The two-week wait between ovulation and pregnancy testing is complex and stressful for couples trying for a baby. If you are also in that period, searching for symptoms and hoping for a positive pregnancy test result, here’s more information about conception, timing, implantation, early DPO symptoms and when to take a pregnancy test.
DPO is an acronym for days post-ovulation or days past ovulation. For instance, if your ovulation happens on a Tuesday, the next day (Wednesday) is considered the 1 DPO. There are a few reasons to track DPO. The first reason is that it helps determine the time to do a home pregnancy test, as the waiting period is difficult, especially for those looking forward to having a baby. Secondly, it helps track and monitor early pregnancy symptoms and do due diligence in caring for the mother and the baby.
Ovulation is when the ovaries release eggs and move to the fallopian tube to fertilise with the sperm. It is the first day of the two-week wait (TWW) and is a critical moment in your conception journey. The egg released is available and viable for 24 hours, which means that you should have intercourse 24 hours post-ovulation or 5 days before it to have the best chances of pregnancy. If the egg fertilises successfully during this period, it forms an embryo. In the next week, this underdoes many divisions until a blastocyst forms and is all set for implantation.
In the first week after ovulation, the embryo is not implanted and is still developing, so pregnancy has not begun. However, it is essential to remember that every woman has a different pregnancy journey and may not follow the same path.
The first six days post-ovulation bring many hormonal changes, with the body producing more progesterone regardless of whether egg fertilisation occurs. The early pregnancy-like symptoms you have in the first six days are because of the progesterone effect on the body. The mood and the body feel similar to how you feel before your monthly menstrual cycle. Symptoms include:
● Mood swings
● Breast tenderness
● Fatigue
● Abdomen, lower back or pelvic cramps
● Headaches
If the egg fertilises into an embryo, the next step is to implant it in the uterine lining, moving through the fallopian tube. Typically, implantation may occur between 6 and 12 days. Progesterone prepares the uterus to maintain the fertilised egg and implant it. It stops the uterine muscles from contracting, which causes the embryo to be ejected from the body. After successful embryo implantation, progesterone creates a suitable environment for the baby to develop.
For ¼th of women, implantation is followed by implantation bleeding (spotting or light bleeding, light pink or rust-coloured blood instead of the blood-red colour of usual period flow). This spotting or light bleeding happens as some uterine blood vessels get damaged at the time of implantation. It lasts a few hours or two days and has a very light flow.
It is essential to know that implantation bleeding is not a definitive sign of early pregnancy, as some women may have spotting because of a health issue or because of a chemical pregnancy. So do not conclude you are pregnant before the two-week wait period is up. The other symptoms you may have are:
● Faint or light cramping that is less painful compared to normal menstrual cramps.
● Tingling or pulling sensations
● Headaches
● Mood swings
● Nausea
● Lower backaches
These DPO symptoms are similar to what you experience in the luteal phase of your period. Wait a bit longer for your body to produce enough hCG (pregnancy hormone) before confirming pregnancy.
hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) hormone is what a home pregnancy test kit detects. The body produces hCG when implantation happens, and it needs two to three days to increase to a detectable level. This happens after 12 DPOs, so do not rush and take a home test beforehand.
As per experts, as the hCG hormone increases in the body, women may feel some early pregnancy symptoms like:
● Feeling sleepy or unusual fatigue.
● Lightheadedness or dizziness after sleeping as the blood vessels that carry oxygen to the brain change. Additionally, extra energy is needed to make a placenta, which adds to dizziness.
● Breast changes include soreness, nipple sensitivity, darkening of nipple colour, swelling, the feeling of fullness, tenderness, and an itching or tingling sensation.
● Smell and taste changes, aversion to specific smells and foods. Also, cravings for certain foods.
● Metallic taste in the mouth. Increased hunger, bloating, diarrhoea, constipation, cramping or water retention.
● Despite its name, ‘morning sickness’ and nausea can occur at any time of the day.
● Frequent urination is due to more blood flow to the pelvic region and kidneys as pregnancy hormones increase.
● Muscle aches and headaches.
● There is an increase in basal body temperature and changes in heart and blood pressure rate due to increased blood supply to the fetus.
● A few women may not have any bodily changes or symptoms but have a feeling of something different or unlike themselves.
Home pregnancy tests claim to be 99% effective when used according to the instructions on the box. However, its reliability may be lower due to various issues. Some tests say that they can give a positive result many days before their period, while others are not as sensitive. So ensure you read the fine print carefully. Regardless, a positive test is possible only when the body produces enough hCG. For the most accurate results, take a pregnancy test on the day of your expected period, preferably using first-morning urine. For women with a regular cycle of 28 days, it would be 14 DPO; for those with longer cycles, the test may be positive later. While testing earlier is not bad, it may give false negatives, especially if the hCG in the body is not enough to be detectable.
There is also a risk of a chemical pregnancy, where early miscarriage may happen. A positive test result may be seen around your period dates, only to have bleeding, a line disappear or be light when tested again.
When you are in 12 DPO, you may experience early symptoms after ovulation if pregnant and a possible positive in your home pregnancy test. If you get a negative, try a few days after your missed periods. If you have doubts, contact your doctor, who will do a blood test to check the hCG levels in your body and give you the good news. If you have trouble with pregnancy, consult a doctor if you are over 35 years old and trying for more than 6 months or if you are under 35 years old and trying for more than a year.
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