
When does fertilization occur?
Before looking into the problem How long does it take to know if you’re pregnant?, we need to understand how fertilization works. Fertilization can only happen when an egg cell meets a sperm cell in a woman’s body.
In a woman’s body, eggs are produced after each menstrual cycle. In each cycle, only one egg matures and is released. Eggs can survive up to 72 hours after ovulation. Therefore, this is the best time to conceive. If the egg is not fertilized for more than 72 hours, it will die and be expelled.
In contrast to egg cells, men can release about 40-300 million sperm when they ejaculate. But only one healthy, best sperm can enter a woman’s uterus to fertilize an egg.
If a woman can pass through a woman’s vagina without meeting an egg, the sperm can only live for 48 hours. If fertilization does not occur, the sperm will also die and be eliminated.
Egg cells and sperm are the two most important factors in fertilization. If there is an abnormality in one of the two components, conception will be affected.

Signs of pregnancy after sex
How long does it take to get pregnant by having sex? In fact, after having sex, there are some early signs that you are pregnant. Those signs are:
Menstrual delay
After fertilization, a woman’s body will begin to make the hormone chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This is the hormone that helps maintain pregnancy. If fertilization is successful, you may miss your period 4 weeks after conception.first If you have irregular periods, it’s time to take a test to confirm. The pregnancy test will be able to detect the concentration of hCG in the urine. But this method can also have false negatives.
See more: Is your menstrual cycle irregular?
Bleeding is a sign of pregnancy after sex
If fertilization is successful, about 6-12 days there may be vaginal bleeding. This sign is not experienced by everyone. This amount of blood is less than the menstrual cycle and usually lasts only 1-2 days.
During pregnancy, vaginal bleeding can occur because the lining of the uterus breaks loose after the egg is fertilized. This leads to vaginal bleeding.
See more: Vaginal bleeding is less pregnant?
Morning sickness
Very rare cases of morning sickness after 1 week of intercourse. They can appear 2 weeks after conception but are most common after 6 weeks. When it comes to morning sickness, women can feel nauseous at any time, day or night. The exact cause of morning sickness in pregnancy is still unknown. But some studies suggest there is a link between the hormones HCG and estrogen during pregnancy.

Cramp
During conception, the uterus becomes larger than usual in preparation for the implantation of an egg. This weight can put pressure on blood vessels in the lower extremities causing cramps. During this time, women should pay attention to eating enough calcium and combining gentle massage. This is a nonspecific symptom and is often overlooked.
Go to the toilet often
If pregnant, the body will increase the amount of blood pumped to the organs in the body to support the fetus. This makes the kidneys work harder than usual and makes you urinate a lot.first
Breast changes – signs of pregnancy after sex
Breast changes can appear between 4 and 6 weeks. You may experience breast swelling due to hormonal changes. The continued production of hormones causes the breasts to grow more. The areola may turn darker and grow larger.

Tired
Fatigue is a symptom that can appear at any time during pregnancy.first This symptom is common in early pregnancy. Additionally, elevated levels of progesterone during pregnancy can also make you feel more sleepy.
Sensitivity to taste
Sensitivity to odors is a sign of pregnancy after sex. But there is little scientific evidence for odor sensitivity in the first trimester.first This odor sensitivity can cause nausea and vomiting. It can also cause discomfort with certain foods. Your olfactory function usually returns to normal after birth or 6-12 weeks postpartum.
Weight gain
Weight gain becomes more common towards the end of the first trimester. Women may find themselves gaining weight during the first few months of pregnancy. If this happens after you’ve had sex, it’s most likely an early sign of pregnancy.
Mood change
If conception is successful, estrogen and progesterone levels will begin to change. This change can affect your mood and make you more emotional. Common mood swings during pregnancy are: depression, irritability, anxiety.
How long after sex can you take a test?
How long does it take to know if you have sex?? Or to know pregnancy after sex, what to do? The most common method used by many women to determine if they are pregnant is by taking a pregnancy test. So how long after sex should you take a test?
Pregnancy test strips can give accurate results within 10 days after intercourse. If done earlier, it can give a false negative result. The best time to take a pregnancy test is 10-14 days after sex.2 HCG can be produced 2 weeks after conception or ovulation. So doing it too soon can give a false negative.
In some cases, it may take longer than 14 days. This is because it may take your body longer to nest after conception and ovulation.2 So, if you get a negative result then you should get tested again in 1 week. This increases your chances of getting an accurate result.
Although a pregnancy test can give 90% accurate results, the most accurate way is still a urine test. If you are still in doubt, you should go to medical facilities to get the most accurate test done.
See more: Things you need to know about pregnancy test strips
How to increase your chances of getting pregnant?
Off topic How long does it take to know if you’re pregnant?, your doctor will also talk about ways to increase your chances of getting pregnant. As mentioned above, the process of conception depends on two important factors: egg cells and sperm.
Know the day of ovulation
Since there is only one egg in each cycle that ripens and releases, looking at the time and date of ovulation is one of the many ways to increase your chances of conceiving. To know the exact day of ovulation, women should:
- Regularly record the cycle start and end dates. Ovulation usually occurs on the 14th day of the menstrual cycle for a woman with a 28-day cycle. Tracking can build a predictive chart of ovulation.
- Monitor mucus changes. Before your first period, you will notice a smooth and increased vaginal discharge. This discharge is white in color and resembles an unripe egg white. It is recommended to have sex within 3-7 days of the appearance of this discharge to increase the chances of pregnancy.
- Monitor body temperature. Ovulation can cause a slight increase in body temperature. But this method requires regularity and is quite complicated.

Stay healthy and physically fit
Both husband and wife need to be in good health to have the best quality of sperm and eggs. Both should maintain a reasonable exercise regimen, at least 3-4 times per week. Do not use anything that can negatively affect health. For example, alcohol, smoking, stimulants, toxic chemicals, etc.
Build a healthy lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle increases fertility in women with ovulatory disorders. Besides, the couple should maintain a reasonable weight, eat healthy. Balance your diet with different, varied fruits, vegetables, lean meats or fish. The goal is to get diverse nutrients from many different food groups.
Periodic health check
If you have been trying to conceive for a long time without success, you should see your doctor. You should also share your difficulties with your doctor so they can advise both of you. Planning to have more children is possible if the couple has no health problems.
To have the highest chance of conceiving and ensure a healthy pregnancy, couples should have a reproductive health check-up 3 to 5 months before planning a pregnancy. You will be given a fertility and sexual evaluation and screened for sexually transmitted infections. This process can help detect the cause of infertility, infertility for early intervention measures.
Above are the sharing from Dr. Tran Quoc Phong on the topic How long does it take to know if you’re pregnant?? In addition, the doctor also mentioned some early signs of pregnancy and ways to increase the chances of conception. Hopefully, through the above article, it will help you discover that you have “good news” as soon and accurately as possible. If you have any questions, you can visit your doctor for advice and accurate answers.

John Alen was born in 1971 and is a doctor in the healthcare and psychology fields with many years of experience. He is currently working at easyhealthylive.com, a leading health and psychology blog. Having studied at Y1 National Medical University named after IM Sechenov, John Alen is using his knowledge and experience to help improve the physical and mental health of people in the United States.