22 DPO: Pregnancy test accuracy, symptoms & hCG levels

It’s common to expect pregnancy 10-12 days after ovulation. However, some women test negative up to 14 days after ovulation and assume they’re not pregnant. But what if it’s merely a case of late implantation? If you're 22 days past ovulation (22 DPO), you're likely in one of two situations: either eagerly waiting to confirm a pregnancy or wondering why your period hasn't arrived yet.

With PCOS, cycle lengths vary a lot. With conception, it doesn’t really matter, when you ovulate, just that you ovulate. Because without ovulation, there’s no chance of conception. Tracking your ovulation greatly improves your chance of conceiving.

22 DPO is an important time in your cycle when pregnancy signs become clearer and pregnancy tests are highly reliable. This article highlights what you need to know about what's happening in your body at this stage.

{{button}}

Understanding 22 DPO Pregnancy Tests

At 22 days post ovulation, pregnancy tests are extremely accurate. By this point, if you're pregnant, your body has been producing the pregnancy hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) for about two weeks.

Home pregnancy tests work by detecting hCG in your urine. Most tests can detect this hormone when levels reach around 20-25 mIU/mL. Blood tests are even more sensitive and can detect levels as low as 5-10 mIU/mL. The good news? At 22 DPO, you're well past the point where hCG levels would be too low to detect. But if you’re yet to get that BFP, no need to panic, it's not late.

False positives are also rare at this stage. However, if your test is negative at 22 DPO and you still haven't gotten your period, you may want to retest in a few days or consult your healthcare provider to rule out other causes for your missed period.

How Many Weeks Pregnant at 22 DPO?

Pregnancy age also known as gestational stage is usually calculated from the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP), not from conception or ovulation. Since ovulation usually happens around day 14 of a typical 28-day cycle, when you're at 22 DPO, you're actually about 36 days from your LMP (14 days to ovulation plus 22 days past ovulation). This puts you at approximately 5 weeks pregnant. 

However, the LMP method is inaccurate at times. This is because it assumes a 28-day menstrual cycle and ovulation on day 14. But follicular phase duration varies between women especially if you have PCOS. So ovulation leading to conception can occur from day 9 to day 30.

Healthcare providers use the LMP method because the first day of your last period is easier to pinpoint than the exact day of conception or ovulation.

At five weeks pregnant, the baby has transfromed from an blastocyt into an embryo. Its limbs are yet to form as it has a big head , curved little body and a tail like a seahorse. Its height is about 2.6-6mm and it weighs less than 1g.

Common Symptoms at 22 DPO

At 22 days post ovulation, pregnancy symptoms often become more noticeable. Remember that every woman's experience is different. Some women have strong symptoms, while others feel completely normal.

Here are the most common symptoms you might experience at 22 DPO if you're pregnant:

Missed Period: This is usually the most obvious sign. At 22 DPO, in a typical 28-day cycle, your period would be about 8 days late. 

Breast Changes: Your breasts may feel tender, swollen, or fuller than usual. The hormonal changes of early pregnancy often cause breast sensitivity. You might also notice that your nipples appear darker in color.

Fatigue: Feeling unusually tired is very common in early pregnancy. High levels of the hormone progesterone can make you feel exhausted, even if you're getting adequate sleep. This fatigue can set in early and is one of the body's ways of telling you what’s happening.

Nausea: While it's often called "morning sickness," nausea can strike at any time of day. Some women start feeling queasy as early as a few weeks after conception. By 22 DPO, morning sickness begins to develop, but usually peaks around weeks 8-11 of pregnancy.

Frequent Urination: You might find yourself urinating more than usual. This happens because of increased blood flow during pregnancy and hormonal changes that affect your kidneys.

Mood Changes: Hormonal fluctuations can lead to mood swings, irritability, or emotional sensitivity. You may find yourself feeling teary or emotionally reactive to things that wouldn't normally bother you.

Food Cravings or Aversions: You can also develop strong preferences for certain foods or sudden aversions to foods you previously enjoyed. These changes are caused by hormonal shifts.

All of these symptoms can also be caused by other factors, including premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or other health conditions. 

hCG Levels at 22 DPO

Understanding hCG levels can help you know what to expect if you're having blood work done or if you're tracking your pregnancy's progression.

During early pregnancy, hCG rises sharply. This rapid increase is a sign of a healthy, developing pregnancy. Research indicates that about 85% of normal pregnancies show hCG levels doubling within 72 hours during the early stages.

By 22 days post ovulation, if you’ve conceived around the time of ovulation, your hCG levels become more signficant. While the exact levels vary, at approximately 5 weeks pregnant (which is where you'd be at 22 DPO), your hCG levels typically range from about 217 to 8,245 mIU/mL. It's not the number that matters, rather it’s how levels change over time. In some women, the rate of increase remains constant while in others, it can slow down.  

If your healthcare provider orders hCG blood tests, they may check your levels a few days apart to ensure they're rising appropriately. A slow rise, plateau, or declining hCG levels may indicate potential complications such as an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage and should be evaluated by your doctor.

Remember that hCG levels alone don't tell the whole story so don’t fixate on them. Some perfectly healthy pregnancies have lower hCG levels than average, while some pregnancies with complications start with normal levels. That's why doctors often rely on ultrasound findings after 5-6 weeks of pregnancy, which provide more accurate information about pregnancy health than hCG numbers alone.

What to Do Next

If you get a positive pregnancy test at 22 DPO, Here are the important next steps:

• Schedule a prenatal appointment with your obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) or midwife. 
• Start taking a prenatal vitamin if you haven't already. Ensure your prenatal contains at least 400 micrograms of folic acid, to prevent neural tube defects.
• Make healthy lifestyle changes by avoiding alcohol, tobacco, recreational drugs and limiting caffeine. 
• Pregnancy is tough so get plenty of rest.  

Final Thoughts

At 22 days past ovulation, you're at a point where pregnancy can be reliably confirmed through testing. Whether you're hoping for a positive result or not, this is a significant moment in your cycle. If you're pregnant, you're at the beginning of an incredible journey. If you're not, understanding your cycle and timing can help you plan for future attempts if you're trying to conceive.

It’s essential to take care of yourself, stay informed, and reach out to healthcare providers with any questions or concerns. Your body is doing something remarkable, and you deserve support every step of the way.

{{pink-banner}}