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Days Past Ovulation (DPO)Pregnancy

6 DPO Pregnancy Test: Can I Trust the Accuracy?

Written by
Mindy Palme

Verified by

Dr. Shruthi Shridhar

Dr. Shruthi Shridhar

Updated on 21 August 2024

Published on 30 July 2022

Written by
Mindy Palme

Verified by

Dr. Shruthi Shridhar

Dr. Shruthi Shridhar

Updated on 21 August 2024

Published on 30 July 2022

At 6 DPO (days past ovulation), you’re probably wondering when you can finally take a pregnancy test.

When you’re trying to conceive, deciding when to test can feel like a game of tug-o-war.

Your logical side knows it’s best to wait. Yet your heart is yearning for the green light to pee on that stick.

You want answers, and you want them now!

I get it. The two-week wait is intense. Each day can feel like a lifetime.

Yet taking a 6 DPO pregnancy test could lead to unnecessary heartbreak. Getting a big fat positive at six days past ovulation is rare.

But, knowing what to expect can help ease your anxiety while you wait. So let’s explore symptoms you may notice at 6 DPO and when you can expect an accurate test.

What happens at 6 DPO?

Your body is one smart cookie. Each month before ovulation, your uterine lining thickens to prepare for a possible pregnancy.

After you ovulate, an egg travels down your fallopian tube. If the egg meets up with a sperm, fertilization occurs. The cells of the fertilized egg then begin rapidly multiplying, gearing up for implantation.

During implantation, the egg attaches to the uterine lining, preparing for the long journey ahead.

Implantation typically happens around 8-10 DPO. But it can occur anytime between 6-12 DPO.

That means at 6 DPO, a fertilized egg may have already burrowed its way into your uterine wall.

Once an egg implants, it starts producing the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone. This is what home pregnancy tests detect in your urine to deliver that beloved big fat positive (BFP).

During early pregnancy, hCG doubles every 1-2 days before peaking around ten weeks.

How Accurate are Pregnancy Tests at 6 DPO?

Honestly? Not very.

Remember, getting a positive pregnancy test depends on hCG. And your body doesn’t produce this hormone until after implantation.

Although it’s possible for an egg to implant as early as 6 DPO, it’s unlikely. For example, one study found implantation occurred between 8-10 DPO for 84% of women.

Even after implantation, hCG levels need time to build to yield a positive pregnancy test.

That means at 6 DPO, it’s unlikely your hCG will be high enough to deliver a BFP.

I know it’s tempting to test early when you’re trying to conceive. But ideally, it’s best to wait until 14-15 DPO to take a home pregnancy test.

At that point, you’ll be much more likely to get an accurate result. That way, you won’t put yourself through the agony of seeing a false negative – when you may in fact be pregnant.

Is it Possible to Get a Positive Pregnancy Test at 6 DPO?

No!

Many home pregnancy test manufacturers claim to detect hCG levels as low as 25 mIU/mL. If you implanted at 6 DPO, it would take several days to reach that level.

Even so, there are occasions where you might get a BFP at 6 DPO. One possibility is if you miscalculated your ovulation day. You may think you’re at 6 DPO when in fact, you’re much later. So, technically, you weren’t really at 6 DPO when you got a positive pregnancy test.

Using a fertility monitor like Inito to track your ovulation can prevent this from happening.

And although rare, some may get a false positive due to medications, menopause, or ovarian abnormalities, even if they’re not pregnant.

So if you get a positive pregnancy test at 6 DPO, be sure to retest in a week to confirm.

What if I Get a Negative Pregnancy Test at 6 DPO?

Most people will get a big fat negative (BFN) at 6 days past ovulation – even if they’re pregnant.

That’s because for most women, implantation still hasn’t happened. And even after implantation, it takes several days for hCG levels to rise enough to detect.

So if you got a BFN at 6 DPO, don’t lose hope. Play the waiting game another week and then retest.

6 DPO Symptoms of Early Pregnancy

By 6 DPO, you may feel like you’re noticing signs of early pregnancy, but they aren’t really signs of pregnancy. Pregnancy symptoms don’t pop up until after implantation – normally around 8-10 DPO.

Several early pregnancy symptoms are due to the hormone progesterone. And progesterone rises after ovulation, whether you’re pregnant or not!

That’s why many symptoms at 6 DPO mirror the ones you’d feel when your period is coming. But all the symptoms that you experience at 6 DPO are due to the rise in progesterone.

Here are some 6 DPO symptoms that may lead to a BFP:

Cramping

Although unlikely, some women may experience mild abdominal cramps around 6 DPO. This happens when the fertilized egg implants into the uterine wall.

But keep in mind, cramping is also a common PMS symptom. So how can you tell the difference?

Implantation cramps are milder and tend to occur between 6 to 12 DPO, while menstrual cramps show up around 14 DPO.

Spotting

When an egg implants, you may also notice some light bleeding or spotting. Again, it’s easy for this symptom to be confused with your period. The difference is, implantation bleeding is much lighter and only lasts a couple of days.

Breast tenderness

Breast swelling and soreness are one of the earliest signs of pregnancy. Your nipples may also be extra sensitive and even darken. This is all thanks to rising progesterone levels.

Fatigue

It takes energy to grow a new life! The hormonal changes of early pregnancy can leave you feeling tired or even flat-out exhausted.

Mood swings

Early pregnancy can take your hormones on a roller coaster ride, along with your mood. You may be sobbing one minute and happy the next. The two-week wait can also bring up a ton of anxiety, which may exacerbate mood swings.

Headaches & dizziness

For some, hormonal changes can bring on headaches. You may also feel dizzy or lightheaded.

Nausea

Around 70-80% of women experience nausea or vomiting in early pregnancy. Although called “morning sickness,” this symptom can last all day. Nausea typically starts before nine weeks of pregnancy and tapers off at the end of the first trimester (12 weeks).

Changes in cervical mucus

Believe it or not, your underwear may offer clues about whether you’re pregnant. After ovulation, vaginal discharge typically becomes drier and more scanty. But if an egg is fertilized, it may remain steady or even increase. Cervical mucus may even take on a pink tinge or appear as a brownish discharge.

What if I'm at 6 DPO and Have No Symptoms?

Six days past ovulation is still very early on. So, if you’re not feeling symptoms yet, try not to stress.

Some women don’t experience pregnancy symptoms until eight weeks after their last cycle.

Plus, symptoms at 6 DPO can feel oddly similar to what you feel when your period is coming. So having symptoms doesn’t guarantee a BFP.

Taking a pregnancy test is the only way to know for sure.

Summing it Up

Implantation most commonly happens between 8-10 days past ovulation.
Although implantation can occur at 6 DPO, it’s rare.
A 6 DPO pregnancy test is unlikely to provide a positive result.
You’re much more likely to get an accurate result by waiting to test until 14 DPO.
Testing at 14 DPO makes you much more likely to get an accurate result.
At 6 DPO, some people may notice early pregnancy symptoms such as cramping, spotting, changes in discharge, and fatigue.