✓ FACT CHECKED Medically reviewed by Kate Davies, RN, FP Cert Fertility Nurse Consultant
So, you're 9 dpo! How exciting! Here's what you can expect
What happens at 9 dpo (nine days past ovulation)? Every woman is different, but there are some early pregnancy signs and symptoms that are more common 9 days post ovulation. Some women might experience one or two of these symptoms, while others may have several.
Early pregnancy symptoms
At 9 dpo, the hormones estrogen and progesterone start to rise if you’re pregnant. These hormones will continue to increase throughout pregnancy.
Progesterone and Estrogen both prepare the body for pregnancy, implantation in the uterus, and early growth of the fetus. Progesterone then helps the development of the placenta, while later on in the pregnancy estrogen helps prepare your body for breastfeeding.
In the early days of pregnancy, as your body starts to produce more of the hormones estrogen and progesterone, you may start to experience some common early pregnancy symptoms.
Everyone is different
Remember that not all women will experience these symptoms, and some women will experience them very strongly while others won't notice any changes at all.
You might be feeling tired or a bit off
- One of the first signs of pregnancy for many women is an increase in yawning and fatigue.
- This may be due to the increase in progesterone levels, which can make you feel tired and sleepy. This is a common symptom for most pregnant women.
- Try to get as much rest as you can, and take breaks throughout the day to relax.
Your body in early pregnancy
It's not just the hormones that are changing during early pregnancy. Your body is going through a lot of changes as it adapts to support a new life. If you're like most pregnant women, this is both an exciting and anxious time.
The cervix, for example, starts to thin and open later in the pregnancy in preparation for labor. The uterus also starts to grow, and may even start to lift, many women experience what is called a "show" 9 dpo. The show is cervical mucus mixed with blood that is discharged as the cervix begins to open.
Common symptoms you may experience at 9 dpo include:
- Tender breasts
- Fatigue
- Abdominal cramps
- PMS symptoms
Hormonal changes can be difficult to deal with.
If you are feeling overwhelmed, talk to your partner, family, or friends about how you're feeling. They may be able to offer support and help you get through this time.
If you are experiencing any other unusual symptoms or have any concerns, please consult with your doctor.
Swelling and spotting at 9 dpo
Some women also experience swelling and spotting at 9 dpo and many of these symptoms can feel like premenstrual symptoms, so it's difficult to tell sometimes. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, be sure to contact your doctor for advice.
More symptoms at 9 dpo include
- Mood swings
- Breast tenderness
- Constipation
- Increased blood flow
What to do during the week you are 9 dpo
During the week when you’re 9 days past ovulation, continue to rest and drink plenty. If you are having any of these symptoms, it is important to keep track of them and report them to your doctor.
If you are at all concerned, make an appointment with your healthcare professional as soon as you can.
Early signs of pregnancy symptoms or is it PMS?
9 days post ovulation is the point in your pregnancy when many women start to experience early signs of pregnancy.
However, it may also be your period coming. High progesterone, whether from your menstrual cycle or pregnancy, can cause similar symptoms.
You may already be familiar with PMS symptoms such as cramps, fatigue, sore breasts, bloating, and backaches.
PMS usually occurs when progesterone peaks and that’s why many of the symptoms of early pregnancy and PMS are similar.
What about taking an early pregnancy test - how do they work?
Pregnancy tests work by checking your urine (pee) for a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Your body only makes this hormone in significant volume if you're pregnant.
How exactly do you take a pregnancy test?
- Remove the test from its foil wrapper and follow the instructions.
- Holding the absorbent tip pointing down, place the test in your urine stream for at least five seconds.
- Wait for the test line to appear.
You only need a tiny amount of pee to get an accurate result for a positive pregnancy test. The more diluted your urine is, the harder it is for the test to pick up on any HCG hormone.
How common is a false negative pregnancy test?
Home pregnancy tests are usually accurate, but researchers estimate that up to 5% of tests give a false negative — meaning the test says you are not pregnant when you actually are.
There are a few reasons why you might get a false negative on pregnancy tests. As they rely on the concentration of hCG in the urine, if you happen to be drinking large amounts of liquids, particularly diuretics like coffee and black or green tea, that may result in too much dilution of the hCG hormone, meaning the test doesn’t turn positive even though you’re pregnant.
If you test at a point in your pregnancy where the hCG hasn’t yet built up you may also get a negative result at this point.
A false-negative pregnancy test can occur when:
- False-negative pregnancy tests may happen if you don't take the test first thing in the morning – this is related to the concentration of hCG in the urine as we identified above.
- It could also occur if you take the test when the hCG hasn’t yet built up in your body.
- Using an expired test could also show a false negative so always make sure you check the date on the test.
Follow the pregnancy test instructions to get it right!
Your pregnancy test should come with instructions about how long you will need to wait between taking the test and checking your results — the wait time is usually about 1-2 minutes. This is because the antibodies in the test need time to sense the hCG in your urine and display a result.
If you check the test before the waiting time is up, you may see a negative result even if you're pregnant.
Try taking the test again in a few days.
Positive pregnancy test
The recommendation is to wait until 14 DPO before testing, but if you do take a test…
Is it positive? If so, congratulations! 9 dpo is an important milestone in your pregnancy, so make sure to celebrate it! Congratulations on making it this far!
If it's negative, consider taking another test in a few days.
See your doctor or healthcare physician
Make sure to schedule a visit with your doctor to confirm the pregnancy and discuss any next steps. You will likely need to go for some early ultrasounds to make sure the baby is developing correctly.
Monitoring at 9 dpo
Although it’s not recommended to take a pregnancy test until you’ve missed an expected period, there is some monitoring that you can keep doing up to 14 dpo. This monitoring is particularly useful at 9 dpo.
If you already use OvuSense, then keep on monitoring your continuous Core Body Temperature. If your cCBT stays high after ovulation then this is a good sign indicating that your progesterone is staying high too, but don’t worry if it drops a little – it will continue to fluctuate.
If your Core Body Temperature increases after ovulation, and particularly if it keeps increasing then this is also a good sign because it indicates that implantation make have taken place. Don’t get your hopes up too much, and again, don’t worry if you don’t see this – not all pregnancies result in this ‘secondary rise’.
If you haven’t used OvuSense before, then we’d recommend you take a look at our skin-worn monitoring system called OvuFirst. This can help you look for those changes in temperature after ovulation in a really easy fashion – click here to learn more about OvuFirst.
Pregnancy is an amazing time in a woman's life.
Make sure to take care of yourself and rest as much as possible.
If you are experiencing any early pregnancy symptoms, keep track of them and report them to your doctor. 9 dpo is an important milestone in your pregnancy, so make sure to celebrate it!
Congratulations on making it this far! Enjoy this time, it goes by quickly!
Best of luck on your fertility journey.