It typically takes about 10 to 14 days after conception for the fertilized egg to implant in the uterus, which triggers the body to start producing the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This hormone is what pregnancy tests detect. Most at-home pregnancy tests can detect pregnancy around the time of a missed period, usually about 2 weeks post-conception, though some sensitive tests may detect hCG as early as 6 days before a missed period. Symptoms such as mild cramping and implantation bleeding may appear around 10 to 14 days after conception, but many early pregnancy symptoms often become noticeable around 3 to 4 weeks after conception. In summary:
- Implantation and hormone production start about 6 to 12 days after conception.
- At-home pregnancy tests are most accurate from the first day of a missed period (about 14 days after conception).
- Blood tests can detect pregnancy slightly earlier, around 10 days after conception.
- Early symptoms can start around 1 to 2 weeks after conception but vary widely among individuals.
