

Read our article on How To Deal With Disappointment After a Negative Pregnancy Test.

What Are the Problems Associated with Implantation?

Implantation can often happen without difficulties, but sometimes problems may occur, resulting in you not becoming pregnant. 

Failure Of The Embryo To Implant

The causes of failure to implant are not always known.

However, it is thought that the embryo can fail to burrow into the uterus because of uterine abnormalities, embryonic abnormalities, or a combination of both. 

Uterine abnormalities include anatomical problems with the uterus that women are born with or a medical condition such as endometriosis, polyps, fibroids, or infections. 

In case of embryonic abnormalities, the issue is chromosomal.

The embryo may implant but not grow, or it may grow but stops developing before the 2 weeks time at which a pregnancy can be detected. 

Other risk factors related to you or your partner include smoking, maternal age, and stress. 

Late Implantation  

Late implantation occurs between day 8 and 10 after ovulation – meaning at the latter end of the 6 to 10-day implantation window.

Although implantation can successfully happen at this stage, there’s an increase in the likelihood of miscarriage the later the implantation occurs. 

If late implantation happens during a typical cycle of trying to get pregnant, you will likely have no way of knowing. 

However, if you experience a miscarriage, make sure you read my article on how to deal with the grief of a miscarriage. 

Ectopic Pregnancy 

Sometimes, implantation occurs outside of the uterus, which is known as ectopic pregnancy. 

Many of these pregnancies occur in the fallopian tube. 

This happens when a fertilized egg gets stuck on its way to the uterus, often because the fallopian tube is damaged by inflammation, scarring, or a medical condition. 

Hormonal imbalances or abnormal development of the fertilized egg also might play a role.

The only way to treat an ectopic pregnancy is to terminate it with medication or surgery.

Otherwise, the tube can rupture, and the pregnant person can hemorrhage and die. 

If you face any of the problems mentioned above, do not feel discouraged and keep trying, your miracle will come!