Early Pregnancy Symptoms After Ovulation: Day By Day(DPO)

Table of Content

• Pregnancy Symptoms After Ovulation: Day By Day

• Common early pregnancy symptoms

• Symptoms after ovulation if not pregnant

• Take-Home Points

• FAQ on Early Pregnancy Symptoms After Ovulation: Day By Day (DPO)

Introduction

The maturation process of eggs and their release from the ovary is called ovulation. After ovulation, the egg moves down the fallopian tube for 12-14 hours, allowing the egg to fertilize. The ovulation symptoms include a change in appetite, breast tenderness, cramps, cervical mucus, and cramps. The result of fertilization of the ovary in the fallopian tube by the sperm is called pregnancy. The symptoms caused after pregnancy are called pregnancy symptoms which include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, tenderness, increased urination, swollen breast, and delay in the menstrual cycle.

Early pregnancy symptoms are seen as early as four days after ovulation. These symptoms are also known as symptoms by days past ovulation (DPO). Tracking these symptoms with alertness helps to check pregnancy on time and avoid unwanted pregnancies or other health issues. 

Pregnancy Symptoms After Ovulation: Day By Day

Days past ovulation (DPO) must be checked to track pregnancy after ovulation. Some people may experience severe symptoms of pregnancy, some may experience mild symptoms, and some may experience no symptoms at all.

Early pregnancy symptoms can be very similar to those experienced during ovulation, during PMS (Premenstrual syndrome), and by those taking fertility medications.

Days 0–7 past ovulation

During the first couple of days past ovulation, most women don’t experience any pregnancy symptoms. A woman is pregnant only after the fertilized egg gets implanted in the uterine wall. 

During this period, the body increases the production of progesterone, a hormone that prepares your body for implantation and pregnancy. Any pregnancy symptoms during this period are most likely from progesterone's effects. These symptoms are similar to the PMS symptoms and include

• Breast tenderness

• Bloating

• Food cravings

• Increase in nipple sensitivity

• Headaches

• Muscle aches.

Since these are signs of elevated progesterone, these symptoms don’t necessarily point to pregnancy.

Days 7–10 past ovulation

During this time, the fertilized egg implants itself in the uterus. Some people also experience light bleeding, known as implantation bleeding. The spotting lasts for a day or two and is very light. Other symptoms include

• Mood swings

• Headaches

• Light cramping

• Nausea

• Breast tenderness,

• Lower backaches.

Implantation causes the body to produce hCG, a hormone detectable by pregnancy tests. However, the hCG levels might be too low and can give a false result. 

Days 11–14 past ovulation

A few days after implantation, the hCG levels are high enough to cause early pregnancy symptoms.

The early pregnancy symptoms include

• Unusual fatigue or lightheadedness 

• Changes in breasts - darkening in the color of the nipples and nipple sensitivity. Breasts can swell, feel full and heavy, tender, tingle, or even itch.

• Headaches 

• Muscle aches

• Morning sickness

• Changes in taste and smell

• Gastrointestinal changes - increased hunger, bloating, cramping, diarrhea, or constipation, water retention

• Frequent urination

• Raised basal body temperature

• Changes in blood pressure and heart rate. 

Some women don’t experience these symptoms early but can be pregnant.

Common early pregnancy symptoms

The most common early symptoms of pregnancy might include the following:

Missed period

In the childbearing years, passing a week or more without the start of an expected menstrual cycle in the childbearing years might be due to pregnancy.

Tender and swollen breasts

Early pregnancy can make the breasts sore and tender. Later the body adjusts to the changes.

Nausea with or without vomiting

Morning sickness can occur any time of the day or night, beginning one to two months after you become pregnant. However, some may never experience it. The cause of nausea during pregnancy is unclear, but pregnancy hormones play a role in it.

Increased urination

The amount of blood in the body increases during pregnancy, causing the kidneys to process extra fluid, filling the bladder.

Fatigue

A rapid rise in progesterone levels during early pregnancy might contribute to fatigue.

Cramping

Some women feel mild uterine cramping early in pregnancy.

Gastrointestinal changes 

Pregnant women often experience increased hunger, bloating, cramping, diarrhea, constipation, and water retention.

Mood swings

The surge of hormones in the body in early pregnancy can make one unusually emotional and weepy. 

Symptoms after ovulation if not pregnant

The menstrual cycle prepares a women’s body for pregnancy every month. If a fertilized egg is not implanted in the uterine lining, that lining is no longer needed, and the familiar shed and following bleeding will eventually occur. 

The symptoms a woman may experience during her menstrual cycle after ovulation are similar to those of early pregnancy. Some common symptoms are cramping and breast pain. 

Cramping

In most women, period cramps can range from mild to intense or severe, while implantation cramps are milder and less intense. Moreover, period cramps typically happen 24 - 48 hours before your period and decrease with the flow, whereas implantation cramping occurs most between 6-12 DPO.

Breast pain

Breast tenderness and swelling can occur in the days past ovulation as progesterone and estrogen levels fluctuate. Progesterone causes the milk glands to swell, and estrogen causes breast ducts to enlarge. The soreness usually improves during the period or after progesterone levels go back down.

Take-Home Points

• Tracking DPO symptoms with alertness help to check pregnancy on time and avoid unwanted pregnancies or other health issues. 

• The symptoms one feels during 0-7 days past ovulation are mainly due to changes in the hormone levels, and it is too early to say whether a woman is pregnant.

• Days 7-10 past ovulation, the fertilized egg implants itself in the uterus. Some people also experience implantation bleeding. The spotting lasts for a day or two and is very light. 

• Days 11-14 past ovulation, pregnant women experience darkening in the color of the nipples, fatigue, food cravings, increased use of washrooms, cramping, and diarrhea.

• The symptoms a woman may experience during her menstrual cycle after ovulation are similar to those of early pregnancy and include cramping and breast pain. 

References

Early Pregnancy Symptoms

Early pregnancy symptoms by days past ovulation (DPO)