12 DPO Symptoms – Pregnancy Signs To Watch Out For

If you have been trying to conceive for some time now and experience even a couple of pregnancy symptoms (that are also symptoms of periods), you will want to take a pregnancy test. We understand that you must be anxious and will want to take a test as early as you can. Usually, most women don’t suspect they are pregnant until days after they’ve missed their first period, which can be approximately 15 days after ovulation. But some women may experience signs of pregnancy a little earlier, i.e., around 12 DPO. The chances of getting accurate pregnancy test results at 12 days past ovulation are high. To know more about 12 DPO, the symptoms experienced, and more, read on!

Video : 12 Days Past Ovulation (DPO) – What Early Pregnancy Symptoms to Expect?

What Is 12 DPO?

There are around 6 consecutive days, in a typical 28-day menstrual cycle, in which the chances of conceiving are the highest. The day an egg is released by one of the ovaries from a dominant follicle is the day of ovulation and, therefore, 12 days past ovulation is counted from this day. 12 days past ovulation is commonly known as 12 DPO.

One of the most common signs of ovulation is that you may experience a change in the basal body temperature. After an egg is released, the basal body temperature (BBT) may rise a little (less than a degree). During ovulation, the corpus luteum will be formed; a temporary endocrine structure that helps in the production of progesterone, and this progesterone is responsible for the increase in BBT.

Pregnancy Symptoms at 12 Days Past Ovulation

Although there are many pregnancy symptoms, only a few will show up at 12 DPO, and you may also confuse these symptoms with premenstrual symptoms. However, there are a few things you can look out for. These signs at 12 DPO will let you know if you’re pregnant:

1. Cramping

Cramping 12 DPO may feel a lot like the cramps you get a few days before or during your periods. After ovulation, usually, it may take somewhere between 7 and 12 days for an egg that is fertilized to implant itself into the inner lining of the endometrium – the uterus. Therefore, cramping is just the uterus responding to the egg implanting itself into the nutrient-rich inner lining of the uterus.

If you usually get menstrual cramps a few days before the day of your period, but the cramps started much earlier than that, then it could be a sign that you are pregnant. Cramps caused by pregnancy also tend to be a bit milder when compared to period cramps and can appear intermittently over many days.

2. Spotting

Another common early pregnancy symptom is brown spotting which is usually seen at around 12 DPO. Light vaginal bleeding, also called the implantation bleeding, is seen by a few pregnant women at approximately 7-12 DPO. Bleeding is caused when the fertilized egg attaches itself into the inner lining of the uterine wall since this can cause some of the lining (including other fluids like blood) to shed. Implantation bleeding is usually very light and would not last more than three days if the woman is pregnant. Otherwise, it could just be the normal menstruation.

3. Tender Breasts

Sore or tender breasts are another common symptom of pregnancy, but women also have sore breasts before their periods. If it is indeed a symptom of 12 DPO, then after the fertilized egg implants itself, there will be an increase in the production of human Chorionic Gonadotropin hormone (hCG). There will be more blood flow to the breasts and hence, they may become tender.

4. Frequent Urination

Pregnancy usually increases the volume of various fluids and blood in the body. When this happens, your kidneys will have to work harder than usual to process the increased amounts of fluids, and your bladder will fill up faster than usual. This is why you might find yourself going to the bathroom more frequently during the early days of pregnancy.

5. Fatigue

Fatigue is another very common symptom of early pregnancy. Fatigue is also a PMS symptom but early pregnancy fatigue usually wears off after two or three days. You may feel very exhausted as well during the early stages of pregnancy. The increase in progesterone is the reason for fatigue during early pregnancy.

6. Change in Cervical Mucus

You may notice a change in your vaginal discharge in the days leading up to your expected period date. Cervical mucus is believed to increase in the early stages of pregnancy. 

7. Increase in Basal Body Temperature

If you keep a track of your basal body temperature (BBT) throughout your cycle, you will notice that it increases after ovulation. Your BBT may stay high even after ovulation and remain constant if you are pregnant. If not, it will return back to its normal temperature right before a menstrual cycle. 

8. Morning Sickness

Most women experience this symptom one month into their pregnancy, but some may experience this sooner too. It usually depends on how sensitive your body is to hormonal change. Remember, you can feel nauseous at any time during the day. It’s only called morning sickness! 

9. Decreased Energy

This is a common symptom and can be noticed as early as one week after conception! This is due to the higher levels of progesterone circulating in the body.

10. Bloating

Pregnancy leads to higher progesterone and estrogen levels that may make you feel bloated or experience things like heartburn or constipation. These hormones are known to slow digestion, giving rise to these unpleasant symptoms.

However, it is important to note that these symptoms alone will not be enough to come to a conclusion. Most of these symptoms are similar to the ones that women experience a few days before their periods. As most 12 DPO symptoms are often confused with PMS symptoms, you may be pregnant and mistake them for PMS symptoms. It is only after you’ve missed your period, will you consider taking a test. But now that you know about 12 DPO, you can take a test early if you experience the above-mentioned symptoms.

Is it too Early to Test?

The simple answer to this is a yes and a no. The test taken at 12 DPO is not completely reliable. It isn’t the most accurate time for you to take a pregnancy test and it is advised that you wait for a few more days. Most pregnancy kits test the hCG levels in your body. At DPO, it is possible that your body has not produced enough hCG for the pregnancy test to detect. So, hold on tight and be patient!

Can You Take a Pregnancy Test?

You can always take a pregnancy test. However, it is advised that you wait for a few more days. There is a whole process of copulation, ovulation, fertilization, implantation and the production of hCG that needs to happen before you get a positive pregnancy test. It is hence advised that you be patient and let your body do it’s work! 

When Should You Take the Test?

Most experts and professionals will tell you to wait till the morning of your next expected period date to take a pregnancy test. For women with regular 28-day cycles, this means that you should take a pregnancy test at 14 DPO. 

Can Implantation Happen at 12 DPO?

Yes, implantation can occur at 12 DPO as well. Implantation can happen anywhere between 6 DPO to 12 DPO. You can also experience implantation bleeding at 12 DPO. 

How Common It Is?

Implantation at 12 DPO is towards the farther end of the window. However, implantation occurs between 6 DPO to 12 DPO and is considered normal in this window. 

What Does 12 DPO BFP Mean?

Since premenstrual symptoms are similar to early pregnancy symptoms, many women wonder if 12 days past ovulation is the right time to test using a pregnancy kit or if it is still too early.

Once the fertilized egg attaches itself into the inner lining of the uterus, the body begins producing human Chorionic Gonadotropin hormone (hCG) around 7-12 days past ovulation, which is detected by the pregnancy tests. The hormone will only continue to increase rapidly during the days that follow fertilization, so do not be surprised if your pregnancy tests show a BFP (big fat positive). A pregnancy test may show, at 12 DPO, faint positive lines that could indicate you are pregnant. However, it is recommended to take a pregnancy test the day after you’ve missed your periods. But if you can’t wait, you can always take a test early.

What Is Meant By 12 DPO BFN?

If the pregnancy test you took at 12 DPO is negative, then do not worry. Getting a BFN (big fat negative) at the 12 DPO pregnancy test is not always accurate, especially when the pregnancy test you bought and used is not sensitive enough to detect lower levels of hCG in urine or blood. Many at-home pregnancy tests available in the stores may show negative results at 12 DPO, meaning that these are most effective at providing accurate results from the date your period was supposed to begin. There are many cases where women got 12 DPO negative results and got a BFP in the pregnancy test they took a few days later!

When you want to take a pregnancy test, it is best to follow the instructions that are printed on the package of the kit or make an appointment with your healthcare provider who can conduct a blood test to check if you’re pregnant or not.

12 Days Past Ovulation and Still No Symptoms

Even if you do not experience any of the symptoms at 12 DPO, you need not worry. It could be still too early for you to experience any symptoms. The best way to know that if you are pregnant is to wait for a couple of weeks and then visit your doctor for a pregnancy test.

Many women get a BFP on their 12 DPO test but if yours showed negative, do not lose hope. 12 DPO is still a bit early for accurate results. Keep a positive approach, and you might end up getting a BFP after a few days. And when you get a BFP on your pregnancy kit, make sure to get an appointment with your healthcare provider to confirm the result.

Also Read:

Early Pregnancy Signs at 5 Days Post Ovulation 
Pregnancy Symptoms at 8 DPO
Pregnancy Symptoms at 10 DPO