1DPO: pregnancy symptoms and testing at one day post ovulation
Zara Mohammed
WriterWondering what symptoms to expect at 1dpo? Want to know if it's too early to take a pregnancy test? Here's everything you need to know about what to expect at one day post ovulation.
When you're trying for a baby you'll begin to recognise pregnancy terms, like 'days post ovulation' or 'dpo', which refer to how many days have passed since you last ovulated.
To calculate your dates, the first thing to work out is when you ovulated. Ovulation takes place in the middle of your cycle, and the NHS says that it usually occurs about two weeks before your next period. You can read more about how ovulation works, or use our ovulation calculator to check your own dates.
If you already know that you're one day post ovulation (1dpo), you probably have a million questions. We've checked out research from the NHS, Healthline and other experts, so that we can help you know what to expect...
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What's happening in my body at 1dpo?
It's very early days if you are only one day post ovulation. 1dpo means that you have only just started ovulating – like yesterday! There's still plenty going on in your body to talk about though.
Keep in mind that the following depend on how long your menstrual cycle is, and when the last time you had sex was.
At 1dpo, there are two possibilities:
- An egg has been released from your ovaries and has entered the fallopian tube – but it hasn't yet been fertilised by sperm (This means you're not yet pregnant, but there's still time for your egg to be fertilised!)
- An egg has been released from your ovaries, and was fertilised in the fallopian tube by sperm – but it hasn't yet made its way all the way down your fallopian tube to implant in your uterus wall (This means that you could get pregnant if the fertilised egg implants, but only time will tell.)
Here's how it works:
During ovulation your ovaries release an egg. The egg travels down the fallopian tube towards the uterus. If it gets fertilised by sperm along the way (conception), then it will try to burrow into the uterus wall when it gets there (implantation). If it doesn't get fertilised, the egg will naturally leave your body when you get your next period.
Your egg only has a 24 hour window to get fertilised, which means today is probably the last chance you'll have to conceive this month. It's a stressful but exciting time. Just think – what's happening in your body right now could lead to creating your baby!
The good news is that sperm can live in the body for up to five days – This means that if you had sex up to five days before ovulation, on the day of ovulation, or today, your egg could become fertilised.
According to Medical News Today 'When a fertilized egg reaches the uterus, it implants itself into the wall of the uterus. This is called implantation and marks the start of pregnancy. Implantation typically happens 6–12 days after fertilization.' This means that even if your egg has been fertilised it's only when the egg has actually implanted that you're considered to be pregnant.
After implantation takes place your body starts to produce the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This is what gives a positive pregnancy test. It also contributes to early pregnancy symptoms, like nausea, sore breasts and fatigue.
It can take time for hCG to build up in your body, though. According to Healthline, it takes about 7-12 days after implantation for hCG levels to be detectable. So that's anything from 13dpo onwards; or around the time that your period would be due.
What symptoms might I experience at 1dpo?
Even if your egg's been fertilised and is travelling down the fallopian tube towards the womb ready for implantation, you're unlikely to be experiencing any pregnancy symptoms at 1dpo. This is because technically you aren't pregnant yet.
Remember, you're only considered to be pregnant once the egg has implanted itself into the lining of your uterus wall. This is when your body starts producing hCG, which contributes towards pregnancy symptoms, but not straight away, as it takes some time for levels of the hormone to build up.
Although it's almost impossible for you to be experiencing any real pregnancy symptoms yet, some women do claim to experience very early symptoms from as soon as 1dpo; though it's likely these symptoms are actually due to something else. It's easy to overanalyse every little twinge when you're TTC.
According to the NHS, the main early symptoms of pregnancy to watch out for are:
- feeling or being sick
- feeling more tired than usual
- sore or tender breasts
- peeing more often
- strange tastes, smells or cravings
Learn more about the early signs of pregnancy.
What do other Netmums experience?
Everybody has their own story to tell, so we thought you'd like to read some quotes from the Netmums Forum, sharing real-life experiences at 1dpo:
'This is what I logged 1dpo! Best wishes for you and the 2ww!! "Weird cramping in the morning, felt like it was moving a little. Not really achy like period more sharp in the womb. Breast pain to sides. 8.30 cervix low creamy white ewcm. Closed entrance. Cramps :/ very mild breast ache at sides. Dreamed about babies. Had palpitations two weeks whenever I eat fatty foods. Nausea on and off for a few days. Checked cervix at 7pm it was medium low with white ewcm and stretchy. Hole felt closed. Breasts painful on sides towards armpits, not nipples or on top. Signs are that I've already ovulated so long as it isn't a false rise. Cervix and cm have been different than last month, it was higher and then dropped and cm has been whiter"'
'I had no symptoms at ovulation but I woke up in the middle of the night on what must have been the night spermy reached eggy with an overwhelming urge to do a test. Obviously it wouldn't have been positive but I got my positive when period would have been due.'
'OK guys according to my period tracker app I ovulated yesterday, had the SCM sorry if TMI and for the first time in my entire life ( having periods since 11) I had ovulation pain it was an ache on my left side and felt like a continuous ache but sometimes got sharper had to sleep with a pillow under my bum to be comfortable. Now I'm feeling movement in the bottom of my tummy (feels fizzy?) I've never been pregnant so am hoping this is what it feels like, can anybody shed some light on of this has happened to them or if this is pregnancy or am I going mad , what erre your symptoms, did you know from day one or am I just hoping gonna test 30th and if it's BFN gonna try again on 5th October. Help guys !!! Xxx'
'Afternoon ladies. So yesterday I ovulated and had some quite painful cramps... today I've woke up and my lower stomach is still quite tender to touch. Anyone else experienced this?'
– emm81qmk
'Hi all! I say 'symptoms' because I'm not entirely sure if they are or if it's all in my head! Here's my story: Implant out Oct '13, Mc Dec '13, Bfn Jan '14 and skipped Feb '14 due to a family bereavement. This month I dtd on sat 8th and sun 9th March, positive opk this Thurs just been (13th March) so today I should be 1dpo, right? So this morning I had a big bowl of crunchy nut cornflakes for breakfast at 8am and then at 10am I felt really sick because I was so hungry so I had another breakfast. This doesn't normally happen! Also I've been really thirsty today so have been drinking water all morning (also unusual for me). What do you guys think? Is it all in my head? This tww is going to drive me crazy!!!'
– Sio10iwl
Can I take a pregnancy test at 1dpo?
We know you're eager, but there's no point in taking a pregnancy test this early. At 1dpo, even if your egg has been fertilised, it hasn't had time to travel down the fallopian tube and implant into the wall of your womb. This means that at 1dpo you are definitely not pregnant – yet.
The NHS recommends taking a pregnancy test from the day your period is due, which is typically about 14dpo for someone who has an average 28-day cycle. So unfortunately, you'll have some time yet before you can know for sure.
There are more sensitive tests that may be able to give you a result even before your period is due (from as early as 9dpo), but not one that will tell you you're pregnant before the fertilised egg has implanted.
Your body hasn't started to produce any pregnancy hormone yet, which is how tests are able to tell you if you're pregnant or not, so buying one at this stage would be a waste of time and money. Save it for when you are more likely to get your BFP.
Learn more about when to take a pregnancy test.
How can I get through the TWW?
When you're trying to get pregnant the two-week-wait can be torture, and you're at the very beginning of it, so you have the longest to wait. We feel your pain. Anyone will tell you though, that the only way to get through the TWW is to be kind to yourself and try to keep stress to a minimum.
Look for ways to distract yourself, like getting into a good book, a series on Netflix, or downloading some fun games onto your phone.
Everybody obsesses on the days leading up to taking a pregnancy test, so don't worry if you find that you're exactly the same. Even on day one, it's perfectly normal to obsess. Just know that you're not alone.
If all you want to think about is pregnancy though, you can chat about your symptoms, and find buddies to support you through the TWW by joining a Trying To Conceive Club in the Netmums Forum
We recommend holding off on using pregnancy tests too early. A BFN when you're only 1dpo doesn't really mean anything. Have a little patience if you can and wait until a test is more likely to give you true results.
If you're struggling, our top tips for surviving the TWW might help.
More on DPO
If you want to keep an eye on your potential pregnancy symptoms and what's going in your body on each day post ovulation, check out our articles from day 1 to 19:
1DPO • 2DPO.• 3DPO • 4DPO • 5DPO • 6DPO • 7DPO • 8DPO • 9DPO • 10DPO • 11DPO • 12DPO • 13DPO • 14DPO • 15DPO • 16DPO • 17DPO • 18DPO • 19DPO
