Menu
If you are TTC, you must be well aware of the dreaded two week wait. Those 14 days can be excruciating.
So many uncertainties. Am I pregnant this time? Will I be disappointed again this cycle? This (insert symptom) must mean I’m pregnant, right? When can I test? The list goes on.
These two weeks don’t have to be so bad though. Keep reading to learn more about your cycle during the two week wait and how to cope with the stress.
The two week wait (TWW) is the time between when you ovulate and when a pregnancy test will detect pregnancy hormones. As the phrase suggests, this is usually about two weeks.
If conception occurs, the fertilized egg will take about 6 – 12 days post ovulation (DPO) to implant into the lining of the uterus. During this time the fertilized egg (now a blastocyst) is journeying through your fallopian tube to get to your uterus.
Once the blastocyst implants into the uterus, the placenta forms. This cues pregnancy hormones to start being released. Successful implantation is the official start of the pregnancy.
The TWW is a confusing term because in theory, you could find out sooner than 2 weeks from ovulation if you are pregnant. And for many women, the two week wait could even be up to three weeks depending on the type of at-home pregnancy test they use and how accurate it is.
If you undergo any fertility treatments like IVF and IUI, the timeline may change slightly as well. If you have regular follow-ups with your fertility doctor, you likely will find out sooner via a blood test.
The length of time aside, during the TWW, you are likely monitoring your symptoms to see if you are pregnant or to see if a new menstrual cycle is beginning.
You will often hear doctors or other women refer to the days past ovulation or DPO. This refers to the number of days that have passed since ovulation occurred. And it’s an important number to know if you are waiting to test for pregnancy.
Here is a basic breakdown of a textbook 28-day cycle to better understand the “two week wait”. Keep in mind that your cycle may be shorter or longer than 28 days. The length may also vary cycle to cycle. That is totally normal!
28-day cycle:
Again, your cycle may not align with this timeline. That’s why it is so important to know your body and track your cycle with a monitor like Inito. When you track your cycle, you have a better idea of your cycle length. This makes it so much easier to figure out how many DPO you are at.
The trickiest part of the two week wait is telling normal premenstrual symptoms from implantation symptoms. Many of them are very similar, and you may not experience symptoms at all.
Common early pregnancy symptoms:
During ovulation, progesterone levels rise. And when you conceive, they keep rising even higher. In a cycle where pregnancy did not occur, your progesterone levels will peak at 6 – 8 days past ovulation and then begin to fall again.
You may also notice a difference in your cervical mucus (CM). During a normal cycle, CM usually decreases after your period. But in early pregnancy, you may see an increase in CM. While this can be an early sign of pregnancy, only a pregnancy test can tell you for sure.
Every woman has a unique cycle. Some experience light spotting during ovulation. This would happen usually around 12-14 days before your next period. Ovulation spotting is light pinkish in color and lasts just a day or two.
Roughly a third of pregnant women experience implantation bleeding. This occurs around 6 – 12 DPO and is pinkish or light brown in color. You will know it’s not your period because it will only last from a few hours up to two days. And it’s much lighter than period bleeding.
Learn More: Ovulation bleeding vs. Implantation bleeding: How long does it last?
If you are really hoping for those two pink lines or a smiley face on your test, I’m sure you are wondering this!
The simple answer is to just carry on as normal and try not to stress yourself out too much. Trust that your body knows what it’s doing. If you’ve had losses or struggles TTC, I know “doing nothing” can be so hard. I’ve been there.
One thing you can check with your doctor about though is progesterone supplements. Progesterone is a pregnancy hormone that helps with the growth of the fetus. Women with low levels of this hormone are known to have a higher risk for miscarriage.
If you think you have low progesterone, talk to your doctor. They may prescribe you progesterone medication to take during the two week wait until a positive pregnancy test.
Read More: How to Make Implantation Successful: What You Need to Know
You will find yourself feeling a range of emotions during the TWW, especially anxiety and impatience.
The research is still controversial, but there does seem to be a correlation between stress and infertility. And TTC or not, too much stress is not good for your mental or physical health.
Here are some tips for dealing with anxiety during the TWW:
The perfect time to test all depends on when you ovulated. That is why it is so helpful to be in tune with your body’s signs of ovulation. You may not experience ovulation symptoms at all though.
This is where a fertility monitor like Inito can help! It can let you know for sure if ovulation occurred.
There are two main ways to detect early pregnancy: urine tests or blood serum tests. Concentrations of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) will be higher on a blood test in an early pregnancy than on a urine test.
That is why doctors and hospitals will use blood tests to check for pregnancy. They are more accurate. Between 9 – 10 DPO, hCG levels in blood serum will be about 10 mlU/ml. Around 9 DPO, hCG concentration in urine will be around 0.93 mlU/ml.
When you do decide to test for pregnancy, keep in mind that you could get a false negative result. This usually happens for two reasons.
One is that your urine may be too diluted. If you drank too many fluids before testing, this can occur. That’s why many doctors recommend testing with first morning urine (FMU) to get the most accurate result. Another reason false negatives can occur is if you test too early.
Except for user error or issues with the OTC early pregnancy tests, it is less likely to get a false positive. However, a false positive could occur in the case of an ectopic pregnancy. So long story short, know your cycle and avoid testing too early.
If you’ve been browsing the internet for TWW tips, you have likely stumbled upon some of these common myths:
355, Bryant Street, Suite
403 San Francisco, California 94017
