6DPO Pregnancy Symptoms

If you are trying to conceive, the wait to take a pregnancy test can feel like an eternity.

Whilst 6DPO (or 6 days past ovulation) is still too early to take a pregnancy test, some people do start showing pregnancy symptoms as early as 6 DPO- otherwise known as 6DPO pregnancy symptoms.

Alternatively, if you are at 7 DPO and wondering if you could be pregnant, you can read our article: 7 DPO Pregnancy Symptoms.

In this article:

• What is DPO?
• Can You Receive Accurate Pregnancy Test Results At 6 DPO?
• When is the Right Time to Take a Pregnancy Test?
• Early Pregnancy Symptoms
• The Take-Away
• More From MyBump2Baby

What is DPO?

If you are here, then you most likely know what DPO is. However, if you are unfamiliar with the term, it will be explained in this section for you.

DPO stands for “days past ovulation” (i.e. days past when one of your ovaries releases an egg)- and it is exactly as it sounds: 1 DPO is one day after ovulation, 2 DPO is two days past ovulation, and so forth.

The Benefits of Tracking Your DPO

Knowing what DPO you are at can help you to keep track of when ovulation and your fertile window occur, and it can also help you to identify what is happening within your body, for example:

 

• Between 0 – 7 DPO.
  • Between 0 and 7 DPO, the ovary has not long since released an egg in the process called ovulation.
  • The phase of your menstrual cycle which follows ovulation is called the luteal phase- where the body produces more progesterone in order to make it possible to sustain pregnancy.

 

• Between 7 – 10 DPO.
  • Between 7 and 10 DPO, implantation typically occurs. This is where the fertilised egg implants itself into the uterine lining.
  • Through this connection, the fertilised egg receives the blood supply and nutrients it needs to begin to grow into a fetus in the following weeks. It is at this stage, that you may begin to experience pregnancy symptoms.
• Between 11 – 14 DPO.
  • Between 11 and 14 days past ovulation, it is likely that you could be experiencing symptoms of pregnancy at this stage.
  • However, between 11 and 14 DPO is also the time that you can expect your menstrual period to begin, so you should remember that the symptoms which you are experiencing may be due to your menstrual period, rather than pregnancy.

 

How Can I Track My DPO?

There are several ways in which you can track your DPO. Each of these methods are outlined below:

Ovulation Tests

The first method to track and determine how many days past ovulation you are is by taking ovulation tests.

Ovulation tests work by detecting the luteinising hormone (LH) in your urine- which gives you a positive ovulation test result.

If you would like to find out how long after an LH surge you ovulate, we have an article which will guide you through.

Also, if you are wondering if an ovulation test can detect pregnancy, we have an article on that Can an Ovulation Test Detect Pregnancy?

Ovulation Calulcator & Calendar

An ovulation calculator & calendar is a tool used to determine when your ovulation day and fertile window are.

In order to use them, all you need to the date of the first day of your last period and the average length of your menstrual cycle.

If you do not know the average length of your menstrual cycle, you can figure this out by doing menstrual charting: a method where you chart down each day of your menstrual period.

If you would like to use an ovulation calculator and calendar, why not check out our ovulation calculator & calendar?

 

Can You Receive Accurate Pregnancy Test Results At 6 DPO?

To receive a positive pregnancy test (BFP) result on a home pregnancy test, your human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels need to be high enough.

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) hormone starts being produced after implantation (where the fertilised egg implants itself onto the uterus lining) occurs- which is typically 10 days past ovulation (DPO).

It is unlikely that you will receive a positive pregnancy test result at 6 DPO, although, it is possible; there have been several cases when women have received a positive pregnancy test result as early as 6 DPO.

A great pregnancy test to use for early testing is Clear Blue First Response – a pregnancy test which allows you to receive accurate pregnancy test results as early as 6 days before the date of your next period.

If you choose to take a 6 DPO pregnancy test at this stage, ensure that you take another pregnancy test approximately a week later, to ensure that the result was correct.

 

When is the Right Time to Take a Pregnancy Test?

 

It is recommended that you wait until the first day of your missed period before taking a pregnancy test, as this is when your hCG levels are high enough for most pregnancy test brands to detect pregnancy.

In terms of DPO, if you have a regular 28-day cycle, this will be around 14 DPO- or mid-cycle. if you have a slightly longer cycle, of say 30 days, for example, you will most likely be able to test on 15 DPO.

You should try to take a pregnancy test no earlier than 12 DPO, as this can lead to inaccurate results.

 

Early Pregnancy Symptoms

One way of determining whether or not you may be pregnant is by symptom spotting- or determining whether or not you may be experiencing any pregnancy symptoms.

You should note that it is unlikely that you will be experiencing any signs of pregnancy at 6 DPO.

This is because implantation, which triggers many of the hormonal changes resulting in pregnancy symptoms, most likely will not have occurred yet- although it is possible.

If you are not experiencing pregnancy symptoms at this stage: it does not mean that you are not pregnant.

It is also worth noting that, whilst the below could all be 6 DPO symptoms of pregnancy, they can also be regular PMS symptoms caused by your monthly cycle.

Now onto the pregnancy symptoms!

Breast Tenderness

Not long after implantation occurs, your body will begin producing more estrogen and progesterone. These hormones can cause breast tenderness.

Fatigue

When become pregnant, your body goes through a lot of hormonal changes in preparation for the pregnancy. These hormonal changes can cause fatigue.

Headaches and Dizziness

The sudden changes in hormone levels can also cause headaches and dizziness- as well as fatigue.

Bloating

During early pregnancy, your progesterone levels increase rapidly. This increase in progesterone can cause your digestive system to slow down, causing a build-up of gas, bloating and constipation.

Food cravings

The food cravings symptom is definitely one of the wackiest pregnancy symptoms.

Have you found yourself suddenly craving odd foods? Or even just strongly craving foods which you’ve never given much thought about before?

If so, this could be a potential sign of pregnancy!

Mild Cramping

For some women, mild cramps may occur at 6 DPO. This is due to implantation- which can happen any time between 6 DPO and 12 DPO.

Breast Tenderness

Breast tenderness and nipple sensitivity are common symptoms of pregnancy. They are caused by the sudden increase in progesterone levels during early pregnancy.

Implantation Bleeding

Implantation bleeding is light bleeding or spotting caused by the implantation process- the process where a fertilised egg implants itself into the lining of the uterus. Specifically, it is the motion of the fertilised egg implanting into the uterine lining that causes the implantation bleeding- as the motion causes tiny blood vessels in the uterine wall to break, resulting in bleeding.

Implantation bleeding should be pinkish-brown or brown in colour, and should only leave a few drops on your underwear, or a small streak when you wipe. If you find that you are bleeding heavily in between periods, you should consult your health care provider.

 

The Take-Away

At 6 DPO, it is unlikely that you will be experiencing any symptoms of pregnancy.

This is because implantation, the process that triggers your pregnancy symptoms, usually occurs at around 10 DPO.

So, if you are not experiencing any pregnancy symptoms at this stage: do not worry! You may still be pregnant.

You should also try to take a pregnancy test no earlier than 12 DPO, to avoid receiving inaccurate results.

Fingers crossed!

 

More from MyBump2Baby

To read about pregnancy symptoms at each day past ovulation, click the links below:

• 1DPO Pregnancy Symptoms
• 2 DPO Pregnancy Symptoms
• 3 DPO Symptoms
• 4 DPO – Early Pregnancy Symptoms
• 5 DPO – Early Pregnancy Symptoms
• 6DPO Pregnancy Symptoms
• 7 DPO Pregnancy Symptoms
• 8 DPO Pregnancy Symptoms
• 9 DPO Pregnancy Symptoms
• 10 DPO Pregnancy Symptoms
• 11DPO Pregnancy Symptoms
• 12 dpo – Early Pregnancy Symptoms
• 13 DPO Pregnancy Symptoms
• 14 DPO Pregnancy Symptoms