When you’re trying to conceive, waiting for that positive result can be maddening!

That two weeks of waiting part can feel like a really long time.

As well as whatever hopes you have, there seem to be all kinds of symptoms, or lack of them, taunting you.

All this can leave you confused and not sure about what to expect.

What if you’ve had some feelings but the symptoms disappeared before BFP?

What if you’ve had feelings shortly after ovulation but then they stopped?

Symptoms coming and going can really make you question what is happening.

Let’s look at some of the things that might be causing this confusion for you.

Breast tenderness symptoms disappeared before BFP

There’s a pesky hormone that likes to taunt women in the time between ovulation and their period (‘Aunt Flo’ or AF). The hormone is called progesterone.

It’s a very important hormone that’s responsible for preparing your body for pregnancy.

When you ovulate, the level of progesterone starts to rise.

If a fertilised egg implants in your uterus, the hormone’s job is to tell your body you’re pregnant and not to start your period.

The latest studies suggest women can increase their chance of a healthy baby by taking supplements:

‘Giving progesterone to women with early pregnancy bleeding and a history of miscarriage could lead to 8,450 more babies being born each year’.

If you don’t have a history of miscarriage, you shouldn’t worry about progesterone unless your doctor discovers your levels are low.

Typically, progesterone peaks around 10 days after ovulation.

After that peak, you might notice changes in the way your body feels. These changes will be either early pregnancy symptoms or PMS symptoms.

The problem is they often look and feel very similar.

What does this mean for you?

PMS symptoms disappeared before BFP

After ovulation and before your AF or positive test result, you’re likely to experience various feelings in your body.

Figuring out what they mean, though, can be tricky.

AF type signs can mirror pregnancy signs.

Some typical PMS symptoms are:

Sore breasts
Irritability
Cramps
Mood swings
Increased hunger
Decreased energy level or fatigue
Spotting
Greasy skin or outbreaks
Lower back pain.

Some typical early pregnancy symptoms are:

A feeling of bloating or fullness in the belly
Sore breasts (especially nipples)
Food aversions or cravings
Increased hunger
Fatigue or sleepiness
Spotting
AF type cramps
Irritability
Mood swings
Heartburn
Twinges in the pubic area
Morning sickness
Backache.

A quick look at the lists will show how difficult it is to tell whether you’re about to get a visit from your AF or that second line.

Many of the feelings are similar.

Symptoms disappeared after implantation

It’s important to remember all women are different and all bodies are different.

Your feelings won’t necessarily be the same as those your friends have experienced.

Hormones can be mysterious.

Many pregnant women report having strong feelings one day and none the next.

Some women even experience cryptic pregnancy.

Others feel the symptoms immediately after implantation.

Try not to compare your own signs and symptoms with those other women have experienced.

A BellyBelly fan who got a BFP said:

“I was lucky enough to [have got my BFP] on our 4th attempt (4th month) and, believe it or not, it was the only month I didn’t get ANY symptoms”

9 DPO symptoms disappeared

It’s more difficult to know whether you’re pregnant or not when you’re only a few days past ovulation.

Even two days can make a big difference.

Your progesterone is either rising or falling and can cause some confusing symptoms for you.

If you get a BFN (big fat negative test result) before your period is due, don’t assume you’re not pregnant.

Until your period arrives, it can be difficult to tell whether you’re pregnant or not.

False BFNs are typical in early pregnancy, when the level of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is too low for a home pregnancy test to detect.

Each brand and type of home pregnancy test has a different sensitivity to hCG, so it’s important to check how sensitive the one you’re using is.

More sensitive tests will give a positive result earlier than a less sensitive test.

Some will show a second line earlier than others.

10 DPO symptoms gone, then BFP

It’s rare to get a false-positive result.

If you’ve had a positive result and have lost your signs, you can assume you’re pregnant.

If you get a positive result and then experience strong cramps or bleeding, it’s best to see your doctor and have a discussion about your experience.

The doctor might want to do an ultrasound to confirm everything is looking good. This is often done at about 7 weeks.

It’s normal to have disappearing symptoms; it depends on how your body reacts to the hormones.

Some women never feel symptoms and end up with a healthy pregnancy.

Again, try not to compare yourself with anyone else. Most women are in the same boat, and don’t really know until a doctor has confirmed with a blood test.

Everyone will have opinions about what’s normal but everyone is different, and every woman’s cycle is different.

It’s important to keep seeing your doctor as things progress to make sure everything is fine.

At this early stage in your pregnancy, before your period is even due, it’s normal for you to have days of no symptoms.

Many women report feeling great in early pregnancy.

12 DPO symptoms gone, then BFP

Another important hormone to be aware of is hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin).

If you’re pregnant, your hCG levels rise until about the beginning of the second trimester.

This means while other hormonal levels are changing, so is your level of hCG.

Because every woman reacts differently to changes in hormones, hCG and progesterone make each woman feel different.

Between ovulation and your period, you can have some days of feeling terrible and some days of no signs. The same is true if you’re pregnant.

Some days you’ll feel all the signs and some days you’ll feel none.

This is normal. There’s no ‘right way’ to feel during the early stages.

Try not to compare yourself with anyone else.

12 DPO symptoms disappeared after BFP

If you saw a second line and then your signs and symptoms disappeared, you should try testing again.

If you’ve got a BFP, you can feel hopeful – even if you’re feeling nothing. Seeing that second line is a great sign.

Ultimately, it’s best to see your doctor and discuss having a blood test, so pregnancy can be confirmed.

If your feelings have disappeared or you’re experiencing any cramps or bleeding, your doctor might also want to check your hormone levels.

Disappearing symptoms right before BFP after IVF

When you try to get pregnant using fertility treatments such as IVF, it’s important to listen to your doctor’s health information.

Your fertility treatment might include injecting your body with hormones. This can lead to more than one symptom that leaves you feeling pregnant.

In this case, there should be discussions about what to expect.

In cases of IVF treatment, you’re generally cautioned not to take a home pregnancy test. Testing too early could lead to a disappointing false-positive result.

It can be difficult to take no action, but it’s better than receiving false information.

The feelings experienced during fertility treatments might not be the same as those experienced during a naturally occurring pregnancy.

You might even be feeling nothing, but still get the result you want.

Again, this should be something that comes up in discussion with your fertility expert.

Fingers crossed for the result you’re hoping for!