Conception

You’ve Reached 14 DPO—Is It Time to Take a Pregnancy Test?

Zoe Kaplan

You’ve made it to the end of the two-week wait—congratulations! What’s next in your fertility journey? Here’s what you need to know.

Published:

Feb 2, 2024

Est. Read Time:

You’ve made it! It’s 14 DPO, or 14 days past ovulation, and the end of the two-week wait. As you get ready to take a pregnancy test, here’s what to know about what’s happening in your body, what your symptoms might mean, and when’s the exact right time to pee on a stick.

What’s happening in your body at 14 DPO?

At 14 DPO, your body is supporting your early pregnancy. If fertilization has happened, the zygote (fertilized egg), traveled down the fallopian tubes and implanted into the uterine lining. After implantation, which likely happened around 8 to 10 DPO, your body started producing more human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), the hormone pregnancy tests measure. In response to rising hCG levels, the corpus luteum continued to produce more progesterone. Progesterone initially built up the uterine lining, and works to foster a nurturing environment for the pregnancy.

Conversely, if fertilization and implantation haven't taken place, the corpus luteum stops producing progesterone, and levels of this hormone drop. Once progesterone decreases, the uterine lining begins to shed, leading to your period.

14 DPO symptoms

By 14 DPO, if pregnancy is underway, you may notice an intensification of early pregnancy symptoms. Some of these symptoms are very similar to PMS and period symptoms, but there are a few ways to tell the difference—especially whether you miss your period or not.

Implantation bleeding

If you experienced implantation bleeding, or spotting around 6 to 13 DPO, it will likely taper off around 14 DPO.

Breast sensitivity

While breast sensitivity is possible throughout the two-week wait, by 14 DPO, breast tenderness, swellness, and especially a feeling of fullness may heighten. You also may experience subtle changes in areola color or more prominent veins.

Cramping

Mild abdominal cramping could persist, potentially feeling more pronounced than typical PMS cramps. You may also feel slightly nauseous or bloated; morning sickness tends to come a bit later into pregnancy.

>>MORE: Period Cramps vs. Early Pregnancy Cramps: What's the Difference?

Fatigue

Your body is rapidly adapting to the potential demands of pregnancy, which means you might feel more tired than usual.

Frequent urination

As your uterus grows, it exerts more pressure on your bladder. You might find yourself needing to pee more and going to the bathroom more often.

Backache

Like frequent urination, you might experience other symptoms as a result of your expanding uterus, including back discomfort.

Taking a pregnancy test at 14 DPO: a decisive moment

You’ve made it: the end of the two-week wait, and the typical time to take a pregnancy test. By now, if you’re pregnant, your hCG levels should be high enough for most home pregnancy tests to yield accurate results.

Before you take a test, remember that the two-week wait is based on a typical 28-day cycle, which isn’t necessarily the norm for everyone. For example, some people have longer luteal phases, closer to 17 days, which means taking a test after 14 DPO might be more reliable.

While getting a positive pregnancy test at 14 DPO is possible, the best rule of thumb is to wait until you’ve missed your period. There’s no immediate rush; you typically can’t rule out a pregnancy until a week after a missed period.

No matter what happens, you deserve congratulations—the two-week wait isn’t an easy period to navigate, emotionally, physically, and mentally. We hope understanding what’s going on in your body, learning about symptoms, and gaining knowledge about pregnancy tests makes you feel empowered and supported in your fertility journey.

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

Chard T. (1992). Pregnancy tests: a review.
Gnoth C & Johnson S. (2014). Strips of Hope: Accuracy of Home Pregnancy Tests and New Developments.

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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