5 DPO pregnancy symptoms: is it too early to test?
Unfortunately, 5 DPO is often too early to reliably test for pregnancy. While it’s understandable that you may want to take the test, it’s important to know that it may not give you an accurate result.
The majority of pregnancy tests let you know if the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone is present and detected in your urine or blood. In case of a pregnancy, hCG is produced only after implantation by the cells, which then form chorion and, later, the placenta. Following implantation, this hormone increases in the body, usually around 7 to 12 DPO. And while implantation may take place early on, 5 DPO is just a tad too early to show positive results with these types of pregnancy tests.
There is also the possibility of a false positive result. This false positive situation can arise in cases where certain medications contain the human chorionic gonadotropin hormone, when a woman is going through menopause, or when there is an issue involving the ovaries.
Many experts recommend waiting at least 11 DPO to take blood tests to detect hCG hormone levels, and 12–14 DPO for urine tests. A blood test at your doctor’s office is the most reliable method. However, at 5 DPO a pregnancy test may still show a negative result if the body has not yet built up detectable levels of hCG (around 1,500 to 2,000 mIU/mL).
While you shouldn’t let these factors discourage you, you’ll likely find that it’s best to wait to perform a test until after the first day of your missed period to avoid possible disappointment or heartache.