7 DPO: Symptoms, Signs & What to Expect

At 7 DPO (days past ovulation), you’ve probably never been so in tune with your own body.

You might be analyzing every gurgle, ping, or cramp, wondering if it’s a sign of pregnancy or just your favorite spicy tacos making a comeback.

The truth is, you’re right in the thick of the two-week wait — that nail-biting stretch from ovulation to when you can actually trust a pregnancy test.

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. [1]

While all this might be brewing under the surface, you won’t know for sure until you test.

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 — most implantations happen at around 8 or 9 DPO, do it could be in the next couple of days!

Is 7 days after ovulation too early to test?

Yes, sorry to say, it’s not quite time yet to take that pregnancy test.

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

If the egg successfully implants in the uterine lining, your body kicks off the production of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), also known as the pregnancy hormone.

So even if your zygote’s implanted, it takes time for your body to produce enough hCG to show on a pregnancy test, but once it’s implanted, it doubles each day, so it won’t be long — about another week. [2]

If it’s negative at 7 days post ovulation, that doesn’t necessarily mean 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, about 7% of positive tests overall can show at 7 DPO (although that’s not the most accurate stat, as it’s based on user data, not scientific data). [3]

But it doesn’t happen very often (and, to be entirely honest, it’s more likely that those who have seen a positive pregnancy test at 7 DPO might have their ovulation date a little off).

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.

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?

Sometimes, but not always.

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, whether you’re pregnant or not.

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 are 7 DPO symptoms?

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