Conception

1 DPO Symptoms: What Should You Expect?

Zoe Kaplan

What’s happening one day after you ovulate? Will you know yet if you’re on your way to pregnancy? Here’s everything you need to know about 1 DPO.

Published:

Jan 27, 2024

Est. Read Time:

4 minutes

When you’re trying to conceive, you’re likely monitoring your cycle closely—especially when you’re ovulating. After you’ve ovulated, there’s the long, frustrating, and even mysterious two-week wait to see if you’ll get pregnant. So, what’s going on during the first day past ovulation (1 DPO)? What symptoms can you expect? Will you have any signs to hint that you're on your way to getting pregnant?

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about 1 DPO.

What’s going on in my body at 1 DPO?

You just ovulated yesterday, so now you’re at 1 DPO, or one day post-ovulation. 1 DPO marks the end of your fertile window.

The egg you released during ovulation is viable for a 12-24 hour period in the fallopian tube, and at 1 DPO, its viability is quickly dwindling. Right now, the egg is at a critical point: will it be fertilized or not?

Depending on whether you and your partner have had sex during your fertile window (or you’re using assistive reproductive technology like intrauterine insemination (IUI)), there may be sperm to fertilize the egg. Sperm can live in the fallopian tube for up to six days, meaning the egg can be fertilized days after sex (if the sperm is still there).

If fertilization happens, the egg starts to transform to become an embryo. If there’s no fertilization by 1 DPO, the egg starts to disintegrate, and will be unable to lead to pregnancy.

1 DPO symptoms

1 DPO is the earliest part of the two-week wait, and specific symptoms, especially those related to pregnancy, may not be apparent. That doesn’t mean you won’t experience any symptoms—symptom intensity and duration can vary widely from one person to another.

Many 1 DPO symptoms correspond with the changing hormone levels your body experiences right after ovulation. At 1 DPO, you’re entering your luteal phase and progesterone increases. Increases in progesterone can correspond with symptoms like mood swings, headaches, fatigue, cramping.

While it’s unlikely to have many symptoms during 1 DPO, you may feel some modest symptoms:

Mild cramping: Some people may experience 1 DPO cramps that typically manifest as light abdominal cramping. This cramping typically happens because of the release of the egg during ovulation and changes in the reproductive organs.
Slight spotting: In some rare cases, you might have minimal spotting or light discharge, associated with the rupture of the follicle during ovulation that releases the egg.
Increased basal body temperature: If you’re tracking your basal body temperature for ovulation, you may notice a subtle increase at 1 DPO that can continue throughout the luteal phase. To capture this slight difference, be sure to track your temperature very consistently.
Breast sensitivity: You might experience mild breast tenderness. This symptom is not exclusive to 1 DPO, and you may experience at various points of your cycle and different DPO.

Be sure to approach these symptoms with caution, as they are subjective and 1 DPO is too early to be able to reliably indicate pregnancy. At this stage, a presence or absence of symptoms doesn’t dictate your fertility or whether or not you’ll become pregnant.

Will I know if I’m pregnant at 1 DPO?

At 1 DPO, your fertile window is ending and your body begins to shift depending on whether the egg that you’ve just released is fertilized. While you may experience some mild symptoms, it’s too early at this stage to determine whether or not you’re pregnant. You should wait to take a pregnancy test.

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

Nagy B, et al. (2021). Key to Life: Physiological Role and Clinical Implications of Progesterone.
Sundström-Poromaa I. et al.(2020). Progesterone – Friend or foe?

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About the Oova Blog:
‍Our content is developed with a commitment to high editorial standards and reliability. We prioritize referencing reputable sources and sharing where our insights come from. The Oova Blog is intended for informational purposes only and is never a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider before making any health decisions.

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