16 DPO: What is it and what do you do next?

If the average duration of the luteal phase is 12-14 days, 16 DPO is a few days after you should expect your period to start. For the TTC community, this is the time that ends the long wait and brings clarity because you can finally test for pregnancy now.

If you’re pregnant, at this time, it’s possible to feel the first tangible early pregnancy symptoms, such as:

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

All or some of these signs, along with a missed period, can be a good sign that you’re pregnant. However, not experiencing any tangible symptoms yet is also normal. So the best way to confirm pregnancy is to do a test.

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If you’re trying to conceive (TTC), the time between your ovulation and expected period can be an incredibly exciting, yet anxious period. During this time, a female body goes through multiple important milestones for early pregnancy, such as:

• Conception
• Implantation
• hCG build-up

And then, you finally reach the end of the two-week wait and the time when you either miss your period and confirm a pregnancy or get your menstruation and learn that conception didn’t occur in the current cycle. 16 DPO is two days after the average ending of the two-week wait. That is, it’s the time when you can gain more clarity.

In this article, we’ll tell you what 16 DPO means, what symptoms you might experience, and when and how to test to get the answer you’ve been waiting for so long.

What Is 16 DPO?

16 DPO stands for 16 days past ovulation. This timeframe is usually beyond the expected two-week wait, which lasts until around 14 DPO. And this means that your period was likely expected to start a few days ago.

16 DPO No Period: What Does It Mean?

In a female menstrual cycle, periods begin after the luteal phase and mark the start of the follicular phase. The luteal phase starts right after ovulation and is characterized by increasing progesterone levels that are needed to thicken the uterine lining so that it can accommodate pregnancy if conception occurs. Women on their TTC journey commonly know the luteal phase as the “two-week wait.” This is an important milestone in early pregnancy, after which you can finally learn whether you’re pregnant or not.

Typically, the duration of the luteal phase is 12-14 days. This means that your two-week wait should end at 14 DPO tops. After this, you either get your period or can do a pregnancy test to confirm successful conception. Respectively, if you still don’t have menstruation at 16 DPO, there is a good chance that you’re pregnant.

Other Causes for a Missed Period at 16 DPO

Although 16 DPO no period could indicate that you’re pregnant. It’s still not a decisive factor. Sometimes, menstruation might be running late due to other reasons, such as:

• Delayed ovulation: In a standard 28-day cycle, ovulation occurs on day 14, and it’s often one of the main reference points for TTC women. However, cycles are not always 28 days long. Their length can fluctuate. And so can the timing of ovulation. If your ovulation occurred later than expected, this could mean that 16 DPO is still too early to get your period. To know this for sure, you need to track the start and end of ovulation, so that you can foresee the start of your period.
• Hormonal imbalance: Late or missed periods could also result from an inner hormonal imbalance. Things like lifestyle changes, stress, and certain medical conditions can change the levels of your essential hormones, leading to cycle irregularity.

What Is Happening in Your Body at 16 DPO?

If pregnancy occurs in this cycle, 16 DPO is quite far down the road. The official start of pregnancy begins after implantation. Most often, it occurs between 6 and 12 DPO. As soon as it happens, the embryo starts producing human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which is the essential pregnancy hormone.

Although hCG levels are very low at first, they rise quickly, doubling every 48-72 hours. Respectively, by 16 DPO, you should already have fairly high hCG levels, which could mean more tangible early pregnancy signs and accurate test results.

Along with hCG, your body is also actively producing progesterone and estrogen at this time. These hormones play crucial roles in preventing menstruation and supporting fetal growth.

16 DPO Symptoms If Pregnant

Due to ongoing hormonal shifts, it’s quite common to experience more noticeable early pregnancy signs at 16 DPO. If you’re pregnant, you can expect to have some of the following 16 DPO symptoms:

• Fatigue: The first weeks after conception put a lot of physiological and psychological pressure on your body. Hormonal shifts, increased metabolism, greater blood volume, and anxiety that you may experience at 16 DPO can make you feel more exhausted than usual.
• Cramping: Light to mild cramping is a common symptom of early pregnancy. It can be caused by both hormonal shifts and the changes in the position, size, and sensitivity of the uterus.
• Bloating: Many women feel more swollen and bloated in their stomach in early pregnancy. This is primarily due to the rising progesterone. This hormone relaxes the intestinal muscles, which allows more gas to build up in it.
• Mood swings: Hormonal changes directly impact your brain and nervous system. This can lead to a heightened emotional sensitivity and more frequent mood swings.
• Breast changes: Changes in estrogen and progesterone levels can make your breasts swell and increase in size. You may also experience increased sensitivity and darkening of the areolas.
• Frequent urination: In the first weeks of pregnancy, your blood volume will significantly increase. The total increase through the pregnancy can range from 20% to 100% above prepregnancy levels. This will stimulate the work of the kidneys, which leads to more frequent urination.
• Nausea: Sometimes, pregnant women may start feeling the first signs of morning sickness as early as 16 DPO. Additionally, food cravings and aversions can also be quite noticeable at this time. 

These are some of the most common and prominent 16 DPO symptoms if pregnant. Noticing them along with a missed period could mean that you’re pregnant. However, it’s important to remember that every body and pregnancy is different. That is, it’s equally normal to experience all, some, or none of the symptoms mentioned above.

Also, it’s important to mention that many of these symptoms are also common in PMS, which means that it’s possible to experience them at 16 DPO if your period is coming soon. With this in mind, we have to state that none of these signals is decisive. The best way to know if you’re pregnant for sure is to take a pregnancy test.

Pregnancy Testing at 16 DPO

Can you finally do a pregnancy test at 16 DPO? The short answer is “yes!”

16 DPO is a few days away from the presumptive time of implantation. This means that your body should’ve had enough time to double hCG so that it becomes detectable for a test. Typically, 16 DPO hCG levels range between 25 and 400 mIU/mL. Although the exact concentration can vary from one woman to another, this should already be enough to get a test result with over 99% accuracy.

To do a test, pick a brand that you trust and be sure to check its expiration date because expired tests can show false results. Also, consider doing it in the morning with your first pee, so that the concentration of hCG is high.

If you get a positive pregnancy test at 16 DPO, in most cases, it’s definitive. Still, it’s recommended to confirm the result with a second test or see a healthcare provider to do an additional blood test.

16 DPO Negative Pregnancy Test or Faint Line

Of course, every woman on a TTC journey hopes to see a big fat positive on a pregnancy test. But what if you get an uncertain or negative result?

Firstly, if you see a faint line at 16 DPO, don’t get worried just yet. Often, it’s still an indication of early pregnancy. A faint line can appear due to a still low hCG concentration, diluted urine, test variation, and other reasons. If you get a result like this, you need to be patient and retest after a few days.

What does a 16 days late negative pregnancy test mean? Usually, 16 DPO is the time when you can expect a fairly accurate test result. So, if you get a negative one, there is a chance that you didn’t get pregnant in this cycle. However, there might be certain exceptions. To be more specific, it’s possible to get a false negative if you had ovulation or implantation later than expected. In the case of a negative result, your next step should be to repeat a pregnancy test in a few days to confirm the result and, possibly, consult with a healthcare provider, especially if your period doesn’t start.

FAQ

I have camps at 16 DPO. What does this mean?

Cramping at 16 DPO is generally a normal occurrence, regardless of whether you’re pregnant or have your period coming soon. If you are pregnant, cramps can occur due to hormonal shifts and uterine changes. If you are not pregnant, cramps might be a part of PMS. Generally, cramping at this time is not a cause for concern. However, you might want to consult with a healthcare provider if you experience severe or prolonged cramping, especially if it’s accompanied by other concerning symptoms.

Is 16 DPO a good time for a pregnancy test?

Yes. 16 DPO is beyond the average luteal phase time, which means that this is the time when you should’ve probably already expected your period. The majority of at-home pregnancy tests recommend testing after the first day of a missed period. Thus, this is a good time for testing, especially if your period is late.

Does a 16 days late negative pregnancy test mean I’m not pregnant?

Receiving a negative test at 16 DPO can feel rather stressful and confusing, especially if you’ve missed your period. Although testing is generally considered accurate at this time, which means that a negative result is an indicator of no pregnancy, it’s also possible that your hCG levels are still not high enough to be detected. The best way to address this matter is to wait and retest in several days. If you receive multiple negative tests but don’t get your period, it might be a good idea to see your healthcare provider.

Conclusion

16 DPO is several days post the expected end of the luteal phase. That is, it’s the awaited end of the two-week wait and a very important, decisive milestone on your TTC journey.

If you have a regular cycle, you have probably expected your period to start by this time. If it doesn’t begin, often, it’s one of the first signs that you are pregnant, along with other common symptoms like breast tenderness, mood swings, frequent urination, and others. Luckily, 16 DPO is the time when your hCG levels should already rise, meaning that you can do a pregnancy test and expect an accurate result.

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