According to the National Institutes of Health, signs and symptoms of pregnancy at 17 DPO include:
Tender and sensitive breasts
Your breasts will probably become a bit more tender in the early months of pregnancy. As early as two weeks after conception, your hormones undergo a lot of changes, increasing blood flow and making your breasts feel sensitive, tender, and tingly.
Sensitive nipples
During early pregnancy, your nipples may also become sore. Sensitive nipples are a sign that your body is preparing for breastfeeding. The area around the nipples also starts to darken.
Heavy or full breasts
Some people notice that their breasts feel fuller and heavier in the early months of pregnancy. The two hormones estrogen and progesterone increase the number and size of ducts and milk glands in the breasts. This makes them retain water, swell, and feel heavy and full.
Increased smell sensitivity
Many people experience a change in their sense of smell during the early months of pregnancy. During the first trimester, the smells of some foods, drinks, and toiletries (like perfumes and lotions) become less (or more) appealing. This shift is due to hormonal changes, most notably, the hormones estrogen and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).
Although some people experience multiple symptoms at 17 DPO, it is quite common to get multiple big fat negatives (BFNs) before the big fat positive (BFP) result. Some people start experiencing pregnancy symptoms well before they get a BFP. Remember that everyone’s cycle is different. Even if you get a BFN after 17 DPO, you might still be pregnant. Here are some of the early pregnancy symptoms you might experience at 17 DPO.
Headaches
Some people experience throbbing and pulsating headaches in their early months of pregnancy, which may be related to changes in hormone levels.
Mood swings
Stress and mood swings are common symptoms experienced by many people in the early stages of pregnancy, even if they’re still seeing BFNs on pregnancy tests at 17 DPO. Many people experience heightened emotions or crying spells. The tremendous changes in hormone levels are the most likely reason for these changes in mood.
Cramps
People tend to experience a lot of cramping in the early stages of pregnancy. These cramps happen when the fertilized egg is implanting in the uterus. Most people describe implantation pain as dull, intermittent cramping in their lower back or lower stomach.
Bleeding
Even if you’re pregnant, you might notice some light bleeding or spotting during the first few days of your expected period. This can also happen due to implantation, when the egg attaches to the uterine wall.
Not feeling pregnant
Everyone has a different experience with the frequency and severity of their symptoms. Most pregnancy symptoms start around the fourth week of pregnancy. More obvious physical changes, such as weight gain, acne, and breast changes, tend to occur between weeks 9 and 11. By the second trimester, many of the more intense pregnancy symptoms start to go away, but others will stick around until the moment of delivery. On the other hand, some people don’t feel any symptoms in their early days of pregnancy and never suspect that they’re pregnant.
17 DPO hCG levels: what will your pregnancy test show?
Human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG, is the hormone released by the placenta when you’re pregnant. It is usually detectable in your blood within a few days after implantation. If hCG is present in the blood, then the pregnancy test will be positive. You can use our online hCG calculator to track your hCG levels at home.
HCG levels are reported in milli-international units (mIU) of hCG hormone per milliliter (ml) of blood, or mIU/ml.
Pregnancy tests can be done using blood or urine.
Urine tests are qualitative, meaning they measure whether or not hCG is present, and report a positive or negative result. Urine pregnancy tests typically show an accurate result starting around 14–15 days after ovulation.
Blood tests are more accurate because they are quantitative, meaning they measure how much hCG is present.
If you’re pregnant at 17 DPO, the average hCG level is expected to be 132 mIU/ml, with a typical range of 17–429 mIU/ml. Urine pregnancy tests are usually positive when the hCG level is more than 20 mIU/ml, so by 17 days past ovulation, the test is very likely to be accurate. Nevertheless, if you’re still seeing a big fat negative at 17 DPO, it’s a good idea to repeat the test after a couple days.
Normal hCG values in pregnancy
- Blood hCG less than 5 mIU/ml indicates a negative result. You’re not pregnant.
- Blood hCG between 5 and 25 mIU/ml is an equivocal result. Repeat the test in a few days.
- Blood hCG higher than 25 mIU/ml indicates a positive result. You are pregnant!
How many days past ovulation is enough to know you’re pregnant?
A pregnancy test can be positive before you miss your period, but some people start experiencing symptoms even earlier. The first sign of pregnancy is often a missed period, which happens around 15 DPO. If you decide to take a pregnancy test as early as 7 DPO and you get a negative result, take it again in a few days.
If you’re wondering how many days past ovulation is enough to know you’re pregnant, the short answer is 7–10.
If you’re trying to get pregnant, 17 DPO is a significant milestone. However, a late period does not necessarily always mean you’re pregnant. There’s also always the chance of a false negative if you take the test too early. Some people start experiencing symptoms of pregnancy as soon as 8 DPO, after the fertilized egg has implanted in the lining of the uterus.
Monitoring your fertile window is an important part of your sex life, especially if you’re trying to get pregnant. Once you ovulate, there is a small window of opportunity — up to 24 hours — before your egg degenerates. Fertilization can take place in this window. If the egg is fertilized and implantation has taken place, you can expect a pregnancy test at 17 DPO to give a positive result.