6 DPO: Symptoms, Signs & What to Expect

Day 6 of your two-week wait.

Not quite halfway, but it feels like you’ve already been waiting forever, right?

You might be scanning your body for every pinch and twinge, wondering if something magical is going on.

So, let’s cut to the chase: what can you expect at 6 DPO (days post ovulation) — and is it too soon to know if it’s the month?

While no two experiences are exactly alike, here’s some of what you might expect.

In this article: 📝

What’s happening 6 days DPO?

First off, how do you know you’re at 6 DPO?

It’s all about tracking your ovulation.

You might be using a fancy fertility app, checking your basal body temperature (BBT) each morning, or using on ovulation predictor kits (OPKs) to catch the surge of luteinizing hormone (LH). [1,2]

However you’re doing it, once you nail down your ovulation day, the day after is 1 DPO — so fast-forward five more days, and here we are at 6 DPO.

If you had sex during your fertile window, there’s a chance a little egg got fertilized.

After ovulation, that fertilized egg (now a tiny cluster of cells called a zygote) travels down your fallopian tube into your uterus. [3]

The next big milestone? Implantation, when it burrows into the uterine lining and signals your body to start making human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) — the pregnancy hormone tests pick up. [4]

Is 6 DPO too early for implantation?

Not necessarily, but it’s on the early side.

Implantation usually occurs somewhere between 6 and 12 DPO, but the most common date is around 8-9 DPO, so chances are, you’ve got a couple more days until implantation. [5]

If one of your eggs is fertilized, the newly formed zygote will make its way to the lining of the uterus with ambitions to implant itself there — you go, little zygote!

This is a crucial event, with many arguing that it is actually when pregnancy starts. [6]

Not sure whether you’re experiencing 6 DPO implantation symptoms?

Well, there can be some signs that implantation is taking place, but annoyingly enough, they can also be pretty similar to normal post-ovulation symptoms in your usual cycle.

Why am I cramping 6 days after ovulation?

A quick pinch or pulling sensation around 6 DPO might mean your fertilized egg is getting cozy in your uterine lining.

Then again, you might just be feeling regular old period cramps or random stomach weirdness.

If you notice light cramps that come and go, it could be a sign of implantation.

The only way to tell is whether your pregnancy test in about a week’s time turns out positive or not.

Is 6 DPO too early to test?

OK, we know you’re itching to do a 6 DPO pregnancy test, but try to hold off for now.

Why? Because your body might just be starting to produce hCG (if implantation even happened).

You generally need a few more days for your hCG levels to climb high enough to pop that Big Fat Positive (BFP) on a home test.

So it’s more likely that you’ll see a 6 DPO negative pregnancy test, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re not pregnant — it could be a false negative.

If you do decide to test this early, you might just want to take another one at around 15 DPO or your next expected period — that’s the best time to take a pregnancy test for the most accurate result, when your hCG levels have had a chance to increase.

Can you test positive 6 days after conception?

Technically, yes — but it’s super rare.

Every once in a while, a lucky person gets an early BFP at 6 DPO, but most of the time, a negative result now doesn’t mean you’re out.

Give it a few days and try again if Aunt Flo still hasn’t shown.

Can you have symptoms 6 DPO?

Yes, there are some 6 DPO pregnancy symptoms that many of our Peanut community have shared.

So here’s the crazy thing: while you can’t necessarily get an accurate test at this point, your body might give you some telltale signs.

You also may not have symptoms for a few more weeks to come ‒ every pregnancy journey is unique.

There are some 6 DPO symptoms leading to BFP, but they’re not written in stone.

And to muddy the waters even more, some 6 DPO pregnancy symptoms can also be very easily confused with your standard PMS or post-ovulation symptoms.

That’s why the best way to tell if you’re pregnant is to wait until 15 DPO to take your pregnancy test for the most accurate result.

What should I be feeling at 6 DPO?

Here’s a handful of 6 DPO symptoms our Peanut community has shared — quick disclaimer, if you’re experiencing any of these, that doesn’t necessarily mean you definitely are pregnant, but there is a chance that they could be some very early signs there’s a baby on the way.

Can you feel pregnant at 6 DPO?

Yes and no. At 6 days post ovulation, even if you are pregnant, it’s very early days. Literally.

And if you’re trying to conceive, the mind can be a powerful thing — every little twinge, every headache, every trip to the bathroom could seem like a 6 DPO pregnancy symptom.

But at this stage, it’s usually too early to tell.

You’re nearly halfway through your two-week wait — you can do it!

And if you’re after some advice on how to get through, here are some tried-and-true tips from our Peanut community.

Need someone to talk to? You can find your community on Peanut ‒ there are thousands of women at 6 DPO going through the same wait, so you know you’re not alone.

Wishing you all the best. 💗

➡️ Read next 7 DPO: Symptoms, Signs & What to Expect