It’s still very early, but some people experience pregnancy symptoms at 9 days past ovulation (9 DPO). This differs for every person and every pregnancy. Even if you’re pregnant, you may not experience any symptoms at 9 DPO.
If you have conceived, there’s a lot happening inside your body by 9 DPO. The tiny embryo has started to develop and is quickly growing. But does that mean that you’ll get a 9 DPO BFP (big fat positive)?
At 9 DPO, you’re still nearly a week away from your first missed period. Health care providers often recommend that you wait at least until the first day of your missed period to take a pregnancy test. While many home pregnancy tests claim that they can detect pregnancy sooner than that, they’re not always accurate.
In some cases, implantation may be completed and the cells that will form the placenta could be secreting human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG, also called the “pregnancy hormone”) by 9 DPO. In these cases, an early pregnancy test could have a positive result. At 9 DPO, a BFP could also indicate an ectopic pregnancy.
At this early stage, a pregnancy test may also result in a false negative, meaning the test says you’re not pregnant when you really are. In this case, waiting until the first day of your missed period to take another pregnancy test can yield more accurate results.
That’s why, although it’s possible to get a positive pregnancy test at 9 DPO, most specialists recommend waiting a few more days to get accurate results.
Although pregnancy tests aren’t always accurate at this stage, some people experience pregnancy symptoms at 9 DPO. These symptoms are usually mild and often go unnoticed. They can also be mistaken for premenstrual symptoms since hormones fluctuate naturally even if you aren’t pregnant.
Once the fertilized egg implants into the uterine lining — which usually happens between 6 and 10 DPO — your body will start producing extra progesterone to maintain a healthy pregnancy. One of the most common side effects of this hormonal surge is fatigue.
Unexplained fatigue is one of the most common early pregnancy symptoms.
Cramps are another common early pregnancy symptom, and 9 DPO cramping is no exception. These cramps are usually very mild and caused by implantation, which is when the egg burrows itself into your uterus. Implantation can also cause spotting, commonly known as implantation bleeding.
Pregnancy can cause many gastrointestinal symptoms, even during the first days. Pregnancy hormones can slow down digestion and cause increased gas as early as 9 DPO. You may also experience early pregnancy constipation; however, constipation can also be caused by an upcoming period, which adds to the confusion!
Since your digestion may be slower, it takes longer for food to pass through the stomach and bowels. This can cause bloating — another common symptom during early pregnancy.
Even if it’s too early to get a positive pregnancy test, your body is already preparing to make room for the fetus. Along with implantation cramps, your uterus is preparing to grow many times in size. This can cause a mild backache, which is another symptom commonly associated with your period.
At 9 DPO, your hormones are already working overtime. Many people experience breast tenderness and swelling at this point. In some cases, you may notice darker and larger areolas.
Morning sickness tends to be a common and ever-present symptom during your first trimester. However, it’s also perfectly normal if you don’t experience any nausea at 9 DPO, and it doesn’t mean that you’re not expecting.
Hormonal fluctuations during your first trimester make headaches and migraines very common 9 DPO pregnancy symptoms. These are more symptoms that could be easily overlooked or confused with premenstrual syndrome.
As stated above, 9 DPO pregnancy test results aren’t always reliable.
Getting a negative result at this point doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re not pregnant. It could be that there is not enough hCG to be detected yet. It’s usually best to wait until you miss your period to take a test.
There’s a lot happening at 9 DPO, even if you haven’t discovered that you’re pregnant yet. Your body is changing to help you sustain a pregnancy for nine months. Most 9 DPO symptoms are very mild and can be easily confused with premenstrual symptoms. So, it’s a good idea to wait a few days to take a test and get a reliable BFP!
You can use Flo’s Due Date Calculator to predict the date when you’re due based on the first day of your last period.
If you have conceived through in-vitro fertilization (IVF), check out our IVF and FET Due Date Calculator.
“Pregnancy Test Information.” Cleveland Clinic, 21 June 2017, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/9703-your-guide-to-pregnancy-tests.
Mayo Clinic Staff. “1st Trimester Pregnancy: What to Expect.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 26 Feb. 2020, www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/pregnancy/art-20047208.
“How Soon Can I Do a Pregnancy Test?” NHS Choices, NHS, 24 Sept. 2018,
www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/pregnancy/how-soon-can-i-do-a-pregnancy-test/.
