8 DPO: Symptoms, Signs & What to Expect

What should you be experiencing at 8 DPO? Is it too early for symptoms? Too early to take a pregnancy test? Let’s dive in.
So you’re 8 days post ovulation, and millions of questions are firing in your head.

Can I get a positive pregnancy test at 8DPO?
If I am pregnant, when will I get symptoms?
And why is everyone on my social media feed making pregnancy announcements?

It’s a lot.

First things first ‒ your journey is entirely yours.

There’s no one way to do this ‒ so while we’ll help you navigate this territory, there’s no such thing as a garden variety TTC experience.

With that in mind, here’s what you might encounter along the way at 8 DPO, with some help from embryologist and fertility expert, Navya Muralidhar.

In this article: 📝

What can I expect at 8 DPO?

8 DPO means you’re 8 days post ovulation or days past ovulation.

The average menstrual cycle (with lots of variations on either side) is 28 days.

Day 1 is the first day of your period.

You’re most likely to conceive from about Day 8 to Day 15.

Somewhere around Day 14, one of your ovaries, spurred on by the luteinizing hormone (LH), releases an egg into the fallopian tube.

This process is called ovulation.

Put that all together and 8 DPO is at about Day 22 of your menstrual cycle.

If you’re TTC, the two-week wait (two-week wait between ovulation and your next expected period) can be more suspenseful than the penultimate episode of your favorite thriller ‒ and 8 DPO is a pretty important episode.

If one (or more) of your eggs is fertilized, this is about the time that the zygote grows into an embryo, makes its way down the fallopian tube, and nestles into the lining of the uterus.

This process is called implantation.

Can you implant at 8 DPO?

Yes, it is possible to implant at 8 DPO.

But it’s not a sure thing.

Rather than happening on a specific DPO, implantation happens within a window (the implantation window) ‒ somewhere between 6 DPO and 12 DPO.

8 days post ovulation is slap-bang in the middle of that window.

So does that mean you should be taking an 8 DPO pregnancy test?

Well, unfortunately, it’s more complicated than that.

Why am I cramping at 8 DPO?

There’s a chance that your mild cramps at 8 DPO are implantation cramps.

That’s when the newly-formed zygote (fertilized egg) nestles itself into your uterine wall, where it’ll make its home for the next 9 months.

This implantation can cause some discomfort that feels a bit like light period cramps.

But if your cramping is followed by heavy bleeding or clots, it’s worth paying a visit to your doctor, just in case.

How likely is it to get a positive test at 8 DPO?

If you’re expecting to see an 8 DPO positive pregnancy test, there’s a chance you could be disappointed.

But there’s also a slight chance you could see your 8 DPO BFP ‒ stranger things have happened!

Pregnancy tests work by detecting a hormone called hCG, which is produced after implantation.

At around 8 DPO, this hormone might start appearing in your body if you’re pregnant.

So that means you can take a test at this point, right?

The problem is there’s no such thing as a one-to-one correlation when it comes to hCG levels and DPO.

We don’t all produce the exact same amount at the exact same time.

While some pregnancies may get a BFP at 8 DPO, not all will.

For many people, they’ll see an 8 DPO negative pregnancy test, but that doesn’t mean it’s their BFN.

It might just take a few more days for the hCG levels to show a clear positive result.

That’s why it’s best to wait ‒ so try to hold off on your 8 DPO pregnancy test if you can.

How many DPO should you take a pregnancy test?

There’s a reason why it’s called the two-week wait.

It’s best to wait until 14 or 15 DPO, or about the time of your next expected period to take a pregnancy test.

(We know. The suspense is ridiculous.)

That’s because, as your pregnancy develops, hCG levels increase by about 50% a day.

After the TWW, those levels should be prepped and ready for detection.

Is 8 DPO too early for symptoms?

Not necessarily. Many moms-to-be in our Peanut community experience 8 DPO symptoms ending in a BFP.

But many also have no symptoms at all, and still get a positive.

Pregnancy symptoms are as varied as the bodies they inhabit.

Sometimes they show up as early as 8 days post ovulation and sometimes they only show up weeks into pregnancy.

If they do show up very early for you, here’s some of what you might expect.

(Yes, they do look an awful lot like PMS symptoms. 🤔)

• 8 DPO cramping often occurs during implantation.
  
• 8 DPO spotting, possibly due to implantation bleeding.
  
• Tender breasts
  
• Emotional rollercoaster-ing
  
• Fatigue
  
• Bloating
  
• Constipation
  
• Headaches
  
• Nausea

How did you feel at 8 DPO?

However you’re feeling at 8 DPO, you’re not alone.

There’s a whole community of women who are trying to conceive at 8 days post-ovulation in the same boat.

Here are a few of their 8 DPO symptoms and stories:

• “I’m not really sure if I’m actually expecting 8 DPO symptoms or if my mind is playing tricks on me… I feel very bloated and tired.” ‒ Bobby
  
• “8DPO, woke up because I was nauseous today. Boobs feel full/heavy. Is it all in my head?” ‒ Brianna
  
• “I’ve been nauseated and bloated all week!! But I’m only 8 DPO, so who knows?” ‒ Brittany
  
• “I’m also 8DPO been so bloated past few days it’s been so uncomfortable also lost my appetite and felt nauseous… had a dip in my BBT this morning at 8DPO!” ‒ Adele
  
• “8 DPO and I have been peeing every 45 minutes. It has been like that for the last 3 days, then I’m definitely constipated. Had some light cramping yesterday for about an hour.” ‒ Karissa
  
• “I’m 8DPO and had cramping yesterday as well, constipation, and feeling really nauseous.” ‒ Juliet
  
• “8 DPO and super gassy, almost like gas cramps and like the sudden urge to poop! Had a negative strip test this morning. I also literally just ate a massive lunch and I feel like I haven’t eaten a damn thing! Starving!” ‒ Selena
  
• “I got negatives 8 and 9 DPO then just got a positive today at 10 DPO!” ‒ Adelle
  
• “8 DPO. Super gassy. I’ve felt cramping since ovulation. I’m just aware of my left side a lot, a little cramps or pains. Trying not to symptom spot.” ‒ Stephanie
  
• “At 7 DPO and 8 DPO I have had cramping sensations but once again I don’t get them this early. My lower back is starting to hurt. I feel like I have a tugging sensation in my stomach. I felt quite nauseous this morning but better after I ate. I also had a weird tingling pain in my left boob today. I am also very bloated and gassy at the moment. Could this be leading to my BFP?!” ‒ Kayleigh
  
• “I took a test on 8 DPO and nothing to be seen. I did test again today on 11 DPO and had a faint line!” ‒ Callie
  
• “Got a negative at 8 DPO and a positive 9 DPO evening.” ‒ Elizabeth
  
• “I’m 8 DPO and I’ve got mild twinges/cramps! No spotting. My partner also said my areolas are darker.” ‒ Charlotte

The TTC journey can feel a lot like traveling in a foreign land without a guide.

It doesn’t have to be that way.

Join us on Peanut and connect with other women at 8 DPO who have been there.

It’s time to normalize the conversation.

Take care of yourself.

➡️ Read next: 9 DPO: Symptoms, Signs & What to Expect