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If you’re trying to get pregnant, you’re probably curious how quickly after sexual intercourse you will officially “be pregnant”.
The answer to this question varies according to several factors.
You could be pregnant as soon as 6 days after sex.
Or you could be pregnant as long as 17 days after sex.
But there is one thing for sure: it’s a myth you can get pregnant immediately after unprotected sex.
So, how long after sex does implantation occur? We’ll explore all that and more in this article.
And if you’re not a big reader, here’s a video you can watch instead:
To better understand when implantation occurs, let’s begin by looking at the steps of conception.
Steps of conception
The steps of conception can be broken down into:
- Ovulation
- Fertilization
- Implantation
Ovulation
This is when a mature egg releases from an ovary. It typically happens 12-14 days before your next period and is triggered by a surge in luteinizing hormone.
Read More: When do you ovulate after an LH surge?
Once the egg releases from the ovary, it gets swept into the fallopian tube where it can be fertilized for up to 24 hours.
Fertilization
A mature egg will hang around in the fallopian tube for up to 24 hours in hopes of getting fertilized by sperm.
If sperm is present or enters the reproductive tract during this time, it has a chance to fertilize the egg.
This fertilization process involves the sperm and egg fusing to form new life. This new life begins as a zygote and then rapidly divides and grows to become an embryo.
There are hair-like projections in the fallopian tube that sweep the embryo along so it can enter its new home: the uterus. The embryo travels for about 4 days before it reaches the uterus.
Implantation
Once the embryo reaches the uterus implantation can occur. The uterus is receptive to implantation around 6-12 days past ovulation (DPO). Attempts outside this period of receptivity reduce the chances of a successful pregnancy.
The embryo releases hCG to help prepare the uterus for implantation. The uterus undergoes decidualization which also creates the optimal environment for implantation.
The embryo prepares itself by “hatching” from the protective layer that surrounds it.
From here the embryo can burrow into the uterine lining, completing the implantation process. Once the process is complete hCG levels rise rapidly, typically doubling every 48 hours.
You can see now how many factors affect how quickly implantation can occur after sex. But let’s look even deeper at what can influence the timeline.
How long after sex does implantation occur?
Ready for some fertility math?
To calculate the amount of time it takes for implantation to occur after sex use this equation:
Sperm travel + fertilization + implantation = total time to get pregnant
- Sperm travel
Once the sperm enters the vaginal canal it can take about 15-45 minutes to reach the fallopian tube.
- Fertilization
The amount of time it takes for sperm to fertilize an egg will depend on if ovulation has occurred. Sperm can fertilize quickly (within minutes) if a mature egg is in the fallopian tube. However, if ovulation has not occurred, then the sperm may have to wait up to 5 days for an egg to be released.
- Implantation
Implantation can occur 6-12 DPO but commonly occurs 8-10 days after ovulation.
Let’s run through some examples to illustrate this for you.
In the first scenario, let’s say you have sex on January 1st which is your ovulation day. Sperm is able to fertilize the egg quickly since you have already ovulated! And suppose implantation then occurs on 6 DPO on January 7th.
How many days after sex did implantation occur?
In this scenario, implantation occurred 6 days after sex. Quick work!
Let’s look at another scenario where ovulation and implantation occur later.
Again, you have sex on January 1st. But you’re ovulating on January 6th. (Remember, sperm can survive in the female reproductive tract for 5 days, so you still have a chance to get pregnant.) Implantation occurs on 12 DPO on January 18th.
How many days after sex did implantation occur?
For this scenario, implantation occurred 17 days after sex.
You can see from these scenarios that there can be a wide range in the timeline due to many factors. The important factor is that implantation occurs during the implantation window which is 6-12 DPO.
Now you know the timeline surrounding implantation. But how will you know when implantation occurs?
How do I know if implantation has occurred?
You may experience symptoms alongside implantation. Or you may have no symptoms at all.
About 15-25% of women experience implantation bleeding which is light spotting that lasts for 1-2 days.
This light bleeding may also be accompanied by implantation cramps. These cramps are typically mild abdominal cramps that last for 1-2 days.
Other implantation symptoms include:
- Nausea
- Bloating
- Breast tenderness
- Headaches
- Mood swings
“Implantation dip” (this is an anecdotal decrease in basal body temperature on the day of implantation. BBT rises back up the following day.)
(Note: Many of these symptoms are like PMS symptoms since both are due to high progesterone levels.)
Implantation is crucial for the success of a pregnancy. So you may be wondering if there is anything you can do to increase your chances of successful implantation.
How to increase the chances of implantation?
The best way to improve your chances of pregnancy is to live a healthy lifestyle.
Here are a few things to keep in mind to improve your health:
- Eat nutritious foods that support progesterone production
- Moderate-intensity exercise for 150 minutes per week
- Avoid alcohol and cigarette smoking
- Drink less than 200-300 mg caffeine/day
- Sleep 7-8 hours per night
- Reduce stress levels
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Take prenatal vitamins that contain 400-800 mcg of folic acid
Read more: How to make implantation successful: What you need to know
Now that you understand more about implantation, you may be wondering how long you should wait before you take a pregnancy test.
How long should I wait until I take a pregnancy test?
For the most accurate result, it’s best to wait until the day after your missed period to take a pregnancy test.
It can be challenging to wait this long when you are biting your nails to find out if you’re pregnant.
If the anticipation is killing you, there are sensitive pregnancy tests on the market that claim they can detect hCG as early as 10 DPO. But remember, you may not receive a big fat positive this early if implantation has not occurred yet, if your hCG levels are not high enough, or if the pregnancy test is not sensitive enough.
The average timeline for implantation is 6-12 DPO. So don’t fret if you get a negative result. You can take a pregnancy test after a couple of days to ensure hCG levels have had plenty of time to rise.
Read more: How Long After Ovulation Can You Take a Pregnancy Test?
So, what happens when you become pregnant? What are some of the early signs and symptoms of pregnancy?
What are the signs and symptoms of early pregnancy?
For many women, the first sign of pregnancy is a missed period.
There is a wide variety of other symptoms that accompany pregnancy including:
- Missed period
- Frequent urination
- Breast tenderness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Tiredness
- Irritation and moodiness
- Food aversions
- Increased sensitivity to smells
Key Takeaways
- Becoming pregnant is more than just “sperm meets egg”. Ovulation, fertilization, and implantation all have to be successful for a viable pregnancy.
- It could take 6-17 days for implantation to occur after sex.
- Implantation typically occurs 8-10 DPO.
- You could experience bleeding and cramps alongside implantation.
- There is no one way to increase the chances of successful implantation. However, a general suggestion is to practice healthy lifestyle habits.
- It’s recommended to wait until the day after your missed period to take a pregnancy test. This ensures hCG has had time to rise.
- Early pregnancy symptoms include missed period, frequent urination, breast tenderness, nausea and vomiting, and food aversions.
FAQs
Implantation may occur 6-17 days after sexual intercourse. This depends on factors such as when you ovulate, and when fertilization and implantation occur.
Implantation bleeding occurs alongside implantation. So it can take between 6-17 days after sex for implantation bleeding to occur.
Read more: Implantation Bleeding Vs Periods | What Does Implantation Bleeding Look Like?
You can confirm pregnancy once your hCG levels are high enough after implantation. Implantation usually occurs 8-10 DPO but hCG needs several days to rise high enough to be detected by a pregnancy test. This is why it’s recommended to wait at least one day after your missed period to take a pregnancy test.
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