2DPO: pregnancy symptoms and testing at two days post ovulation
Zara Mohammed
WriterWondering what symptoms to expect at 2dpo? 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 two days post ovulation.
If you're trying to get pregnant, the term 'days post ovulation' and abbreviations like 'dpo' will quickly become the norm. They stand for how many days it has been since you last ovulated.
If you're not sure when you ovulated, it'll help to know that ovulation happens around the middle of your cycle. The NHS says that ovulation usually occurs about two weeks before your next period. We have an ovulation calculator to help you calculate your own dates, and you can also find out more about how ovulation works.
Now you know that you're two days post ovulation (2dpo), its time to seek answers to all of your burning questions. We've sifted through research from the NHS, Healthline and other experts, and we have everything you need to know about what to expect...
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What's happening in my body at 2dpo?
You're at the very beginning of your journey. At 2dpo you only started ovulating a couple of days ago, but there's a lot happening in your body. Exactly what's going on will depend on the length of your menstrual cycle and how long ago it was since you had sex.
At 2dpo there are a couple of possible scenarios:
- Two days ago your ovaries released an egg. It has started to travel down your fallopian tube but unfortunately it didn't encounter any sperm or get fertilised (This means you're not pregnant.)
- Two days ago your ovaries released an egg, and as it entered the fallopian tube it encountered sperm and was fertilised. (This means that conception took place, but you're not pregnant – yet!)
Here's how it works:
Ovulation took place two days ago and your ovaries released an egg. The egg entered the fallopian tube and has started to travel down it towards the uterus. If the egg encountered sperm when it was released from the ovaries then the sperm had the opportunity to fertilise it. If this happened, then it's called 'fertilisation'.
Sperm can live in the body for up to five days. So if you had sex on the five days leading up to ovulation, on the day of ovulation, or on the day after ovulation, then your egg had a good chance of getting fertilised.
Keep in mind however, that your egg only had a 24 hour window to be fertilised, so if you started ovulating two days ago, that window has now passed.
Your egg is now traveling towards the uterus, and when it gets there, if it was fertilised it will try to 'implant', which means it will try to burrow into the wall of your womb. After implantation takes place, you will be officially pregnant. According to Medical News Today 'Implantation typically happens 6–12 days after fertilization.'
Next, your body will start to produce the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This is what gives a positive pregnancy test, and it also contributes to early pregnancy symptoms, like nausea, sore breasts and fatigue.
There's so much to think about, and we know it can be a very stressful time, but it's also a really exciting one. Just think – you could be creating a baby inside your body right now!
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. So you'll have to wait a little longer to find out if you're pregnant.
What symptoms might I experience at 2dpo?
Let's keep it real - at 2dpo you're not actually pregnant yet. Even if your egg was fertilised, it hasn't had enough time to reach the uterus for implantation to take place. The likelihood of you experiencing any real pregnancy symptoms at 2dpo is very low.
Some women do claim to experience symptoms early, but their symptoms may be due to something else. Pregnancy symptoms can be similar to the feelings that some women experience around the time of ovulation or leading up to their period.
The NHS says that 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?
It's unlikely that you're experiencing pregnancy symptoms at 2dpo. But hey, if you're feeling something now, we're not here to rain on your parade. In fact, here are some stories from other Netmums in our Forum talking about their own experiences in the very early pregnancy stage of 2dpo:
'Okay... I know it's either impossible or very rare, but I'm having very unusual symptoms already and I'm only 2DPO. I ovulated 2 days ago, I could tell by my CM, cramps and by the fact that my period tracking app said I was ovulating and I'm always spot on. I have been experiencing this feeling of heaviness in my breasts and upper back and just general tenderness in my boobs. The pain is in the front of the breasts and nipple and the sides... it almost extends to my arms too. They hurt so much I had to wear a sport bra for support, but it still hurts so much. I NEVER have this. I have been tracking my period religiously for the past 2 years and never once I had breast tenderness this early in my cycle. I usually have it about 3-4 days before my period is due (I'm on cycle day 16 and my average cycle is 27 days). I also had blood stained CM on 1DPO.. I'm thinking ovulation bleeding? Definitely waaay too early to be implantation. Anyone had this breast tenderness so early and ended up getting a BFP? Let me know! I might just be making it all up in my mind haha x'
'I am 2 dpo and have had slight cramps, watery discharge (which I can feel coming out and makes knickers wet, sorry tmi!) And have felt nausea. Too early for symptoms? Anyone else had similar?'
– Lau65tpe
'I'm 2dpo also, I've had stomach cramps for a few days, extreme thirst, watery discharge, nausea and slightly achey boobs! Praying for a BFP this month, OH is so excited because I keep symptom spotting and reading out the Google search results! When will you test?'
Can I take a pregnancy test at 2dpo?
You can take a pregnancy test at 2dpo but unfortunately the results would be meaningless. Your egg hasn't had time to implant into the lining of the uterus yet, assuming that it was fertilised in the first 24 hours after ovulation happened, which was two days ago.
Remember – At 2dpo you're not pregnant yet, even if your egg has been fertilised. Plus, hCG, the pregnancy hormone, isn't produced until after implantation, and it takes time for hCG levels to build up in your system before a test will even be able to detect it.
We know the two-week-wait is enough to drive anyone crazy, but it's best to wait until you're most likely to get that BFP (big fat positive). The NHS recommends taking a pregnancy test from the day your period is due, which is typically about 14dpo if your average cycle is 28 days.
Pregnancy tests these days are getting more and more advanced though, and some extra-sensitive ones can detect hCG much earlier, from as early as 9dpo. 2dpo however, is still too early to give anything but negative results, so we recommend saving your money for when the results may give you some positive news to celebrate!
Learn more about when to take a pregnancy test.
How can I get through the TWW?
Being at the beginning of the two-week-wait with so much hope, anxiety and expectation, can make it feel like a lifetime away before you can take that pregnancy test. How on earth are you going to get anything done? Life has to go on though, and you just have to find ways to get through this phase of uncertainty.
We'd love to tell you it's easier than it looks, but from what we've been seeing in the Netmums Forum, it only gets tougher. One thing remains unanimous though, you must be kind to yourself. Putting unnecessary pressure on yourself to look for symptoms that aren't likely to be there at this early stage will only make you more stressed, which isn't good for your body, or your mind.
The trick is to find ways to distract yourself, so that the two weeks slip by without you noticing as much. Getting into a good book or box set, or even downloading a new game onto your phone, can help to stop you from obsessing, by filling in the times when you have nothing better to do.
Don't feel bad if you do find yourself obsessing a little bit though. It's perfectly normal, and even healthy, to get a bit swept up in the anticipation, as long as you manage it in a healthy way.
Resist trying pregnancy tests at this stage. They aren't going to tell you anything meaningful, so save them for when you know the results are more likely to be true.
Why not chat about your symptoms and find buddies to support you through the TWW by joining a Trying To Conceive Club in the Netmums Forum?
And don't forget to check out our top tips for surviving the TWW.
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
