13 DPO. Are you wondering what 13 DPO is? Are you trying to conceive? Wish to know what could be done to make sure that you get pregnant sooner? Pregnancy is a beautiful dream for every woman like you. From the day that you learn you are pregnant, you start to live in a world with lots of dreams filled with joy and expectations. Becoming a mother is the happiest of moments and is a day that strengthens a family’s bond. Go ahead and read further to discover more about 13 DPO and the advantages of tracking your menstruation. If you are just starting out, consider reading what to expect during your first week, in this 7 DPO article.
What is 13DPO?
13 DPO means 13 Days Post Ovulation. Ovulation is a process happening in your ovaries. When you ovulate, either of your ovaries will release a mature egg, ready to be fertilized. The egg then travels towards the uterus through your fallopian tube. In the fallopian tube, the egg meets the sperm to get fertilized, then subsequently proceeds to the well-formed uterus to get implanted as an embryo. However, if fertilization does not happen, your well-formed uterine wall starts shedding off its layers, which is called menstruation.
Menstruation occurs in a cycle. Each woman is unique, and the duration of the cycle differs. Depending on your cycle, ovulation happens anywhere between 11 to 21 days of your cycle. These events are under the influence of female reproductive hormones, estrogen, and progesterone.
When the implantation occurs, then another hormone plays a vital role in pregnancy to produce the symptoms and signs of pregnancy. After two weeks or 13 days after ovulation, to be exact, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels rise in the body to significant levels. Even though hCG is the reason for symptoms and signs of pregnancy, the occurrence might differ depending on the individual.
Meanwhile, these symptoms might mimic the same symptoms you experience around your periods. However, you can track and identify them to see whether they are related to your pregnancy or periods.
What are the signs of pregnancy at 13 DPO?
You will experience signs as a result of hormonal and physiological changes due to pregnancy. The following are some pregnancy signs that occur two weeks past ovulation or 13 DPO.
Cramping
Cramps might occur similarly to the cramps you experience during the periods. The reason for cramps is the changes in the uterus after implantation. Hence, you will feel the pangs in your lower abdomen. Since cramps are not specific to pregnancy, this is not the sole evidence of pregnancy.
Spotting or Bleeding
Spotting occurs after 13 DPO and is a result of tissue shedding in the uterus due to the implantation of the fertilized egg. It is called ‘implantation spotting’. This spotting can occur 7 to 12 days following fertilization, which might coincide with the dates of your next period. Also, it might last for 2 or 3 days. This might cause confusion with menstruation. However, the amount and characteristics of bleeding spotting are not similar to menstrual bleeding.
Vaginal Discharge
Apart from bleeding or spotting, you may notice a whitish discharge from the vagina. The implantation results in changes in vaginal walls. Subsequent changes in vaginal wall thickening results in this discharge. However, it is not harmful and doesn’t need treatment. But, if you feel an itching or burning sensation related to the discharge or a smell, it is always advisable to seek medical attention to rule out bacterial or yeast infections. This secretion might continue throughout your pregnancy.
Nausea
Morning sickness is a well-known symptom of pregnancy. As explained in the previous paragraph, a significant rise of hCG occurs following implantation. The build-up of hCG doubles up its levels every 48 hours. This is the cause of nausea. Even though nausea occurring due to the pregnancy is called morning sickness, you might experience it any time during the day.
It has also been established that women who experience more nausea usually have higher levels of hCG hormones during pregnancy. Therefore, experiencing 13 DPO nausea can be one of the pregnancy signs for you! Fortunately, these symptoms will fade by in the 13–14 weeks of your pregnancy.
Fatigue
Fatigue is another common symptom experienced by many pregnant women. Subsequent to the implantation, the progesterone level also increases. Progesterone is an important hormone in maintaining pregnancy. Meanwhile, an increased level of progesterone hormones can be linked to the fatigue you might experience.
On the other hand, the changes in the blood supply to the uterus gets altered. Subsequently, this affects the circulatory system of the body. Similarly, low sugar levels might also cause fatigue. Ultimately, an increase in the demand for sugar, and oxygen and changes in the circulatory system make you feel tired.
Eating foods rich in iron and protein, drinking adequate amounts of water, and taking rest can help you feel relief from pregnancy-related fatigue.
Changes in Breasts
Like the ovaries, the breasts are also under the influence of female reproductive hormones, estrogen and progesterone. An increase in progesterone during pregnancy affects the breasts as well. Hence, breast changes are notable during the early days of pregnancy.
Your breast starts becoming bigger, and your nipples and areola also start to turn darker. Your breasts will start becoming more sensitive. They will be tender to touch. As the pregnancy progresses, these symptoms begin to recede.
Food Cravings
The hormonal changes affect your preferences over the foods you consume as well. You may start liking or disliking certain food items, flavors or smells. Common food cravings are chocolates, sweets, salty food, spicy food, citric food, coffee, ice, and ice cream. There is no well-defined explanation for food cravings, but it is thought to be a sign of nutritional deficiency in the mother. Since the demand for the nutrients like minerals and vitamins is high during pregnancy, the craving for specific foods set in. Meanwhile, the female reproductive hormones estrogen and progesterone are linked to these carvings by influencing the brain.
On the other hand, you may also start disliking or developing an aversion toward certain food items or smells. The good news is that this may not last for the whole duration of your pregnancy!
Testing 13 DPO
Pregnancy Kits
Since it’s introduction in 1976, home pregnancy tests are the most common diagnostic method for pregnancy (R). These kits use antibodies to detect the presence of hCG in the urine. These pregnancy test kits are freely available over the counter and reliably used worldwide. Even though the package insert claim ‘over 99%’ of accuracy, they have not been tested in independent studies.
How sensitive are the tests? – Since the sensitivity of the pregnancy test kits varies, always read the information leaflet that comes with the test kit.
How to check? – Methods of testing urine hCG differs between products. Some sticks require you to pee on the test stick, some test strips need to be put in your urine collected in a cup or container. Read the instructions that come with the kit.
How the results are shown? – The way the strips show the result might be different for each kit. Pink or blue lines, plus or minus signs or even a change of color in the urine are few methods to show the result. Some digital kits display pregnant or not pregnant and give an estimate of the time since your conception in weeks.
When to Check?
The hCG will be present in the blood after eight days after conception, i.e. 9-10 days after ovulation. Since day 1 of hCG, the concentration doubles daily till it reaches a plateau phase after 45 days post-conception. To prevent dilution of hCG level in urine, try not to drink too much before the test. Since the urine is concentrated overnight, it is recommended to perform any test on the morning of your expected date of the next period.
Positives and negatives are straightforward indications from the home pregnancy test kits. But there may be false positives and false negatives which might raise concern over the results shown by the kits. A false-positive result is seen when the kit says you are pregnant but actually you are not. It is possible but rare and some medications might cause such confusion. Meanwhile, a false negative is when you are actually pregnant, but the kit says you are not. Read further to understand more about false negative results.
13 DPO BFP, BFN and No Symptoms
Are you wondering whether these swear words? Trust me; they are not. BFP stands for ‘big fat positive’, and BFN is the opposite, ‘big fat negative’. In the previous paragraph, you read the absence of symptoms by 13DPO is possible even though you might be pregnant. Similarly, you might not get a positive pregnancy test result while you might be pregnant.
First of all, remember each pregnancy differs from another. Hence, the symptoms you feel may not be present in another. Or you may not feel any symptoms at all. In this context, the connection between symptoms, pregnancy, and BFN or BFP gets all possible combinations. This means there is a chance that you might get pregnant with symptoms and BFP or pregnancy with no symptoms and BFN.
For couples who are trying to get pregnant, BFP is what they would love to see in their 13 DPO pregnancy test. It would be saddening to have a BFN. However, having a negative pregnancy test does not mean there is no pregnancy for sure. Do not lose hope when you see a BFN at 13 DPO.
Big Fat Negative (BFN)
Let’s do a recap to understand why you may get a negative result. In a regularly menstruating woman, after copulation, the sperm fertilizes the ovum to form the embryo, and it implants in 6–12 days. It can even be delayed as long as 15 days. The pregnancy kits depend on a certain level of the hormone or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) to give a positive result. The hormone hCG is produced about 2–5 days after the implantation. If you consider this time frame, you might have a slightly different day to detect hCG in your blood or urine. Hence, your 13 DPO will not be positive. Rather than giving up hope, you can hopefully wait for 5-6 days or until you miss your upcoming period to repeat the pregnancy test.
No Symptoms
Like the menstrual cycles that are unique to you, the time and intensity of symptoms are also unique. There are instances where no symptoms of pregnancy occur 13 DPO. It does not necessarily mean that you did not get conceived. If you have irregular menstrual cycles, then the ovulation might have happened later than usual. Consequently, the symptoms also get delayed.
In essence, if you do not have any of these symptoms, do not worry. There are good chances of getting a positive result. Hence, do the pregnancy test at 13 DPO and repeat the test in a few days to ensure the outcome.
Despite the presence or absence of symptoms, always go for a 13 DPO pregnancy test to confirm the status. Apart from all of these, if you have any concerns about your health, reach out to your physician. Especially when you experience unpleasant symptoms, please consult your physician.
13 DPO and CareClinic
Remembering things can be difficult. We do not always remember everything happening around us, to us and inside of us. Practicing regular tracking of your health is essential and useful for everyone. Especially as a woman, your menstrual cycle is a necessary part of your health for various reasons. When it comes to pregnancy and expectations or planning a family, recording your menstruation is a must to achieve your goal of getting pregnant.
CareClinic is a one-stop personal health app, that provides numerous useful features to help you maintain a personal health record. Create a self-care action plan, add medications, supplements, diet, physical activities, and therapies you receive. You can even set your a healthcare team that manages your health and pregnancy. Add your physician, RN, and family members to keep them in the loop.
Diary Entry
The diary entry feature lets you make entries about your daily life. Use the app’s diary entry feature to track day-to-day activities or events you encounter. You will realize how important it is to monitor your days during your pregnancy. 13 DPO might sound simple when we talk, but in reality, keeping track of days can be difficult. Track your periods to learn the cycles, duration and when you have an increased chance of getting pregnant. You can read more about menstrual cycles and period tracking on our blog here.
Symptom Tracker
The symptom tracker lets you add symptoms you are experiencing. You can start tracking them even before 13 DPO if you experience any of the symptoms mentioned above. Including pregnancy, if you have any medical conditions or medications, you can start tracking your symptoms before seeking medical attention and compare how well the therapy relieves you from symptoms after visiting the doctor’s office. This helps seek medical attention during pregnancy-related symptoms, which might lead to complications.
Pill Tracker & Reminder
Medications are important. Never forget your medications – including your multi-vitamins and folate with the CareClinic app. Get reminders before you run out of medications. Have a look at our blog article on pill tracking.
Nutrition
CareClinic offers a nutrition tracker, which helps you maintain your diet log. When you are pregnant, it is essential to keep track of your food to ensure adequate nutrition is taken for your baby’s wellbeing and yours. Meanwhile, this nutrition tracker will help identify your cravings and help you manage them. If you have a specific diet to change your food habit, you can follow your diet and reflect on how you can live a healthy life.
Activity
Use this feature to track any and all activities you do. CareClinic’s activity tracker lets you identify any actions that worsen or relieves your moods and symptoms. You can figure out which activities help improve your symptoms and which don’t. If you suffer from non-pregnancy specific symptoms like fatigue, you can identify them easily by reviewing your activities. You can look back to see if there are any correlations between your symptoms and any activity you may have participated in.
Therapy
Keep a record of therapies you may be receiving. Maybe you are seeing an obstetrician or even your family doctor. You can record all of your appointments so that you never forget something.
Reports
Reports are another great feature in the CareClinic app. They can provide a lot of perception into your lifestyle. CareClinic’s reports consider your logs in diary, nutrition, activities, symptoms etc., and subsequently generates reports to show the associations between those entries. This connection would be helpful to learn more about yourself and your pregnancy-related changes.
13 DPO is a guide to check your pregnancy status. Still, you should always seek medical advice if you have any concerns about your pregnancy status, symptoms or pregnancy test itself. Using an all-in-one app like CareClinic can help you lead a healthy pregnancy by getting into the habit of tracking and sticking with it.
Download CareClinic now and plan for your healthy pregnancy and healthy life ahead.
