Pregnancy can typically be detected by a pregnancy test about 10 to 11 days after ovulation, which corresponds roughly to 10 days after conception when the fertilized egg implants and the hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) starts to be produced and detectable in urine. Some highly sensitive tests claim to detect pregnancy as early as 6 days before the missed period, but for most accurate results, it is recommended to wait until the first day of the missed period (about 14 days after ovulation). Blood tests can detect pregnancy slightly earlier, around 7 to 10 days after conception, due to their higher sensitivity to hCG.
Key Points:
- Pregnancy hormone (hCG) becomes detectable in urine approximately 10 days after conception/ovulation.
- At-home pregnancy tests can show positive results around 10 to 11 days post ovulation.
- Some sensitive tests may detect pregnancy up to 4 days before the missed period.
- Waiting until the missed period day (about 14 days after ovulation) yields the most reliable test results.
- Blood tests can detect pregnancy earlier, around 7 to 10 days after conception, due to higher sensitivity.
This means that, generally, pregnancy can be detected by tests about 10 to 14 days after ovulation or conception, with maximum reliability after a missed period.
