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There’s no denying that waiting to take a pregnancy test is tough. Ideally, you wait until the first day after your missed period. But we know that’s easier said than done.
If you’ve already taken the test and it’s positive, congratulations! You’re pregnant!
But if that test is negative, don’t let it get you down. A negative test at 12 days past ovulation (DPO) doesn’t necessarily mean you’re not pregnant.
One study showed urine hCG levels at 12 DPO could be as low as 15.72 mIU/mL or as high as 94.09 mIU/mL. If your hCG levels are on the lower end, a urine pregnancy test won’t be able to detect them. This means you’ve got to wait a little bit longer. We know it’s tough, but it’s worth the wait.
Read on to learn more about what is happening during this crucial time in your cycle, what 12 DPO symptoms you can expect, and what to do if you’ve tested negative at 12 DPO.
What is happening at 12 DPO?
You may feel like you’re stuck in an eternity of sitting and waiting, but there’s actually a lot going on in your body at 12 DPO.
Here’s what’s happening.
Implantation just happened
The prime time for implantation is 6-12 DPO. But 84% of women find their implantation happens between 8 DPO and 10 DPO. So by the time 12 DPO rolls around, chances are good your embryo has already found a home in your uterine lining.
But if implantation doesn’t happen during this time, don’t worry! Implantation time varies from person to person.
Your progesterone levels rise
At 12 DPO, you’re in your luteal phase. This is when progesterone levels rise to support your potential pregnancy. And if implantation occurs, progesterone boosts even more.
These rising progesterone levels can translate to symptoms in your body that can look like either pregnancy or premenstrual symptoms. Each woman’s reaction to rising progesterone looks a bit different – some women might experience intense symptoms while others may not notice any changes at all.
hCG levels rise
The placenta serves as the lifeline for your developing baby. It produces hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), which supports the corpus luteum to keep producing progesterone. This is the hormone detected when you take a pregnancy test.
Your hCG level approximately doubles every 48 hours until you reach week 6 of your pregnancy. In order to get a positive result on a urine pregnancy test, you need your hCG to be at a minimum of 20-25 mIU/mL. If it’s not that high yet, you’ll see a negative test result.
But remember, this doesn’t necessarily mean you’re not pregnant! It just means you need to wait longer for your hCG to increase.
This rise in hCG is key to pregnancy. But, it can also cause some not-so-fun side effects like nausea, vomiting, and exhaustion.
Around the 10-week pregnancy mark, the placenta takes the reins of producing progesterone, causing the corpus luteum to dissolve.
How do I know what DPO I am?
Ovulation normally happens about 24-36 hours after your LH surge.
Ovulation day is marked as Day 0. The first day after ovulation is 1 DPO, the second day after ovulation is 2 DPO, and so on. So you can determine what DPO you are by counting how many days after ovulation you are.
Using a fertility monitor can be an easy and convenient way to check your ovulation and symptoms. The Inito Fertility Monitor tells you exactly when you have ovulated, making it easy to figure out your DPO. Even better is that Inito clearly marks your DPO on easy-to-read charts in the app and tracks it for you so you don’t have to worry.
What are common symptoms at 12 DPO?
| I’m noticing … | Because … | Early pregnancy or PMS? | How reliable is this symptom for indicating early pregnancy? |
| Implantation bleeding | The embryo implants and establishes a connection to your blood supply. Sometimes this can cause blood vessels to break, leading to light spotting. | Pregnancy | Reliable, but not especially common. Only about 15-25% of women experience implantation bleeding. |
| Fatigue | Progesterone levels are rising | Either | Is the fatigue more than normal? If it is, it could be an indicator of pregnancy. |
| Abdominal discomfort/cramps | Both rising progesterone levels and the process of implantation can cause cramps. | Either | Implantation cramps are duller and milder and usually last for just 1-2 days. Premenstrual cramps are more intense. |
| Mood swings | Rise in both progesterone and hCG levels | Either | If your mood swings are more intense than typical PMS, it could indicate pregnancy. |
| Breast tenderness | Rising progesterone levels cause an increase in blood flow to the breast | Either | If your breast soreness is more intense than typical PMS, it could indicate pregnancy. |
| Increased urination | Higher progesterone levels make your bladder contract more. | Either | If you’re peeing more than usual, it could be pregnancy. |
| Bloating and constipation | Rising progesterone levels relax your sphincter and gut muscles. This slows down digestion | Either | Not very reliable on their own. |
| Backache | Rising progesterone causes your ligaments to relax | Either | Not very reliable on its own. |
| Vaginal discharge | An increase in estrogen levels paired with changes to the vaginal wall can cause your vaginal discharge to look and feel different. | Either | Some women may find it reliable, others may not. |
Implantation bleeding
Bleeding at this time can be a bit tricky. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’re menstruating. It could be implantation bleeding. But not all blood is created equal – this type of bleeding looks different from your menstrual cycle blood. Implantation can lead to light spotting or light pink/brown bleeding. This only happens in 15-25% of women during early pregnancy, and should only last a day or two before your period would normally show up.Fatigue
Feel like all you’re doing is sleeping but somehow are still exhausted? The increase in progesterone levels at this time can lead to some serious fatigue. It could either be your period or pregnancy.Cramps
Women are no strangers to cramps. (We honestly deserve a reward for enduring them.) They happen thanks to rising progesterone levels. But they may not be menstrual cycle cramps. They could be implantation cramps instead, which will feel a bit different. Implantation cramps happen around 6-12 DPO. They’re duller and milder than period cramps. You can expect these implantation cramps to disappear after a day or two.Mood swings
She’s hot then she’s cold, she’s yes then she’s no. This is the rollercoaster that is mood swings. They happen more frequently (and intensely) than usual at this time. That’s thanks to the surge in your progesterone and hCG levels. You can experience mood swings in the case of a period and also a pregnancy.Breast tenderness
Are your breasts feeling different than usual? That’s normal. You’ve likely experienced breast tenderness leading up to your period. This is due to rising progesterone levels that cause an increase in blood flow to the breast. This tenderness can also be part of early pregnancy symptoms.Increased urination
Waking up multiple times in the night to use the bathroom? If this isn’t normal for you, it could be a sign of pregnancy. Progesterone causes more frequent bladder contraction. And that’s something you can experience both during your period and pregnancy. But with early pregnancy, it will be even more frequent.Bloating and constipation
No girl loves the bloating and constipation that can happen at this time. But, it’s just part of the process of rising progesterone levels that results in slow digestion.Backache
Find yourself in need of a massage more than usual? Increasing progesterone levels make your ligaments and joints looser. This is the case for pregnancy and your period.Vaginal discharge
Your vaginal discharge can tell you a lot. In the luteal phase, vaginal discharge usually decreases since your estrogen levels are dropping. The characteristics of your discharge are worth noting, too. It may be sticky, clumpy, and scanty. This indicates that your period is likely around the corner. However, if you have more discharge than usual, you may be pregnant. Your 12 DPO discharge will also be more whitish and milky. This is due to increasing estrogen and vaginal wall changes occurring from early pregnancy. However, remember that while vaginal discharge can be a clue, it’s not a guarantee. Some pregnant women have lesser discharge, and some not-pregnant women might have more. Don’t rely solely on discharge changes as a pregnancy indicator. There is no right or wrong. If you feel that something is off, talk to your doctor.What if I don’t have symptoms at 12 DPO?
Each woman experiences pregnancy symptoms differently.
And, like we said earlier, you may not experience any symptoms at all at 12 days past ovulation. But don’t freak out – that’s totally normal.
A lack of pregnancy symptoms does not automatically mean you’re not pregnant.
A small study found that at 20 DPO, only 50% of pregnant women had symptoms. As pregnancy progresses, the symptoms tend to increase. But if you aren’t feeling them at the beginning, don’t stress.
The only way to know for sure whether you’re pregnant is by taking a pregnancy test (or a few, just to be sure).
What does a positive pregnancy test at 12 DPO mean?
If you got a positive pregnancy test, it’s time to celebrate (with grape juice, not wine – of course). You’re pregnant!
What if I get a negative pregnancy test at 12 DPO?
1. Implantation may not have happened.
It’s possible that your fertilized egg has yet to attach to the uterine lining. But at 12 DPO, is it too late? No! Implantation can still happen at this time. (More on that below.)2. Implantation happened, but hCG levels weren’t detectable.
Like we talked about earlier, hCG levels are the key to determining pregnancy. Sometimes the levels just aren’t high enough to give a proper reading on a pregnancy test. Or, you may have a pregnancy test that isn’t sensitive enough to pick up on your levels. hCG levels approximately double every 48 hours until week 6 of pregnancy. Remember, the rate at which your levels rise is more important than the actual levels themselves.| Test result | What’s going on … | What to do |
| Positive | If you have a sensitive pregnancy test, it may be able to detect hCG levels at 12 DPO to determine pregnancy. | Congratulations, you’re pregnant! You can test again after your missed period to confirm that your pregnancy is progressing. |
| Negative | A negative test at 12 DPO doesn’t always mean you’re not pregnant. You may not have enough hCG for the test to detect. | Take another test after the first day of your missed period. |
Is 12 DPO too late for implantation?
No! Implantation can still happen at 12 DPO.
Most pregnancies (84%) happen between 8-10 DPO. But that doesn’t mean they can’t happen at 12 DPO.
Once you’ve reached beyond 10 DPO, it’s considered late implantation.
Studies show that the chances of a miscarriage increase after 10 DPO. But the truth is that there is no real way to know exactly when implantation happened. There’s a lag between implantation and the resulting increase in hCG levels.
The same goes for pregnancy symptoms. They show up due to rising hCG and progesterone levels. This means there’s a lag there, too.
But one thing we do know for sure is that studies show that smokers are more likely to have late implantation. In case you need another reason to kick your smoking habit to the curb – this is a great one.
Another study found that sex later in the fertile window is linked to later implantation. To avoid this, time your sex in the fertile window. This way the sperm is already waiting for the egg when it’s released, rather than the other way around.
So don’t spend too much time worrying about the specific implantation day. Just pay attention to the early symptoms and the test, and know that 12 DPO is not too late!
Takeaways
- At 12 DPO, if you’re pregnant, you can expect rising progesterone and hCG levels.
- This can lead to symptoms like fatigue, cramping, mood swings, breast tenderness, frequent urination, bloating, constipation, backache, and vaginal discharge changes.
- These are similar to premenstrual symptoms and may be confusing – the only way to know is by taking a pregnancy test.
- If you don’t have these symptoms at 12 DPO, don’t worry. Not every woman has them.
- If you have a positive test at 12 DPO, congrats! You’re pregnant!
- A negative 12 DPO test doesn’t mean you aren’t pregnant. hCG levels at this time may be low. Wait until your missed period to test again.
FAQs
hCG usually shows up in your urine on an at-home pregnancy test when it’s at least 20-25 mIU/mL. This depends on when implantation happens, your individual hCG levels, and the rate at which it increases.
Yes, it is normal to test negative at 12 DPO. And it doesn’t necessarily mean you aren’t pregnant.
Many women’s hCG levels are not high enough at this time to be detected by an at-home pregnancy test.
Ideally, wait until one day after your missed period for your hCG levels to rise further and show up on a pregnancy test.
You may be experiencing an overlap in PMS and early pregnancy symptoms. This can happen thanks to the rising and changing progesterone levels in your body during this time.
Pregnancy tests can typically detect a pregnancy as early as 8 DPO. But it all depends on your hCG levels. Women with higher hCG levels may detect pregnancy earlier than 8 DPO. Women with lower hCG levels may take quite a few more days to detect.
If implantation doesn’t occur, your uterus will shed its lining and your period will start shortly.
Some tests claim they can detect pregnancy up to five days prior to your missed period.
You may be tempted to rely upon these test results, but we urge you not to. hCG levels at this time may not be detectible and you may get a false negative.
For the most accurate result, take a pregnancy test 1 day after your missed period.
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- Strips of Hope: Accuracy of Home Pregnancy Tests and New Developments | NIH
- Differences Between High Fertility and Peak Fertility | Inito
- LH Surge and Ovulation: When do you ovulate after an LH surge? | Inito
- A prospective study of the onset of symptoms of pregnancy | JCE
- hCG Doubling in Pregnancy: Why It Matters | Inito
- Time of Implantation of the Conceptus and Loss of Pregnancy | New England Journal of Medicine
- The association of maternal factors with delayed implantation and the initial rise of urinary human chorionic gonadotrophin | Oxford Academic
- Post-ovulatory ageing of the human oocyte and embryo failure | NIH
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