8 DPO Symptoms: What to Expect and When to Test (2024)

A missed period is one of the most common early signs that you may be pregnant, but what if your body is trying to let you know about a potential pregnancy sooner – before missing your period?

Implantation of a fertilized egg can happen as early as eight days past ovulation (8 DPO), and it is possible for your body to display the very early symptoms of pregnancy during this time.

Here’s a look at what’s happening in your body at 8 DPO, common 8 DPO symptoms you might experience, and when you can expect to ‘officially’ know if you are pregnant or not.

What is happening to your body at 8 DPO?

Image: Human Fertilization. Author: Ttrue12

Once your egg has been fertilized, it then makes the journey down the fallopian tube to your uterus. This is where implantation must occur in order to begin your pregnancy.

Once the egg is implanted, the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is then produced and possibly detectable in pregnancy tests.

This entire process – from fertilization to implantation – can take an estimated 6-12 days; making eight days past ovulation (8 DPO) such an important (and exciting) time for many women.

8 DPO Pregnancy Symptoms

While not everyone will experience clear and obvious signs of early pregnancy at the 8-day milestone, many women do. Here are a few of the most common early pregnancy symptoms women may experience at 8 days past ovulation (8 DPO).

Cramps

One common early symptom of pregnancy that you might experience at eight days past ovulation (8 DPO) is light cramping. This is caused by your fertilized egg “settling” itself into your uterine lining or “endometrium”, causing the uterus to contract, resulting in some pain.

These 8 DPO cramps are totally normal and can feel very similar to cramps associated with premenstrual time and being on your period. If cramping becomes intense and unbearable, consider visiting your doctor to determine if something more serious is going on.

Implantation Bleeding

Alongside cramping, implantation bleeding is another common symptom associated with the very early stages of pregnancy.

Even though it might look or feel like a “light” period, implantation bleeding has nothing to do with the menstrual cycle and is instead caused by the fertilized egg embedding itself in the uterine lining. This type of vaginal bleeding is most likely to be either pink or brown in color.

If you are experiencing some bleeding but it is heavier than your normal period, you might want to reach out to your doctor as this could be a sign of something serious. This is especially true if the heavy bleeding is accompanied by other concerning symptoms such as a fever, chills, and extreme pain.

Headaches

Headaches are another common symptom during the very early stages of pregnancy. While it is not known for certain the cause of these headaches, many medical professionals often attribute them to simple changes in hormones and blood levels.

To prevent and manage any pregnancy-related headaches, you can try the following tips:

• Drink plenty of water (for women, it is recommended to drink about 2.7 liters of fluids each day).
• Get some fresh air by going for a walk outside.
• Keep your stress levels to a minimum by getting plenty of sleep, simplifying your schedule, and setting aside time each day for meditation/reflection.
• Make an effort to avoid any of your personal headache “triggers” such as bright lights, loud noises, or certain foods.

If you find yourself needing to take a pain reliever, try to stick with acetaminophen as this is the safest option for pregnant women.

Fatigue

Fatigue, exhaustion, and increased tiredness is another common symptom that you might experience in the time surrounding 8 DPO.

Remember, your body is hard at work preparing the perfect place for your baby to grow. And even though you may not be able to directly “feel” what is going on, this process can still take a toll on your energy levels.

The best thing you can do for yourself is to simply listen to your body. If you start feeling extra tired and worn out after a normal day, take it as a sign that you should go easier the next day. Try to go to bed earlier, sleep in when you can, and get plenty of downtime while your body is working hard.

Tender Breasts

Tender breasts, though similar to a PMS and period-related symptom, can also be an early sign of pregnancy. This is because after implantation, your hormone levels increase which can make your breasts feel extra sore, sensitive, and swollen.

In addition to increased breast tenderness, you may also notice small bumps beginning to appear around your nipple. Known as “Montgomery’s tubercles”, these bumps are simply oil glands that help to prepare and protect the nipple for breastfeeding.

Unusual Cravings

Another common symptom that many women experience at eight days past ovulation (8 DPO) is unusual cravings. Like many of the other symptoms commonly found in early pregnancy, these strange cravings are most likely caused by hormonal fluctuations. This includes the rise of the hormones chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), progesterone, estrogen, and prolactin.

While indulging in some pickles or a scoop of rocky road ice cream is perfectly fine, try to resist cravings for foods that are not advised for pregnancy and pre-pregnancy. This includes processed meat, certain fish, soft drinks, artificial sweeteners, caffeinated beverages, and alcohol.

8 DPO Symptoms vs Luteal Phase Symptoms

Unfortunately, some of the signs of early pregnancy are very similar to the symptoms that occur in the days leading up to your period. This may cause some individuals to either not realize they are pregnant or mistake a pregnancy for their premenstrual time. The below table outlines some of the most common symptoms and what they may mean.

Symptom Variability

Remember – all pregnancies are unique. Symptoms can vary greatly from person to person, with many not even knowing they’re pregnant until six or seven weeks’ gestation or later. So just because you’re not experiencing some of the very very early signs of pregnancy at 8 DPO, it doesn’t mean you’re not pregnant.

One symptom that is easy to get hung up on is implantation bleeding. However, only around one-third of pregnancies experience it. While it’s important to be aware of the symptom, it’s equally important to refrain from fixating on it at 8 DPO as this can lead to unnecessary stress in early pregnancy.

Coping With the Two-Week Wait

The only way to know for certain that you are pregnant is by taking a pregnancy test. Unfortunately, this means you’ll have to wait another week or so after the 8 DPO milestone before a pregnancy test will be accurate.

This window of time between ovulation and the first day of a missed period is famously known as the “two-week wait” – and it can feel like the longest two weeks of your life. If you are struggling to cope with the added stress and uncertainty during the two-week wait, the following tips may help.

• Set aside time to worry and feel your feelings. It’s normal to feel worried, anxious, and stressed about the possibility of being pregnant. Instead of ignoring these feelings, set aside no more than 10-15 minutes each day to really explore them. This is a dedicated time where you can check your fertility app and charts, write down your thoughts in a journal, or read any TTC articles. Setting some boundaries around when you can worry about getting pregnant can be both comforting and empowering.
• Keep yourself distracted. Once you’ve set aside some time to worry, you can then fill up the rest of your day with something positive. You could start a project, visit your friends, play a game, attend a gym class – whatever it is that you feel like doing, do it! The time will go by much faster when you keep yourself busy with some constructive activities.
• Be kind to yourself. Getting pregnant is not always a straightforward path, and it may take several cycles before you finally get that positive pregnancy test. During this time, make sure to be kind to yourself. It is not your fault if pregnancy doesn’t happen as quickly as you wanted it to, and it’s okay if you need to set some boundaries or seek extra support.

Last but not least, make sure to actually wait until your missed period before taking a pregnancy test. If you test too soon, this increases your risk of receiving a false-positive or false-negative result. Waiting to test ensures that you will receive the most accurate results.

Can You Test for Pregnancy at 8 DPO?

Pregnancy tests are designed to detect the presence of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in urine. As mentioned previously, this hormone is only produced once a fertilized egg has successfully implanted itself into the lining of the uterus.

While it is possible for hCG to begin producing by the 8-day mark, it is not likely that it will be produced at a high enough concentration to be detectable in a standard at-home pregnancy test. Even pregnancy tests that are marketed as having the ability to give an “early result” still may not be accurate.

Therefore, the best time to take a pregnancy test is not at 8 DPO, but rather anytime after the first day of your missed period.

8 DPO and Negative Pregnancy Test (BFN)

If you do decide to take a pregnancy test at eight days past ovulation (8 DPO) but you received a negative result (BFN) – do not panic! Your body could still be undergoing the implantation process and your pregnancy hormones just aren’t high enough to be detected in a test yet.

The best thing to do in this situation is to be kind to your body by relaxing and letting the natural process do its thing. You can then take another test when it is likely to be more accurate, which would be from the first day of your missed period, or 21 days after the last time you had unprotected sex.

8 DPO and Positive Pregnancy Test (BFP)

There are some cases where implantation has occurred early and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is detectable in a pregnancy test.

If you’ve taken a pregnancy test at 8 DPO and received a positive result (BFP), there is a high possibility that you might be pregnant. Though rare, this is perfectly normal and should not be cause for concern or worry.

To confirm your result, make sure to take another test after you’ve missed your period. This is the best way to know for sure that your first test was accurate and that you are in fact pregnant.

Frequently Asked Questions