Conception

4 DPO Symptoms: What Should You Expect?

Zoe Kaplan

Can you start to feel any signs of pregnancy at 4 DPO? Learn what’s going on in your body and any symptoms to look out for.

Published:

Jan 27, 2024

Est. Read Time:

If you’re 4 DPO, or four days past ovulation, you’re about a third into the two-week wait. You might be getting antsy, but it’s likely too early to tell if you’re pregnant, both from a symptoms and testing perspective. So, what’s going on in your body at 4 DPO? What should you expect?

What’s happening in my body at 4 DPO?

At 4 DPO, you’re in your luteal phase. The corpus luteum, formed from the follicle that released the egg during ovulation, is at work and has released progesterone. This increase in progesterone thickens the uterine lining to prepare to support a fertilized egg—but can also lead to some symptoms.

If your egg has been fertilized, the zygote (the term for a fertilized egg) is starting its journey down your fallopian tubes. At 4 DPO, the zygote isn’t implanted just yet, which means even if your egg has been fertilized, you aren’t officially pregnant at this stage.

While no implantation means no major pregnancy symptoms, if you’re trying to conceive, you might feel hyper aware of your body—and even able to feel mild symptoms. However, it’s important to keep in mind that your hormone levels are elevated, too, and any symptoms aren’t necessarily a sign of pregnancy at 4 DPO.

4 DPO Symptoms

At 4 DPO, you may feel mild symptoms, most likely caused by the increased levels of progesterone in your body. Specific 4 DPO symptoms can include:

Mild cramping: Like 1 DPO, 2 DPO, and 3 DPO, you might continue to have light cramping at 4 DPO. Cramping occurs because of your body’s reaction to the release of an egg.
Spotting: Although it’s rare, you might experience spotting or light discharge, caused by the rupture of the follicle during ovulation. At this stage, the egg is not yet implanted, so any spotting should not be considered implantation bleeding.
Increase in basal body temperature: You might notice a subtle increase in your basal body temperature from previous days. Keep in mind that to see accurate trends in your basal body temperature, you must be very consistent when you record.
Breast sensitivity: You may continue to have mild breast tenderness at 4 DPO and at other points in your menstrual cycle. Like other 4 DPO symptoms, this symptom can mostly be attributed to the increase in progesterone during the luteal phase.

Remember, everyone experiences symptoms at 4 DPO differently; some may experience more intense symptoms, while others might experience no symptoms at all. While it’s important to be attuned to your body and its changes, whether you have symptoms or not doesn’t indicate anything about pregnancy during this stage.

Will I know if I’m pregnant at 4 DPO?

You will not yet know if you’re pregnant at 4 DPO, as the zygote (if your egg has been fertilized) has not yet been implanted into your uterus. Whether or not your egg was fertilized, the corpus luteum has secreted progesterone and thickened the uterine lining. This increase in progesterone can cause some mild symptoms, some of which are similar to early pregnancy symptoms. Despite these similarities, it’s still too early to take a pregnancy test at 4 DPO.

Continue on your two-week wait journey with Oova’s day-by-day guides to DPO:

About the author

Zoe Kaplan is a writer and content strategist passionate about creating content that helps people navigate the world a little more easily. Zoe has worked across verticals, from women's career development to reproductive health. You can check out more of her work at zoeakaplan.com.

Sources

Blesa, D., Ruiz-Alonso, M., & Simón, C. (2014). Clinical management of endometrial receptivity.
Su R & Fazleabas A. (2015). Implantation and Establishment of Pregnancy in Human and Nonhuman Primates.

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