11 DPO: What to expect at 11 days post ovulation?

11 days post ovulation is the time when your pregnancy might have already officially started. Since implantation usually occurs between 6 DPO and 10 DPO, at 11 DPO, your body might already start changing its hormone levels to sustain early pregnancy. This can result in the following symptoms:

• Cramping
• Bloating
• Fatigue
• Breast changes
• Frequent urination
• Mood swings

Although you may notice these symptoms, they may just be a part of your PMS, and it’s still a bit early to test. So, it’s important to stay patient and wait until you miss your period.

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If you’re planning a baby, it’s absolutely natural to count down the days and be on a high alert for any early clues that occur in your body. From breast tenderness and increased tiredness to missed periods and nausea, these and many other early pregnancy signs can show at different times for different women. Although some females report not feeling any different for a whole month after conception, some early signals can appear as soon as week one or two after conception, which is still within your two-week wait (TWW). And that’s a part of the reason to count DPO.

This article is a part of our series devoted to DPO. Here, we’ll delve into 11 DPO and the symptoms that you may experience that could hint at early pregnancy.

11 DPO: What Does It Mean and What Is Happening in Your Body?

11 DPO stands for 11 days post ovulation. In simple terms, 11 days ago, one of your ovaries released a mature egg that could then be fertilized by sperm to start a pregnancy.

In a typical 28-day cycle, ovulation should take place on day 14, leaving 14 more days before your next period starts. According to this logic, 11 DPO is the 25th day of a cycle. However, it’s hard to place it in your cycle accurately because the overall cycle length and the ovulation date can vary from one woman to another.

Next, to understand what’s going on in the body at 11 days post ovulation, you need to understand the entire conception timeline. So, when the ovary releases the egg, it remains available for the next 12-24 hours. During this time, it can (hopefully) meet the sperm and get fertilized. If this doesn’t happen, the egg is reabsorbed into the body. But, if conception occurs, it takes 6 to 10 days for a fertilized egg to travel down the fallopian tube and reach the uterus, where it attaches itself to the uterine lining. Respectively, the process of implantation typically occurs between 6 DPO and 10 DPO, which marks the official start of a pregnancy.

So, what’s happening in your body at 11 days post ovulation? Based on everything said earlier, 11 DPO is when your pregnancy may already officially begin. In this case, your body should already be undergoing hormonal changes. Estrogen and progesterone levels will not drop as they usually do before a period. And your body will start producing human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which is known as a pregnancy hormone that supports fetal growth and is detected by pregnancy tests.

How Does hCG Affect Your Body?

The production of the pregnancy hormone begins right after implantation (6-10 DPO). Respectively, if implantation was successful, you will already have a  surge in this hormone at 11 DPO. Yet, its levels will still be low enough because this hormone takes about 48-72 hours to double.

hCG is produced by syncytiotrophoblast cells that grow around the embryo after implantation and, later, by the placenta. This hormone is crucial for supporting pregnancy through all its milestones.  In the early stage (after implantation), this is one of the hormones involved in ceasing your menstrual cycle. So, it’s the reason why you miss your period after getting pregnant. But it’s also one of the primary causes of discomforting symptoms typical of early pregnancy. So, when its surge begins, you can naturally start noticing the first symptoms.

11 DPO Symptoms: What to Expect

So, at 11 DPO, you might already be pregnant and have your hCG levels going up. This means that it’s possible to start noticing some early pregnancy signs. Confusingly, many of these symptoms resemble a typical premenstrual syndrome (PMS), which also occurs around the same time. And this can make it harder to understand whether you’re actually pregnant or have your period coming soon.

In any case, the most common 11 DPO symptoms if pregnant include:

Cramping

One of the most common symptoms is abdominal cramping that, sometimes, radiates to the back. This can result from a number of causes. Most often, experts associate 11 DPO spotting and cramping with implantation. Although this process should’ve already happened between 6-10 DPO, some of its symptoms can last for a few hours or even days. Additionally, abdominal cramps and backache might be caused by deep hormonal changes, which may cause uterine contractions.

Bloating

Feeling gassy is also common in early pregnancy. According to studies, progesterone, which increases to support pregnancy, acts as a relaxant on the smooth muscle of the intestine. This gives more space for gas to build up and thus create bloating.

Fatigue

Hormonal changes, the supply of nutrients to the fetus, and other functions that your body has to perform in early pregnancy to sustain it are very energy-consuming. Naturally, many women feel more tired and sleepy, especially in early pregnancy. However, fatigue is also typical before your period.

Breast Changes

Your breasts are highly sensitive to all hormonal shifts. Due to this reason, it’s common to experience breast changes in different phases of your cycle. And that’s why it’s also common to notice them in early pregnancy. Namely, women often report fuller and more tender breasts due to a hormonal change after implantation. 

Other Symptoms

Among the aforementioned 11 DPO symptoms, there are a few additional possible signals. In particular, some women may notice running to pee more frequently. This could result from an increased blood volume that stimulates a more active work of your kidneys. Also, it’s typical to feel more moody at this stage. Many women report more intense and quickly changing emotions in early pregnancy, although mood swings are also known as a typical PMS symptom.

And what about 11 DPO nausea? Nausea and vomiting are known as some of the most surefire early pregnancy symptoms, so it’s quite natural if you are expecting to have them. Although it’s possible to feel nauseous right after implantation (due to hormonal changes), most women experience it much later, around week 4.

Can I Take a Pregnancy Test 11 DPO?

So, if implantation has already happened and your hCG levels have started rising, this probably means that you can take a test and finally learn if you’re pregnant. Or is 11 DPO too early to test?

Although this concern sounds pretty logical, the truth is that 11 DPO is indeed rather early to take a test. After implantation, you will already have some hCG in your body. However, its levels are probably still low enough to be detected by most tests. 

If your hCG levels are still insufficient, taking an 11 days post ovulation pregnancy test can result in getting a false negative result. Generally, it’s recommended to wait until the first day of a missed period. This is the time when most at-home tests should give you an accurate result.

FAQ

Are there any specific 11 DPO symptoms leading to BFP?

It’s possible to experience some symptoms, such as fatigue, breast changes, mood swings, and others, very early on. However, often, they are very mild or resemble typical PMS symptoms, which can make it rather hard to tell for sure if you’re pregnant or just getting closer to your period.

11 DPO cramping and gassy: what does it mean?

A big share of women report feeling more bloated at the end of their two-week wait. This is often the result of an increased level of progesterone, which can allow more gas to build up. And cramping is a typical symptom at 11 DPO due to prior implantation and/or hormonal changes.

11 DPO discharge if pregnant: does it look any different?

Vaginal discharge is another signal you can look at to track different changes in your body, including pregnancy. Rising estrogen makes your cervical mucus less elastic and thickens it. This is needed to protect the uterus and fetus from bacteria and infections. However, you may not notice a tangible change at 11 DPO yet.

Conclusion

11 DPO is one of the final days before your next period, which can make this period feel rather emotionally intense. If you are trying to conceive, it’s natural to look out for early pregnancy symptoms, and some of the most common ones you may notice around this time include:

• Cramping
• Bloating
• Fatigue
• Breast changes
• Frequent urination
• Mood swings

Although some women do have these 11 DPO symptoms and also a “gut feeling” that they’re pregnant, remember that it’s also okay not to feel any different yet. At 11 DPO, your hormonal levels are only starting to shift and may not cause any tangible symptoms yet. So, don’t rush it and stock up on patience until your missed period, when you can finally test and learn if you’re pregnant.

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