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How Long Does It Take To Become Pregnant?

Published on January 21, 2023

We all know that having sex causes pregnancy, but many are curious about how quickly this happens.

It turns out that there are other factors involved, so the solution is not precise. It’s truly a range, though. After having intercourse, you can become pregnant immediately; it might take a few days, or you might not.

Learn more about how long it takes to get pregnant after sex, how to increase your likelihood of conception, and when to anticipate the onset of pregnancy symptoms.

Does your age affect how quickly you get pregnant?

It does appear that age affects how long it takes to become pregnant. Women’s rates of conception start to fall around age 35.

Interestingly, a study found that although the average chance of becoming pregnant declines after age 35, the length of the monthly fertile window did not vary for women under 40.

Men’s fertility is less influenced by age than women’s, but it does start to fall by the late 30s.

How soon after having sex can I test for pregnancy?

When the embryo is implanted in your uterine wall, which could take many weeks after having intercourse, an at-home pregnancy test won’t reveal a positive result.

Less sensitive pregnancy tests are more reliable at about 10 days after your missing period, but more sensitive ones can detect pregnancy as early as the day you miss your period.

The effectiveness of a home pregnancy test depends on how much “pregnancy hormone” is present in your urine.

When to take a pregnancy test can vary from person to person because both implantation times and normal hCG levels can vary greatly. Your body starts producing hCG after implantation.

Therefore, some pregnancies might have measurable hCG levels a few days earlier than others.

Additionally, it implies that if you take your test too soon, your hCG levels may not have had a chance to rise yet, leading to a false negative result.

Your blood also contains pregnancy hormones, which can be identified earlier than a urine test.

Within 48 hours of egg fertilization, certain blood (serum) tests can identify a pregnancy; however, these tests must be performed in a lab or doctor’s office.

How Long Does It Take To Become Pregnant?

After having sex without birth control, implantation can take up to two weeks. You might think that this is a long period, so let’s define a few words and go over the specific steps from sexual activity to implantation (pregnancy) in more detail:

Your fertile window, typically an 8-day window, is the time during the month when you can get pregnant.

A week before ovulation, your ovaries release an egg that can be fertilized for up to two days.

Sperm from sex you have a week before ovulation can swim up to meet the egg after it is released because sperm cells can survive in the female reproductive canal for almost a week.

As a result, the sperm can approach the egg. Having penis-in-vagina sex (or even penis-vagina touch) while not using birth control or reliably using birth control is referred to as being “unprotected.”

For instance, if you typically take the pill but miss a few days or forget to get your shot for a few weeks, you are theoretically having unprotected sex. You are, therefore, capable of becoming pregnant.

When the sperm and egg come into contact, fertilization occurs, resulting in the development of an embryo.

If you’re ovulating at the moment and the sperm are aggressive, it can happen as soon as a few hours after sex or up to a week later.

The scientific definition of pregnancy is when the fertilized egg goes to the uterine wall and attaches itself to it. This may require one-week following conception.

Your pregnancy hormone levels will build to the point that you may experience some early pregnancy symptoms, such as exhaustion or cramps, within a few weeks.

All of this adds up to the fact that you can become pregnant (i.e., have the embryo implant in your uterus) anywhere between a few hours and two weeks after having sex.

How can I Improve my chances of getting pregnant?

There are a few things you can attempt if you’re trying to get pregnant to improve your chances:

Have sexual Relations every day while you are in your fertile window

How frequently one should have sex to become pregnant is a common question.

Regular sexual contact throughout your reproductive window may increase your likelihood of getting pregnant. It’s a popular misconception that preceding intercourse enhances the quality of sperm.

Though your chances of becoming pregnant are almost as excellent if you only have sex 2-3 times a week throughout your fertile period, don’t worry if having sex so frequently makes you anxious.

Improve your Health.

By taking care of your reproductive health and maintaining good health in general, you can guarantee that your body is prepared to handle the demands of pregnancy and boost your fertility.

This entails keeping a healthy weight and eating nutritious food (like the Mediterranean diet, which benefits fertility) (which means having not too much but not too little body fat).

Limit your caffeine and smoking.

High coffee intake and cigarette smoking are linked to decreased female fertility. Both can be challenging to give up, but happily, even cutting back on your caffeine and cigarette intake can favor your potential to get pregnant.

Attempt to relax more

Stress can significantly affect the delicate hormonal balance that contributes to female fertility.

While occasional or low levels of stress might be healthy and natural, too much stress can lead you to release often stress hormones, some of which can reduce your ability to conceive.

Try stress-reduction techniques such as counseling (particularly cognitive behavioral therapy), mindfulness meditation, and soliciting help with your obligations at work and home.

What is the Early Pregnancy Symptoms?

Some people are curious whether they will feel pregnant when fertilization occurs, whether it happens immediately after sex or days later.

The answer to that is probably no. However, some assert that they “knew” they were pregnant immediately after sex.

According to research, early pregnancy symptoms can appear as soon as one week after having intercourse, but they typically appear several weeks later.

However, it is also usual for some people not to show any early pregnancy signs, which is also normal. The first few weeks to a month or two of pregnancy are usually when nausea and fatigue appear.

Conclusion

It takes up to 2-3 weeks after having sex for you to become legally pregnant.

The process of sperm and egg join, known as fertilization, can take up to 6 days after sexual activity.

The egg that has been fertilized travels to your uterus. After fertilization, it enters your uterus approximately 3–4 days later, where it can float around for a few more days.

Pregnancy is said to have officially begun when the fertilized egg attaches to the lining of your uterus, and the pregnancy-supporting hormones are produced.

The fertilized egg may fully integrate into the uterine lining over 3–4 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

I already have a child, but I’m having trouble getting pregnant again. What can I do?

Even if you’ve had a kid in the past, there are several things that can prevent you from becoming pregnant. Your current age is the most frequent problem.
Your chances of becoming pregnant may be lowered if you’ve had children in the past and are currently over 35.

An issue with your capacity to ovulate regularly or a polyp or fibroid in the uterine cavity that could hinder an embryo’s ability to implant and thrive could also have formed.
Additionally, the sperm count, motility, or shape of your male partner may have decreased due to an anomaly in his sperm.

Can a previous abortion influence my current chances of becoming pregnant?

Typically, having a pregnancy terminated won’t prevent you from becoming pregnant again. In rare circumstances, you can get uterine adhesions that could affect your ability to get pregnant in the future.
The likelihood of these adhesions influencing your fertility is slim if you have regular monthly cycles.

If you have been trying to get pregnant for a year, are younger than 35, and have cycles that last between 23 and 35 days, seeing your gynecologist or fertility specialist will be beneficial in ensuring that your uterus has not been harmed.
Consider a consultation if you are over 35 after six months and over 40 right away.

How soon do the signs of pregnancy begin?

It differs. Some women experience premenstrual symptoms just a few days after conception, while others experience no symptoms until several weeks have passed since a positive pregnancy test. Each person and even each pregnancy experiences a unique set of pregnancy symptoms.

How many tries are needed to become pregnant?

90% of couples who try to conceive do so within 12 to 18 months. After six months of unsuccessful pregnancy attempts, doctors will begin monitoring your fertility if you are 35 years of age or older. You are most likely ovulating regularly if you have regular menstrual cycles.