7 DPO: Symptoms, Signs & What to Expect

At 7 DPO, you’ve reached the halfway mark of the TWW. Congrats! So what happens next? When can you test? Are there symptoms?
If you’re 7 DPO and TTC, you may have just gone through the longest week of your life.

Your period isn’t due for another week.

You’re not sure if a pregnancy test is worth taking.

And you’re wondering if the symptoms you are feeling are because of pregnancy or last night’s dinner.

No nail-biting sports game, no series cliffhanger, no intense game of chess could induce this amount of dramatic tension.

So, knowing that there’s no one way to travel the TTC road, here’s the lowdown on what you might expect at this point, as medically-checked by embryologist and fertility expert, Navya Muralidhar.

In this article 📝

What is 7 DPO?

First off, a quick recap of the story so far.

7 DPO is 7 days post-ovulation or 7 days past ovulation, if you prefer.

It’s also known as 7 days after ovulation.

If you’re trying to conceive, the best time to have sex is during your fertile window ‒ when you’re ovulating ‒ which is usually about the middle of your menstrual cycle.

Then, typically about two weeks later is around the time that your period is due (which is why it’s known as the two-week wait, TWW, or 2WW).

It’s after the two-week wait that the timing is most accurate for a pregnancy test, as your hCG levels (the pregnancy hormone) are likely high enough to be detected on a pregnancy test.

What can I expect at 7 DPO?

So at 7 DPO, what’s happening inside?

Well, about two weeks after your last period, one of your ovaries releases at least one egg into your fallopian tube.

Great news if you want to become pregnant, because if that egg is fertilized by a visiting sperm, well, let’s just say: 🎉

From there, the fertilized egg ‒ now bearing the proud name of zygote ‒ heads off to implant in the lining of your uterus.

While this all seems simple enough, as many as half of all zygotes don’t get to the implantation phase.

(There’s no doubting it: the TTC process can be stressful, heartbreaking, and taxing on relationships. Be gentle with yourself.)

Can implantation happen 7 days after ovulation?

Implantation happens somewhere between in the 6 DPO and 12 DPO window, so yes, it is possible to get a 7 days post-ovulation implantation.

It is on the early end of the spectrum though.

So without a missed period to give you clues, how are you supposed to get the intel on what’s going on inside you?

Would a test help?

Is 7 days after ovulation too early to test?

Ah, the infamous peeing on the stick routine.

So, is it time for a 7 DPO pregnancy test? Well, no, it’s not quite time just yet.

Most pregnancy tests work by testing for the presence of a hormone called hCG that your body makes when you are pregnant.

Ultimately, a 7 DPO pregnancy test may not be totally accurate.

So is 7 DPO too early to test? Generally, yes, but a 7 DPO positive pregnancy test can happen, although it’s pretty rare.

If it’s negative at 7 days post ovulation, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re not pregnant.

It might just be a little too early to show.

Can you get a positive pregnancy test 7 DPO?

Yes, a 7 dpo positive pregnancy test can happen.

But it doesn’t happen very often.

That’s because your hCG levels have probably not risen to the levels where they might be detected in your pee.

Some pregnancy tests are more sensitive than others ‒ but if you want to know if it’s a surefire thing, it’s best to wait one more week.

Sigh. Another week?

Yep ‒ you’re more likely to see a 7 DPO negative pregnancy test at this stage ‒ even if you are pregnant.

So if you simply cannot wait, you test, and you see a 7 DPO BFN, it might not actually be negative.

It might just be a bit too early to tell.

Can you feel pregnancy symptoms 7 DPO?

So while it may be hard to get external signs, are there internal ones that you should be on the lookout for?

Every rumble, ache, and sniff of food may feel like a sign.

There are some 7 DPO symptoms ending in a BFP, but it’s not a guaranteed way of telling whether you’re pregnant or not.

That’s because 7 DPO pregnancy symptoms can be pretty similar to your usual menstrual cycle symptoms.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that 7 days post-ovulation is still very early days.

So you may be experiencing some symptoms, but you also may be experiencing nothing at all.

At this stage, there are no “definites” as to whether you’re pregnant or not.

And it’s really hard to tell whether what you’re experiencing are 7 DPO pregnancy symptoms or PMS.

What does 7 DPO feel like?

But some 7 DPO symptoms are a bit more common than others, according to our mamas of Peanut.

Implantation, hormonal changes, and increased blood flow all contribute to symptoms you might feel right now.

And then, increased progesterone can do a number on many parts of your body.

So there’s a pretty wide range of 7 DPO symptoms to be on the lookout for.

Here are some of the more common 7 DPO symptoms leading to a BFP:

7 DPO cramping

You may experience mild cramping (think period pain lite) when implantation takes place.

7 DPO spotting

Implantation may be the cause with spotting at 7 DPO, too.

Implantation bleeding is usually brownish or pinkish in color ‒ more like 7 DPO spotting than bleeding.

If you are experiencing heavy bleeding that you are not used to, it’s worth checking in with your doctor, just in case.

Super-sensitive breasts

Increased blood flow and hormonal changes might be making your breasts feel different ‒ painful, sensitive, tender, swollen.

Emotional upheaval

Moods feel like they are swinging quite dramatically right now?

That’s a possible pregnancy sign.

7 DPO headaches

Yup, even early in pregnancy, headaches can strike.

They can range from tension headaches to sinus headaches and even more intense migraines.

If you’re getting 7 DPO headaches, try to take it easy, mama.

7 DPO nausea

Pregnancy nausea can also happen from the first couple of weeks of pregnancy.

While for most, it tends to go away at about the 12-week mark, it may also stick around.

But there could be some good news if you’re getting 7 DPO nausea ‒ this is usually because of rising hCG levels, so there is a chance that you may be able to get a 7 DPO BFP if you’re feeling nauseated.

Heightened sense of smell

If scents that you used to love now make your stomach turn, that could be a 7 DPO pregnancy symptom.

It’s called hyperosmia and it can be a pretty common early pregnancy symptom.

One of the more common smells that our moms-to-be on Peanut find strangely unpleasant is coffee ‒ which could be baby’s way of telling you to ease up on the caffeine!

Gassiness

Even from the first few days of pregnancy, you might be feeling… gassier than usual.

Whether you’re burping or passing gas more, that could be another way baby’s letting you know they’re there!

7 DPO constipation

While you may be feeling gassy, you might also be feeling a bit clogged up.

Changing hormone levels can cause bloating, which can lead to constipation.

Try some prune juice and exercise to get things moving again.

What causes cramping 7 days after ovulation?

While it can be quite early, there’s a chance that your 7 DPO cramping could actually be implantation cramps.

You could feel them in your lower back or around your pelvis, depending on whereabouts the fertilized egg is implanting.

So if you’re feeling some slightly milder period cramps, that could be 7 DPO cramping.

Can you feel pregnant 7 days post-ovulation?

Sometimes, but not always.

There’s not an exact science to many early pregnancy symptoms, and it doesn’t help that the symptoms we do know of pretty much mimic PMS symptoms.

So if you’re worried that you’re 7 DPO with no symptoms, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re not pregnant.

And if you are feeling 7 DPO symptoms, that’s also not a surefire way of telling that you are pregnant.

The best way is to wait another 7 days and take a test then.

One more week left of the TWW.

Almost there.

And if you want to share your TTC journey with other women in the same boat, you’re welcome to chat about your 7 DPO symptoms or ask others how they felt at 7 days post-ovulation on Peanut.

➡️ Read next: 8 DPO: Symptoms, Signs & What to Expect