What to Expect at 14 DPO

DPO is an abbreviation that was coined by the trying to conceive (TTC) community. It simply means “days past ovulation.”

Being 14 DPO means that you ovulated 14 days ago and are nearing the start of your period. It also means you’re in the luteal phase of your menstrual cycle, which is when the egg released during ovulation travels down the fallopian tube.

If that egg was fertilized and embedded into your uterine lining at this point in your cycle, you may see a positive sign on your pregnancy test this month.

You may or may not notice signs of pregnancy before your missed period. Any symptoms you do experience are the result of hormonal changes as your body prepares for the task of growing your baby.

These physical changes may vary from person to person and even from pregnancy to pregnancy.

Missed period

At 14 DPO, you may still be a day or two away from your expected period.

Even if you have a long or irregular cycle, it’s pretty standard for the time between ovulation and your period to be 14 days. You may have a longer follicular phase, or time span between your period and ovulation.

When you aren’t pregnant, progesterone levels drop and your period starts. When you are pregnant, progesterone stays high to support your pregnancy and thus prevents the onset of your period.

There are many other reasons your period may be late, though. So, if you’re in this boat, consider taking a pregnancy test and contacting your doctor with any concerns.

Breast tenderness or swelling

You may notice soreness in your breasts before your period each month. Breast tenderness may also be a sign of pregnancy.

Again, you can thank your increasing levels of hormones for this development, which can include swelling of the breasts and even the darkening of the areolas, as the breasts gear up to supply milk after delivery.

Increased urination

You may find yourself making extra trips to the bathroom during the day (and night!). With all the hormones and fluids flowing through your body, your kidneys are in overdrive flushing it all out of your system.

This is a good time to mention that you need to increase your hydration during pregnancy, so aim to get between 8 and 12 eight-ounce glasses of water each day.

Fatigue

Growing a baby is hard work for your body. As a result, you may feel groggy and downright exhausted. Some may even say they’re the most tired they’ve ever felt. The good news is that you should be able to shake some of the fatigue and feel more energy by your second trimester.

Morning sickness

Feeling queasy? Unfortunately, that’s expected in early pregnancy. Some 70 to 80 percent of people will experience at least some nausea, vomiting, and other digestive symptoms during pregnancy.

A mix of your increasing hormones and variable blood sugar may be to blame, so try eating small, frequent meals to help.

A textbook luteal phase length is 14 days, or 2 weeks, in total. This is where the “two-week wait” terminology comes from.

Your two-week wait may be slightly shorter or longer depending on your typical luteal phase length. Your luteal phase may be anywhere from 11 to 17 days and still be considered normal.

It’s possible to get a positive on a pregnancy test at 14 DPO. It all boils down to when the fertilized egg implants into the endometrium and starts secreting human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).

Implantation generally occurs sometime between 6 and 12 days after ovulation — 9 days is the average. It takes hCG time after implantation to build in the body and reach the urine.

Many tests on the market in the United States can detect hCG levels 25 milli-international units per milliliter (mIU/mL) or higher.

Researchers say this sensitivity can show a positive result up to 4 days before a missed period. And more sensitive tests may detect hCG levels as low as 10 mIU/mL, giving a positive result even sooner. In both cases, this means you very well could see a positive result at 14 DPO.

But 14 DPO could also be too early, and therefore the pregnancy test result could be inaccurate.

Implantation bleeding is light bleeding or spotting that generally occurs sometime between 10 and 14 DPO. The bleeding happens after the fertilized egg attaches itself to the uterine lining and is generally light and short-lived.

Not everyone will experience implantation bleeding, but those who do may have a range of colors from red to brown to orange or pink blood.

Now for the confusing part: You may also experience spotting before your usual period when not pregnant. Bleeding with menstruation can be heavy, medium, or light. It generally lasts with a full flow anywhere from 4 to 8 days in total.

So, it can be hard to tell the difference between early period bleeding and implantation bleeding. You know your body and may just know when something’s different about the blood, or you may need to wait a day or two. If the spotting goes away, you may well be pregnant. If it turns into full-flow bleeding, it’s probably your period.

If you have concerns about bleeding — whether or not you believe you’re pregnant — contact your doctor for guidance.

A negative pregnancy test at 14 DPO isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker. If your period is late, try testing again in a couple of days.

Your result may depend on a number of factors, including the sensitivity of your test, when implantation happened, and even what time of day when you took the test. For example, your urine may be more concentrated with hormones in the morning than in the middle of the day.

It can be discouraging to get a big fat negative (BFN), especially if it’s not your first month trying.

Consider making an appointment with your doctor for preconception counseling if you’re trying to conceive. Or, if you’ve been trying longer than 12 months (under age 35) or 6 months (age 35 and up). speak with your doctor to discuss your fertility and options.

If you get a positive during this cycle of trying to conceive, congrats! Consider calling your healthcare professional for a blood test and ultrasound to confirm your pregnancy.

While home tests are quite accurate, a blood test can measure the amount of hormones in your system and monitor as they rise. Even if you don’t choose to confirm this way, it’s a good idea to call your doctor and make your first prenatal appointment.

Of course, if you weren’t trying to conceive or planning a pregnancy, your healthcare professional can help you consider your options and refer you to counseling or other services for support.

At 14 DPO, you’re definitely nearing home plate on another month of TTC. Monitor how you feel and take a home pregnancy test if you suspect you might be pregnant.

If you can wait, though, it may be better to take a pregnancy test 1 week after your missed period for the most accurate results. Best of luck and baby dust to you!