How many days does conception occur after ovulation? Conception by days after ovulation. How to determine ovulation

A woman who plans to soon become a mother closely monitors her health and tries not to miss a single change that occurs in the body at the initial stage of pregnancy - even before the test confirms it. The first signs are not always objective and have varying degrees of manifestation, but in any case, the expectant mother needs to know why metamorphoses are happening to her body, so as not to get scared and miss something important.

The first days after conception: what happens to the embryo?

Expectant mothers need to remember that the date of conception does not coincide with the date of ovulation or sexual intercourse. Gynecologists believe that after sexual intercourse, fertilization can occur in any of the next seven days after ovulation, when the egg has already been released from the ovary, and the sperm that has entered the uterus is still alive. However, there is an opinion that the egg has a short lifespan and must be fertilized within 12–24 hours, otherwise it will die in two days.

From the first to the seventh day after fertilization

After conception, the cell begins to actively divide in geometric progression, so in a few days a zygote is formed with a complete double set of chromosomes, which has 58 cells and fits into 1/3 of a millimeter. This active activity occurs in motion - the zygote moves along the fallopian tube to the uterus with the help of villi, in order to finally gain a foothold there for the next 9 months.

The zygote gradually transforms into an embryonic vesicle - a blastula, consisting of an outer layer of small cells (blastoderm), which form the outer shells of the embryo during development, and large cells (blastocoel) located inside. By day 4–5, the embryo should reach the uterus. If by this time he has not achieved the goal, then an ectopic pregnancy may occur, which requires immediate medical intervention.


On the 6th–7th day of life, the blastula becomes overgrown with small villi, which cling to the walls of the uterine cavity, ready to meet the embryo and become looser, with overgrown vessels. After successful implantation, the villi become smaller, and the placenta begins to form at the attachment site.

Second week of new life

Experts call the beginning of the second week the first critical period, because at this time the embryo is not protected from the effects of teratogenic factors (radiation, infections, chemicals and drugs) and may not attach tightly enough. In this case, the pregnancy may be terminated and the woman will begin menstruation.


During the normal course of the initial stage of pregnancy, on days 10–11, the unborn baby has already comfortably settled in the uterine cavity, and the blastula is divided into 2 vesicles - ectoblastic and endoblastic. The cells of the ectoblastic vesicle begin to fuse with the uterine mucosa and form the umbilical cord and the rudiments of the nervous system. The embryo reaches approximately 1 millimeter in length. 13 days after the release of the egg into the tube is considered the deadline for completion of implantation.


Third week (from 15th to 21st day)

From day 15–16, the embryo begins to develop gender characteristics (at the cellular level), blood vessels, neural tube, and brain structures. The embryo produces immunoprocessor proteins that are foreign to the mother's body, because they belong to the father of the unborn baby, and the uterus must try to accept them. At this stage, the embryo will already be visible on the ultrasound scanner monitor as a small dot in the uterine cavity.

What happens at the same time to the mother’s body?

Women who listen especially carefully to their internal state and wait for pregnancy to occur know about the main signs of successful conception, but experts believe that until the embryo has attached to the wall of the uterus, not a single reliable sign can be noticed. On average, the preimplantation period lasts 7–10 days.

First week after conception

In the first 7 days after conception, while doing her usual things, a woman most likely will not notice any serious changes, but especially sensitive expectant mothers may notice the following signs:

  • on the first day you may feel tired;
  • on the second and third days - a slight increase in body temperature and symptoms of a mild cold or malaise due to increased estrogen production and an increased load on the immune system of the expectant mother;
  • day 4 – periodically there is a feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen, bloating or gas formation;
  • on the fifth day, basal temperature indicators remain at 37 degrees due to the acceleration of metabolic processes and the creation of a comfortable environment for the formation of a zygote, slight chills and periodic attacks of dizziness may occur;
  • Days 6 and 7 may be remembered by the expectant mother as a feeling of nagging pain in the lower abdomen, similar to premenstrual pain, and faint pale pink or brownish discharge due to embryo implantation.


Second week: changes begin

From the moment the embryo attaches to the wall of the uterus, more obvious signs of changes are observed in the woman’s body, which can alert the woman and prompt her to buy a pregnancy test:

  • fatigue and malaise;
  • signs of physiological mastopathy - engorgement of the mammary glands (swelling, darkening of the areola, increase in breast size, pain, increased sensitivity);
  • sudden mood swings due to hormonal changes;
  • change in food preferences, aversion to certain smells;
  • absence of the usual manifestations of premenstrual syndrome (migraine, pain in the lumbar spine and lower abdomen).


Third week: missed period - time to take a test!

The period from the 15th to the 21st day is the time when the woman has already realized that her period did not come on time and she should try some kind of pregnancy test. The modern pharmacological market offers many different devices with varying degrees of sensitivity - cassette, inkjet, electronic, tablet, reusable and disposable. Each woman decides for herself which one to choose. Experts believe that using the test is not the most reliable way to check the body for pregnancy. It is advisable to donate blood, do an ultrasound, or visit a gynecologist.

Most expectant mothers note that it is from the third week that they experience constant drowsiness and increased sexual desire. Also at this stage, the formation of Montgomery tubercles occurs - small bumps resembling pimples or goose bumps located on the areola of the nipple. Experts associate the protrusion of the parapapillary glands with the preparation of the female breast for feeding a baby.


Subjective signs of pregnancy: feelings of the expectant mother

It is not in vain that specialists conduct special clinical studies after implantation of the embryo, because before the implantation of the embryo, most of the signs may turn out to be a confirmation not of the onset of pregnancy, but of the development of an inflammatory process, gynecological diseases and other pathological changes in the female body. The following sensations of a woman that arise at the initial stage of pregnancy are considered subjective signs:

  • drowsiness, malaise and weakness;
  • changes in taste and olfactory preferences;
  • sudden changes in mood (tearfulness, apathy, excessive touchiness, depression);
  • frequent urge to urinate (may be a symptom of diabetes, cystitis or kidney problems);
  • disturbances in the functioning of the digestive system and intestines;
  • nausea;
  • increased breast sensitivity.


Objective signs

A specialist must reliably determine the onset of pregnancy by conducting the necessary studies and examination. There are many signs that can be determined during examination: cessation of menstruation (amenorrhea), softening of the uterus in the isthmus area (Horwitz-Hegar symptom); mobility of the cervix (Gubarev and Gauss's sign), development of asymmetry of the uterine sac at the site of attachment of the embryo (Piskachek's sign). There are two objective signs that an expectant mother can check at home - measuring the level of the hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) and basal temperature indicators.

Increased hCG levels

The hCG hormone begins to be produced from the moment of implantation of the embryo, or from the 13th day after ovulation, and its concentration gradually increases in accordance with the gestation period. By the second trimester, its level stabilizes and begins to gradually decrease. It is this hormone that all pharmacy tests react to.

Experts have developed a table to help determine the correspondence of the amount of hormone to the weeks of pregnancy:

Basal temperature measurement results

Basal temperature is the body temperature at rest. Most often, it differs by several divisions from the usual indicators. Basal temperature is measured in the morning after sleep before waking up. During ovulation, it rises to 37–37.3 degrees, and then decreases to the usual levels.

If fertilization has occurred and the body begins to intensively produce progesterone, the basal temperature does not decrease. The absence of an elevated temperature may be an unfavorable signal, indicating a lack of progesterone and threatening termination of pregnancy.

What is the female cycle

The life of every woman consists of monthly cycles, the number of which is 12-16 per year. Each cycle lasts from 25 to 34 days, on average, and begins its countdown from the first day of menstruation, which is popularly called “menstruation” because on average these days occur once a month. Although it would be more correct to start counting the female cycle exactly after the end of menstruation.

True, the monthly female cycle is so circular and each component of this period is so closely connected with the previous one that it is definitely difficult to say where it is more correct to count from.

When a woman begins to have “red days,” simultaneously with this process, a certain number of eggs begin to mature in the body, usually no more than 15-20. These eggs are located in so-called follicles - small bubbles with liquid.

Ovulation: the process of egg maturation

After menstruation has ended and the uterus has completely cleared of the endometrium, one of the eggs begins to grow more actively than the others and, in the end, remains the only one - the rest stop developing and die. The dominant egg increases in size approximately on the 7-8th day of the cycle, along with this the level of the estrogen hormone increases and when it reaches its maximum value, luteinizing hormone (LH) is released into the blood. LH stimulates ovulation and increases the production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone in the ovaries.

Thus, ovulation occurs approximately on days 13-15 of the cycle, 24-36 hours after the increase in luteinizing hormone levels. The dominant egg ruptures the follicle and begins its journey to the uterus. Ovulation has occurred and if during this period the egg meets the sperm, conception will occur.

Signs of approaching ovulation

Unfortunately, without special medical “assistants” it is almost impossible to independently determine the reliability of ovulation. However, there are a couple of ways based on personal observations of entire generations of women:

  • Calendar method. It is based on maintaining a menstrual calendar - a woman marks the first day of the “red days” on the calendar, and uses the readings of several months to calculate her personal cycle. For example, if the cycle is 28 days (from the first day of the onset of menstruation to the first day of the next), you can approximately determine the onset of ovulation - in the middle of the cycle, which means in this case on the 14th day.
  • Measuring basal temperature. This method also needs to be carried out for several months - based on the calendar method, a woman should measure the temperature in the rectum several days before the approximate onset of ovulation and write down the data in a notebook. It is important to know that this must be done lying down immediately after waking up; you cannot get up on your feet before measuring the temperature. The method of measuring basal temperature is based on the fact that on the day of ovulation the temperature jumps sharply to 37 C or slightly higher.

Medical methods for determining the onset of ovulation:

  • "Crystallization" of saliva. This method can be determined in the laboratory using a microscope. It is based on monthly observation of a woman’s saliva under a microscope, in which small crystals begin to appear 6-7 days before ovulation, and by the very day of ovulation the crystals grow into “fern leaves,” thereby reaching their peak of saliva crystallization. By observing this phenomenon, you can easily determine the onset of the “cherished day”, as well as diagnose many types of diseases of the female genital organs in the early stages (if after ovulation the crystals in the saliva do not disappear, but continue to grow).
  • Express test. Based on the data of the calendar method, approximately on the day the egg is released from the follicle, it is necessary to conduct an ovulation test, which can be easily purchased at any pharmacy.
  • Ultrasound. The ultrasound examination method will help to very easily determine the onset of ovulation; the ultrasound specialist will determine the presence of a corpus luteum in the ovary, which, in fact, is a ruptured follicle, at the site of which a slight hemorrhage occurs. After this, the walls of the former follicle begin to divide and turn yellow, surrounding the egg. Hence the name - yellow body. The presence of this corpus luteum is the onset of ovulation.

Without using the above methods, it is possible to determine the onset of ovulation by the following signs:

  • Aching pain in the lower or side of the abdomen;
  • Increased whitish vaginal discharge;
  • Bloody vaginal discharge;
  • Increased libido;
  • Changes in sense of smell, taste (hormonal effects).

It is important to know that the egg lives no more than 36 hours, so couples who dream of becoming parents should take care of the meeting of the egg with the sperm during this period.

Conception after ovulation

A mature egg lives in the fallopian tube waiting for sperm from 12 to 24 (in extreme cases up to 36) hours, while male cells have “survivability” up to 3-4 days, sometimes even up to 5-6, but this happens very rarely.

Consequently, the highest chance of conception occurs precisely on the day of ovulation, and due to the “survivability” of sperm, there is a high probability of conceiving a baby 2-3 days before it.

The day after ovulation, the percentage of the union of the egg and sperm decreases to almost zero.

To understand how many days after ovulation conception occurs, you need to understand exactly how intrauterine pregnancy occurs in stages:

  • On the way to the uterus, the egg meets the sperm, is fertilized and then continues its journey to the uterus through the fallopian tube;
  • At this time, the fertilized egg is actively dividing and by the time it enters the uterus it already looks like a tiny embryo measuring no more than 0.2 mm;
  • At this stage, implantation occurs: the embryo is freed from its membrane and “introduced” into the uterus;
  • For pregnancy to occur, an important condition is the release of the embryo from its shell - if this does not happen, then pregnancy does not occur, because in the shell the embryo will not be able to implant into the uterus.

How many days does conception occur after intercourse?

Before meeting the sperm, the egg begins its journey to the uterus in the fallopian tube at a certain speed. After fertilization, this speed does not increase; the future embryo moves towards the uterus in the same way as before fertilization.

The entire woman’s body contributes to the entry of the fertilized egg into the uterus; the fallopian tube plays a crucial role here:

  • The muscles of the fallopian tube begin to move, contracting towards the uterus;
  • The fluid in the fallopian tube begins to move towards the uterus, carrying the egg in its flow;
  • The muscle connecting the fallopian tube and the uterus relaxes, allowing the fertilized egg to enter the uterus.

All these actions occur under the influence of the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which, with the fertilization of the egg, begin to be produced in the ovaries with a vengeance.

The process of moving the embryo into the uterus takes about 4 days, and another 2 days for the process of implantation into the wall of the uterus. In general, these processes take 6-7 days. So the answer to the question: “How long does it take for conception to occur?” sounds like this: “About a week.”

How to understand whether conception occurred after ovulation

Conception itself occurs on the first day of ovulation, then after 4 days the embryo enters the uterus, and only during implantation, which lasts up to 2 days, can it be determined by certain signs whether the fetus has attached itself to the uterine wall:

  • Bloody vaginal discharge. After implantation, they can be released in small quantities, however, their absence does not always mean that implantation has not taken place. In addition, in the absence of pregnancy, the presence of bloody discharge may indicate an inflammatory process;
  • Increased sensitivity, enlarged mammary glands;
  • Weakness, dizziness, mild nausea;
  • Body temperature 37-37.3 C;
  • Drawing, aching pain in the lower abdomen;
  • Constipation, bloating, increased gas formation;
  • Irritability, resentment.

All these symptoms are also symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), so it is irrational to regard them as reliable signs of pregnancy.

It is advisable to use a pregnancy test only from the first day of the delay. Without waiting for the expected date, many closely monitor changes in the body, including vaginal secretions, in order to recognize the onset of pregnancy as early as possible. In this article, we will thoroughly understand the question of whether the discharge after ovulation has clear differences if conception occurred or did not occur.

What should the discharge be like immediately after conception: before the implantation of the fertilized egg?

Discharge during conception is no different from normal cervical mucus during the fertile period. At this time, estrogen dominates, which provokes thinner and more abundant mucus from the vagina, similar to snot or egg white, which increases the likelihood of becoming pregnant (see photo). May also be observed.

Transparent Like protein

4th day. The embryo enters the tubes, and it already contains as many as 16 cells. There is no significant effect on vaginal secretion, the situation continues for the third day.

From the 5th to the 7th day. During this period, the fertilized egg reaches the uterus, where it will be decided whether pregnancy will occur or not. A positive result is the fixation of the embryo in the mucous layer of the uterus (this may occur later).

What does the color of discharge after conception and before menstruation indicate?

You can be guided by the shade of the discharge to mark the absence of pregnancy or the beginning of the first month of the gestation period.

White discharge after conception and in the second half of the cycle

Mucus of this shade should have a uniform consistency and not cause unpleasant sensations such as itching and burning. This substance cannot indicate that pregnancy has occurred, since it has no significant differences.

Yellow

Such traces on panty liners are allowed during the luteal phase in the absence of pregnancy, but they should not be saturated (yellowish or). are not a sign of conception, but the likelihood of fertilization occurring still exists.

Transparent secret

After ovulation, vaginal mucus should become thicker and take on a whitish tint. But a small amount of clear liquid is acceptable at any time during the cycle.

Red, brown, pink

Mucus of this color is normal if it is caused by the fertile period and. In all other situations, you need to check with a doctor. In the first case, we are talking about rupture of the follicle and damage to the blood vessels, and in the second, about fertilization. They are distinguished by the time of occurrence and intensity. The first option is that they are scanty in nature (a brown drop on the pad) and are accompanied by aching pain in the lower abdomen. Find out about the characteristics of the second option below.

What is implantation bleeding?

Bloody discharge after conception, indicating the attachment of the fertilized egg, will not appear before the fifth or sixth day from the moment of fertilization.

This is the minimum required for an embryo to implant into the wall of the uterus. Thus, you should expect the appearance of such discharge a week after ovulation or a week before your period, which will indicate pregnancy.

You may notice a small amount of mucus with clots or drops of blood on your panty liner or underwear (see photo). The nature of secretion may vary depending on the ratio of vaginal fluid and blood streaks. The intensity exceeds the discharge during ovulation. The following shades are allowed:

  • red;
  • pale pink;
  • brownish;
  • light yellow.

It is important to assess the duration and volume of bleeding after ovulation

  1. Conception has occurred. The duration of implantation bleeding ranges from several hours to two or three days. Moreover, there should not be a lot of vaginal fluid.
  2. Conception did not occur. The discharge begins as a spot and progresses to full menstruation.
  3. Sign of pathology. The pad gets wet in an hour or less, so you can’t put off going to the hospital, because there is a suspicion of bleeding.

According to reviews from pregnant women, most often implantation discharge after fertilization appears 6-12 days after ovulation. Moreover, gynecologists claim that most patients did not encounter this phenomenon at all or did not pay attention to it.

Is pregnancy possible if there is no secretion?

The absence of discharge after ovulation is a type of norm for the monthly cycle. The reason lies in the individual characteristics of the body, as well as the state of hormonal levels. After the fertile phase, the level of progesterone increases, and this hormone creates unfavorable conditions for the movement of sperm, when the mucous plug of the cervical canal is the least permeable.

But in most cases, there is still a sticky or sticky secretion, which becomes watery before menstruation. To determine pregnancy, it is better to pay close attention to changes in the body that indicate it:

  • fatigue;
  • soreness of the mammary glands;
  • dizziness;
  • change in attitude towards food;
  • increased drowsiness;
  • mood swings;
  • abdominal pain (can pull the lower back).

How can you tell by the discharge if fertilization has failed?

The main difficulty is that the nature of the discharge after ovulation, if conception has not occurred, is very similar to the secretion of women in early pregnancy, that is, before the blastocyst attaches to the uterine wall. From the time of the ovulatory period until menstruation, the secretion in the form of chicken protein or copious mucus should change to a sticky or sticky liquid with a thicker consistency. Shortly before the end of the menstrual cycle, cervical mucus practically disappears, appearing a few days before menstruation. The most striking sign can be considered the above-described implantation bleeding, but due to the fact that it is a rather rare phenomenon, it is not worth drawing conclusions relying on its absence.

The right thing to do is to appreciate your feelings and wait about a week. If there is no blood in the vaginal secretion, there is no aching pain and cramping in the lower abdomen, conception is unlikely, but not excluded. For greater confidence, you can do a test based on the immunochromatographic method for determining the level of human chorionic gonadotropin in the urine (ultrasensitive 7 days after ovulation).

What does it mean about pathology?

All discharge that causes redness of the genital organs, irritation, burning sensation does not exclude pregnancy, but also the risk of developing inflammation and other pathological disorders.

The following cervical mucus indicates problems in the reproductive system:

  • curdled lumps, itching, burning (thrush);
  • dark brown (polycystic ovary syndrome, severe inflammation);
  • deep yellow, green, (infection).

This is just a small list of possible diseases. To make a more accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to undergo diagnostics and tests.

It happens that brown or red discharge after ovulation torments women with cervical erosion when the affected area is systematically damaged.

or before expected menstrual bleeding cannot 100% guarantee the success of conception.

Women look forward to the birth of a child, and with even greater impatience they dream of confirmation of pregnancy. When a child is desired and long-awaited, you want to know about conception immediately. Waiting for a delay in your cycle seems too tedious, and most people find out what day after ovulation they can take a pregnancy test.

The menstrual cycle and a woman's entire life are controlled by hormones. They predetermine not only the possibility of conception, but also the psycho-emotional state, as well as health. The initial stage of the cycle is controlled by the hormone estrogen; after ovulation, progesterone takes over. The balance of these hormones ensures the normal functioning of the female body, its readiness for ovulation and conception.

The pituitary gland produces another secretion - human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Its natural content is usually around 5 mIU/ml. The hormone is produced in large quantities by the fetal placenta, which is why it is called a hormone or pregnancy marker. In the first third of the period, the amount of gonadotropin in the body increases very quickly.

In case of conception, the hormone content rises to 25 mIU/ml within two weeks. It is the content of hCG in the urine that determines conception in pregnancy tests. This hormone is present in human blood and urine. Since the blood level is higher and laboratory methods are more accurate, if you are very impatient, you can donate blood to determine pregnancy in the laboratory.

The use of test strips is based on measuring the content of gonadotropin in urine. How many days after ovulation you can take a pregnancy test is determined by the number of reagents applied to the strip. Most tests detect hormone concentrations within 25 mIU/ml.

Determining pregnancy at home using test strips is very convenient and has a high degree of reliability. Testing can be done at a convenient time. However, when the concentration of the hormone is still low, that is, in the early stages, for greater reliability it is better to do this in the morning, when the hCG content is maximum.

Important: before using the tester, you should read the recommendations in the attachment. Following the prescribed rules will ensure the accuracy of the result and help avoid disappointments and mistakes.

If it is recommended to use the strip some time after the expected start of menstruation, it means that the manufacturers know that the amount of the reagent is not enough to detect conception earlier.

A necessary condition is to ensure the required volume of urine and time of contact with the strip. Those who are anxious to find out about conception need to remember that in the evening you should try not to drink a lot of fluids and not use diuretics.

Testing error is possible in both directions – positive and negative.

An incorrect positive result is obtained:

  1. When using certain medications.
  2. Immediately after the abortion.
  3. In the presence of neoplasms.

Testing will not correctly detect pregnancy if:

  • too early use, low concentration of hCG is not detected by the reagent;
  • changes in the composition of urine due to excessive consumption of fluids or medications;
  • in the case of kidney or heart disease, it will be easier to detect conception by blood.

On what day after ovulation the test will show pregnancy depends on the test and other factors. If you use an inexpensive option with two stripes, then the pale second stripe, confirming conception, may be dim due to early use and insufficient concentration of hCG in the urine. Repeated testing after some time will confirm or deny conception.

More expensive test options allow you to determine the concentration of the hormone with 10 mIU/ml, that is, several days earlier than the cheap ones. The woman decides which means to use.

After how many days will there be a sufficient concentration of the hCG hormone in the urine?

In the time of great-grandmothers, when no one knew about ovulation or basal temperature, a delay in menstruation helped determine pregnancy. With a regular cycle, attentive women already suspected conception by the absence of discharge.

Important: regular menstruation does not guarantee the possibility of conception. For pregnancy to occur, the egg must be ready for fertilization.

Ovulation is the end of a mature egg to unite with a sperm. She begins to prepare for fertilization from the first day of the cycle. The exit into the fallopian tubes occurs within two weeks. For women who keep a basal temperature chart, this day becomes known by the increase in the indicator.

This is not the only sign of egg readiness. Those who do not monitor it can determine ovulation by the following signs:

  • swelling and sensitivity of the nipples;
  • increased sexual desire;
  • change in the nature of cervical discharge;
  • slight pain in the lower abdomen.

The lifespan of an egg is about 2 days. It is on these days that fertilization is likely. Conception can occur from sexual intercourse performed 3-4 days before the egg is ready, since that is how long sperm remain viable in the vagina.

After connecting with the sperm, the cell moves into the uterus to attach to the endometrium. This process lasts 7-10 days. Pregnancy occurs after growth into the endometrium. The production of hCG begins. Its number is constantly growing. You can use the test a couple of days after the onset of the delay, which corresponds to 14 days from the release of the egg. At the moment of attachment to the endometrium, the hCG level ranges from 2 to 10 mIU/ml, usually around 4. When choosing the time when you can take a pregnancy test after ovulation, you need to focus on these processes.

Every woman has cycles when the egg does not mature and conception cannot occur. The norm is 1-3 cycles per year. If their number is greater, you need to consult a doctor so as not to overlook developing infertility.

It should be noted that the increase in the amount of hormone in the blood will continue until the 10th week of pregnancy. By its quantity one can judge the successful development of pregnancy. In the future, the indicator will decrease until week 20, and then stabilize.

To increase the likelihood of an accurate determination, how many tests should be done, and with what frequency?

The timing of ovulation, the duration of movement into the uterus and attachment to the wall are very individual, depending on the body and the length of the fallopian tubes. It is impossible to determine them exactly; they are unique to each woman. Therefore, test manufacturers suggest waiting for a delay in menstruation. Even if fertilization has occurred, the egg may not reach and grow into the wall of the uterus.

If you can’t stand it and want to find out about pregnancy faster, you should purchase tests for which a low level of hCG in the urine is sufficient. Manufacturers usually indicate this on the packaging. At the same time, you need to be prepared that you will have to repeat testing at a time when the concentration of the hormone will be more significant.

If the result is positive, one study is usually sufficient. If testing was carried out early and the result was negative, you will have to repeat it, since the hormone level could be very low, even with pregnancy and a highly sensitive test.

In addition, you should be prepared for the fact that tests can make mistakes. Usually two tests with an interval of 3 days are enough to accurately verify the result.

Which test strip to choose

How many days after ovulation you can take a pregnancy test is quite difficult to determine. All indicators of natural processes vary within certain limits. If you need a reliable answer, you should focus on the last day of all deadlines. This usually corresponds to the beginning of the next cycle.

Highly sensitive testers can detect conception 2-3 days before the onset of menstruation. Most gynecologists believe that all strips are equally reliable when used correctly. If you use them within a time frame that does not correspond to the recommended ones, you will have to do repeated tests.

Testing accuracy is usually greater than 95%. Inkjet testers can be considered the most convenient, since no special actions are required.

Tablet tests are considered the most accurate, since the sensitive layer is well hidden in the body, and urine is applied to the desired location with a pipette in the required volume. Their susceptibility is 10-25 mIU/ml.

The most affordable, cheapest and most popular are strip strips. They also provide the necessary accuracy when used correctly.

Finally

On what day after ovulation to use a pregnancy test is up to the woman to decide. It is better to be patient and wait for the timeframe recommended by the manufacturers. This will give an accurate guarantee of correct determination of pregnancy. And waiting for the baby to be born will require a lot more patience.

Each new menstruation is a sign that the reproductive cycle has restarted and a new egg is maturing. This is a tiny cell that matures under the tough membrane of the follicle. A woman's body, upon reaching puberty, carries about 500,000 eggs, theoretically capable of conception.

With the onset of menstruation, the pituitary gland produces a hormone that stimulates the development of the egg. The growth period is 14 days. Having received a “signal” that the egg is ready, the pituitary gland changes the composition of the hormone and now it promotes its release from the place of “imprisonment”. This moment is called ovulation. The egg released from the follicle ends up in the woman’s abdominal cavity, but, attracted by the hormone produced, it smoothly descends into the fallopian tube - the course of ovulation. Only after this fact can we confidently assume that the possibility of conception exists.


The moment of fertilization of the egg

I would like to say right away that fertilization can only occur during the period of ovulation, which, as a rule, lasts only 24 hours. If at this time the sperm do not reach the mature egg, it will die and the woman will not be able to get pregnant until the next ovulation. In view of this, if you want to plan your pregnancy, then be sure to take this fact into account. Now let's talk about how fertilization occurs.

If you had unprotected intercourse on the day of ovulation or 3-4 days before its onset, then the likelihood of conception increases significantly. If the organs responsible for childbirth are completely healthy and work like clockwork, then within 6-12 hours after sexual intercourse the sperm will reach the egg. Their meeting will occur in the fallopian tubes and fusion will immediately begin, resulting in the formation of a zygote.

For some time it will continue to float in the fallopian tubes, without ceasing to increase in size. After some time, the zygote will turn into a blastocyst, which will begin to move towards the uterus and look for the ideal place to penetrate its cavity. As soon as this happens, the woman may begin to feel the first subtle signs of pregnancy.


Symptoms of conception in the first week

According to experts, the first week after conception is a period that will show whether the embryo will be able to gain a foothold in the uterine cavity or not. After the egg meets the sperm, it will take at least 7 days until a viable embryo appears in the woman’s body, which will subsequently turn into a boy or girl.

All this time, the expectant mother’s body will prepare for the implantation of the embryo and, as a result, she will experience the first indirect signs of pregnancy. A woman may experience slight bleeding, which will be accompanied by barely noticeable pain in the lower abdomen. As a rule, spotting and spotting appear during a period when intensive renewal of the uterine epithelium occurs.

The same discharge may appear in a couple of days, but in this case the cause of its appearance will be embryo implantation. And although you shouldn’t be afraid of such discharges, you need to treat them carefully. If you see that they are starting to intensify, then you should urgently see a doctor. It is likely that a malfunction occurred in your body and you began to have a spontaneous miscarriage, and this is fraught with severe bleeding.


Symptoms of conception in the second week

Throughout the second week after conception, the embryo rapidly divides and increases in size. All these processes pass almost unnoticed for the expectant mother. But approximately on the 12th day after conception, the body begins to more intensively prepare for future childbirth, and against this background, the woman may experience the first signs of toxicosis.

And although they will not be very pronounced, the expectant mother may stop accepting those products that she previously really liked. Also during this period, new taste preferences may begin to form. Another characteristic sign of the second week of pregnancy is vaginal discharge.

Mucus without color or odor indicates that everything is normal with the woman’s body and the pregnancy is proceeding as it should. If in the second week after conception you notice yellow or, God forbid, green discharge, then this is a reason to be wary. Mucus of this color indicates that an inflammatory process is occurring inside your body, which can harm your baby.


Symptoms of conception in the third and fourth weeks

Gynecologists call the third week after fertilization a completed pregnancy. This means that the embryo has successfully taken root in the uterine cavity and is becoming more and more like a little person every day. It is during this period that some internal organs begin to form, and three protective layers are formed around the fertilized egg, which will subsequently become the bone, nervous and circulatory system.

It is clear that against the backdrop of such turbulent processes, a woman begins to increasingly feel obvious signs of pregnancy. Somewhere in the fourth week after conception, expectant mothers begin to experience drowsiness and mood swings. In addition, representatives of the fair sex in an interesting position develop pain in the mammary glands and Montgomery tubercles begin to form.

For those who don't know, these are small pimples visually similar to goose bumps located around the nipples. Also during this period, a woman’s libido may change. The most interesting thing is that these changes occur differently for everyone. Some people generally stop wanting sexual contact with their partner, while others, on the contrary, always feel like they are not getting enough physical intimacy.

The process of fertilization is such an amazing and unique process that it can be compared with the Big Bang, which led to the formation of the universe, or with the origin of life on our planet.

Often, not entirely informed readers ask eccentric questions like this: is it possible to feel fertilization?

By this I mean a very specific action.

It’s as if during a man’s orgasm – “fuck-bang” was both felt and accomplished, accompanied by exclamations: “Oh heavens, I’m knocked up!” Of course not - it's much more complicated.

During evolution, mother nature was able to form such an algorithm that in just 9 months, just think about this period, the formation and birth of a person takes place.

And, mind you, the procedure is thought out to the smallest detail and calculated almost in minutes.

In the middle of the menstrual cycle, depending on the individual characteristics of the woman, a sort of beautiful girl of marriageable age appears from the ovary, i.e., an egg ready to meet the groom (fertilization). It can remain in such a suffering ready state for a short time - from 12 to 36 hours.

If during this time the meeting does not take place, then she dies and leaves the body along with menstrual bleeding.

In short, with general readiness, the desired meeting occurs within a period of 1 to 3 days.

During the period of ovulation, the female body can form several eggs. In this case, the likelihood that not one, but several lives will be born increases.

After ejaculation, which we compared to the Big Bang in the universe, the released sperm have a long way to go, consisting of difficult steps.

Looking ahead, it is worth noting that not everyone will reach the end:

The path traveled turned out to be very useful. Spermatozoa have qualitatively changed and become capable of fertilization.

Finally, the goal has been achieved, the path has been completed.

Fertilization process

A beautiful girl appeared before the eyes of the applicants - a ripe egg. But again, the trials did not end there. They have to break through the protective membrane - the last obstacle (see photo).

Here nature thought of everything, coming to their aid. She “armed” the head of the sperm with an acrosome - this is a membrane vesicle with a liquid that can dissolve the membrane.

Under the influence of a biological enzyme, the egg loses its strength and elasticity. Cracks form in it.

And God’s providence gives only one sperm the opportunity to become the desired betrothed. The messenger penetrates inside and the sacred sacrament occurs. By fertilizing the egg, he breathes new life into it.

To get a little touch on the universal mystery of conception, you need to look into the divine workshop or the stellar kitchen, as you please. At the same time, for depth of perception, it would be nice to make a slice of each period. And note that the changes taking place are continuous and dynamic, without downtime, smoking breaks or breaks to “rest.”

A woman can become pregnant within a strictly time-limited period - only on the day of ovulation and within 24 hours after it. The fact is that emerging from the follicle a mature egg can exist for no more than 24-36 hours, after which she dies if conception does not occur. Sperm can live longer, and sexual intercourse 1-4 days before ovulation may well ensure the presence of male reproductive cells when the egg is released.

After one of the tens of millions of sperm is able to break through the membranes of the oocyte, the reproductive cells of a man and a woman go through an important stage within 12 hours - fusion and exchange of DNA information. It’s hard to imagine, but after 12 hours a zygote is born in the fallopian tube where conception occurred- a cell that has its own genome. It already contains information about the baby - what he will be like, what his gender, height, hair and eye color will be, what abilities, talents, and hereditary diseases he will have. But the woman at this moment still has no idea about anything.

What may be the symptoms of conception when an egg is fertilized in the third and fourth weeks after fertilization?

Sperm are able to cover the distance from the vagina to the ampullary part of the fallopian tube, where the mature egg is located, in one and a half to two hours. Therefore, conception may coincide with the day of ovulation. After three days, the ability of sperm to fertilize sharply decreases. Approximately 10.3% of pregnancies occurred after PA one day after ovulation, 0.8% two days later.

Gynecologists and obstetricians are in no hurry to call the successful fusion of male and female reproductive cells fertilization. We can talk about it only after the zygote enters the uterus and is implanted into its wall. This process, including conception after ovulation, lasts about 6-7 days.

If follicle rupture is followed by fertilization and implantation, the curve on the graph sharply goes down by 0.2-0.3 degrees (but implantation retraction is not always visible on the graph) on the 7-10th day. Then it quickly rises and remains at this level. BT steadily remains at the top even during the onset of a new cycle and expected menstruation - delay.

Sperm are produced by the male glands constantly. They enter the female body during sexual intercourse with ejaculation (internal ejaculation). Once at the back wall of the vagina, “future fathers” will make a long journey to the waiting egg to conceive.

The first obstacle will be crossing the cervical canal. Already at this stage, natural selection will work, since most of the sperm will not be able to overcome it. At the moment of ejaculation, about 500,000 sperm are released, so the loss of the slowest “competitors” will be beneficial for everyone else.

Research shows that the average lifespan of a sperm in a woman's body is 48 hours. It follows from this that conception can occur if they enter the female body on the same day when ovulation occurs or during the next day after ovulation.

On the other hand, it has been established that during the period when ovulation has occurred, mucus is secreted in the vagina, which is a favorable environment for sperm to survive for a longer time, in some cases up to 7 days. Considering the path they travel in a period of approximately 3 to 7 hours, conception is possible if sexual intercourse occurs between 5 days before ovulation and 8 to 10 hours before the end of the egg’s activity.

In this process, each woman has her own calendar cycle. The beginning of a new life is counted from the first day after menstruation.

For example: the next month, on the billing day, regular menstruation did not occur. With a high degree of probability we can already talk about the occurrence of a touching event.

Therefore, the next day after the “extreme” menstruation will be the starting point. Obstetricians count the first day of fetal development from here (the adjustment will then be made by ultrasound).

Based on the calculations of periods favorable for conception described above, it is not difficult to guess that the first month will consist of 18 days.

Days Process description
1 Fertilization.
2 By merging the male and female genomes, a zygote is formed - a cell with a complete double set of chromosomes. Starting to separate the embryo and assess its quality based on shape, size and fragmentation.
3 As a result of division, 9 cells were formed.
4 The formed egg takes on a different shape, vaguely reminiscent of a blackberry. It continues to move towards the uterus. During this period, the basis of the basic elements of the future little man for subsequent development is formed. During movement, new cells are synthesized - blastomeres, the so-called. embryonic cells at the stage of zygote division.
5 A blastocyst is formed - an embryo that has undergone a significant number of divisions. Its development already allows it to be implanted into the wall of the uterus.
6–7 The fertilized egg, already in the form of an embryo, enters the uterus and is fixed on its walls, merging at the sacred level with the maternal essence. This process can take up to 40 hours. There was a significant increase in hCG levels. This unique hormone has a name that is difficult for the average person - human chorionic gonadotropin.
8 At this stage, the embryo has completely penetrated the endometrium. His nutrition is carried out exclusively through maternal blood, since his own “food warehouses” were completely depleted by that time.

Is it still worth explaining to expectant mothers who only love themselves what happens in a newly born life when alcohol, nicotine, or what is completely harmful - drugs enter the bloodstream?

9 The fertilized egg is completely enveloped by the mucous membrane of the maternal cavity.
10 On the 10th day after conception, the implantation process is completed.
11 The cells of the placenta secrete a significant amount of hCG, which is necessary for the development of the uterine place. By the way, it is after the onset of this stage that the presence of gonadotropic hormone in the blood can be accurately recorded, an objective biochemical analysis can be carried out, and highly sensitive tests can be used.
12–13 There is an increase in hCG levels.
15 Further development of the fetus is observed - a primitive intestine and notochord appear.
13–17 This period is characterized by the formation of the amniotic sac and placental circulation.
18 This day is marked by starry action - a tiny heart begins to beat.

It is worth noting that medicine focuses on the first dangerous period - this is from 7 to 14 days of development of the future fetus, when a fundamental restructuring of the body occurs. And expectant mothers with poor health should especially refrain from emotional and physical stress. We are not talking about tobacco and alcohol at all.

How many days after intercourse does conception occur? First, let's talk about this process in general terms.

With the beginning of a new menstruation (or at the very beginning of one or another “critical cycle”), the egg begins to slowly mature and develop in the female body. After monthly bleeding, the follicular phase of the cycle begins. It is characterized by the active growth of the female cell.

During ovulation, an egg is released from the follicle. At this moment she is ready for fertilization. Next, the egg moves to the uterus through the fallopian tubes. This process takes about 48 hours. And it is at this time that a successful conception of a baby can occur.

Having reached the uterus, the unfertilized egg will live for about 2 more days. After this she dies. The luteal phase begins - the period of preparation of the body for the next critical days.

Let's consider the general case - when a couple deliberately plans a pregnancy. This will make understanding the topic being studied much easier.

Suppose unprotected sex occurred during the period of ovulation. Sperm enter the female body and begin to quickly move towards the egg. At this moment she is ready for fertilization.

Only the fastest and most active sperm will be able to penetrate the cavity of the egg. This moment can be considered a successful conception. It takes from 2 to 6-7 hours. This means that after ¼ of a day we can talk about pregnancy.

However, everything is not so simple. Immediately after conception, pregnancy cannot be recognized. This happens much later.

After implantation of the female cell in the uterine cavity, active growth and development of the fertilized egg will begin. And after 14-15 days, the pregnancy test should show two lines.

How long after intercourse does conception occur? The egg can be fertilized in six to seven hours. After unprotected sex, it attaches to the uterus approximately 20-24 days into the menstrual cycle. But the girl should not have problems with ovulation.

On what day after intercourse does conception occur? There are a lot of options for the development of events. But they all depend on ovulation and sperm viability.

Ideally, male cells that are ready for fertilization can live in a female body for about a week. This means that pregnancy can occur during ovulation even when unprotected sex has occurred for a long time. Situations like this are not that rare.

Sometimes sperm live in a woman’s body for only 1-2 days. Fortunately, this is an extremely rare occurrence.

What is ovulation and what does it mean to “eat” it? Of course, you can’t eat it, you can’t even see it, and some women don’t even feel it.

Ovulation is the rupture of the follicle and the release of a female egg, which is ready for conception. This is the period of time when the egg is ready to merge into a single whole with the sperm. To calculate the time when ovulation occurs, you need to divide the duration of the menstrual cycle by two. Ovulation occurs approximately in the middle of the cycle. With a cycle length of 28 days, ovulation should occur on the 14th day of the cycle. But do not forget that each organism is individual.

Essentially, ovulation is the birth of an egg and the duration of its life. You can feel ovulation if you listen to your body and understand the signals it gives. If a woman wants a child, the time of ovulation gives great chances to fulfill her dream and get pregnant. But if offspring are not planned in the near future, these are the “dangerous days” when there is the highest risk of becoming pregnant.

Compared to male “zippers”, the egg does not live long, at least several times less. The most tenacious sperm are capable of fertilization even on the fifth day after sexual intercourse.

The egg matures during half of the menstrual cycle, then it is born, at the same time it ruptures the follicle, and does not live long - 12-24 hours. In some cases - two days, but this is most likely an exception to the rule. The ability of an egg to fertilize is called ovulation.

Of course, these are all metaphors, but if we imagine the egg and sperm as living organisms, and compare their behavior with the behavior of people, then we get a whole love drama. "Romeo and Juliet" is resting. Only in our situation this story repeats itself every month, and there are chances for a happy ending. If this couple meets, conception occurs and, in fact, the birth of a new life if the woman decides to give birth to a baby.

The first days after conception: what happens to the embryo?

During sexual intercourse, up to 250 million sperm enter the female body, but fertilization can only occur if a mature egg (in rare cases, several) appears on their way. Its release from the follicle is ovulation (read more about symptoms and sensations in this material), the shortest stage of the menstrual cycle.

The probability of conception on the day of ovulation is 21.20%. Approximately one in five women became pregnant after PA on the day of ovulation.

This is one of the highest rates for the entire period of the menstrual cycle. The fact is that a mature egg does not retain the ability to fertilize for long. The life span of an egg is limited to 24 hours. Sperm live longer - up to three days (rarely up to five to seven).

It follows that a woman can become pregnant if intimacy occurs during the period 3 days before ovulation and the next day after it.


The egg is in the greatest readiness to merge with a sperm (formation of a zygote) precisely at the moment of ovulation - immediately after leaving the follicle. At this time, the concentration of estrogen in the blood, which promotes conception, reaches its maximum.

After ovulation ends, the level of sex hormones begins to decrease, the readiness of the egg for fertilization fades along with its natural depletion and destruction. If it does not have a chance to become a zygote during the fertile window, it naturally disintegrates in the fallopian tube and after some time leaves the body along with menstrual flow.

After conception, the cell begins to actively divide in geometric progression, so in a few days a zygote is formed with a complete double set of chromosomes, which has 58 cells and fits into 1/3 of a millimeter. This active activity occurs in motion - the zygote moves along the fallopian tube to the uterus with the help of villi, in order to finally gain a foothold there for the next 9 months.

The zygote gradually transforms into an embryonic vesicle - a blastula, consisting of an outer layer of small cells (blastoderm), which form the outer shells of the embryo during development, and large cells (blastocoel) located inside. By day 4–5, the embryo should reach the uterus. If by this time he has not achieved the goal, then an ectopic pregnancy may occur, which requires immediate medical intervention.

On the 6th–7th day of life, the blastula becomes overgrown with small villi, which cling to the walls of the uterine cavity, ready to meet the embryo and become looser, with overgrown vessels. After successful implantation, the villi become smaller, and the placenta begins to form at the attachment site.

Experts call the beginning of the second week the first critical period, because at this time the embryo is not protected from the effects of teratogenic factors (radiation, infections, chemicals and drugs) and may not attach tightly enough. In this case, the pregnancy may be terminated and the woman will begin menstruation.

During the normal course of the initial stage of pregnancy, on days 10–11, the unborn baby has already comfortably settled in the uterine cavity, and the blastula is divided into 2 vesicles - ectoblastic and endoblastic. The cells of the ectoblastic vesicle begin to fuse with the uterine mucosa and form the umbilical cord and the rudiments of the nervous system. The embryo reaches approximately 1 millimeter in length. 13 days after the release of the egg into the tube is considered the deadline for completion of implantation.

From day 15–16, the embryo begins to develop gender characteristics (at the cellular level), blood vessels, neural tube, and brain structures. The embryo produces immunoprocessor proteins that are foreign to the mother's body, because they belong to the father of the unborn baby, and the uterus must try to accept them. At this stage, the embryo will already be visible on the ultrasound scanner monitor as a small dot in the uterine cavity.

It is not in vain that specialists conduct special clinical studies after implantation of the embryo, because before the implantation of the embryo, most of the signs may turn out to be a confirmation not of the onset of pregnancy, but of the development of an inflammatory process, gynecological diseases and other pathological changes in the female body. The following sensations of a woman that arise at the initial stage of pregnancy are considered subjective signs:

  • drowsiness, malaise and weakness;
  • changes in taste and olfactory preferences;
  • sudden changes in mood (tearfulness, apathy, excessive touchiness, depression);
  • frequent urge to urinate (may be a symptom of diabetes, cystitis or kidney problems);
  • disturbances in the functioning of the digestive system and intestines;
  • nausea;
  • increased breast sensitivity.

Determination of ovulation

As you probably already understood, in order for a woman to become pregnant, a viable and healthy egg must mature. If this is the case, then there is a high probability that fertilization will occur upon meeting sperm. True, you must understand that in order for this to happen, male sperm must be healthy and, most importantly, mobile.

As for when pregnancy can occur after ovulation, it is worth considering when sexual intercourse occurred. If sperm enters the female body exactly on the day the egg is released, then pregnancy will begin 7-10 days after ovulation.

If sexual intercourse occurred 3-4 days before ovulation, then pregnancy will occur literally 4-5 days after the egg matures. In this case, a woman will be able to determine the onset of pregnancy with a simple test literally at the end of the menstrual cycle.


Possible symptoms of conception

No matter how strange it may sound, gastrointestinal distress during pregnancy occurs in every fourth woman. As a rule, this symptom appears as soon as the fertilized egg is implanted into the uterine cavity and a restructuring of the hormonal system begins to occur in the woman’s body.

Against this background, all processes in the female body slow down for some time, including those related to the absorption of food. And since intestinal stasis is reduced to a minimum, the woman may experience increased gas formation. In addition, representatives of the fair sex may develop food intolerance, which will be accompanied by diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.

Usually, doctors attribute all these symptoms to early toxicosis and advise expectant mothers to temporarily abandon all foods that the stomach cannot tolerate. As practice shows, as soon as the body ceases to perceive the embryo inside a woman as something foreign, all problems with the gastrointestinal tract disappear on their own, and the fair sex returns to her usual diet.

Quite a large number of women mistakenly perceive the symptoms of cystitis as inflammation of the bladder and try to treat it intensively. In fact, the body can react to pregnancy in this way.

If the symptoms of cystitis are a sign of pregnancy, then the woman’s urge to urinate sharply increases and pain appears in the area just above the pubis. But other symptoms (cloudy urine and the presence of blood) are usually absent. Why do all these symptoms appear?

As already mentioned a little above, literally immediately after conception, the hormonal background in the female body begins to change, as a result of which the production of mucus in the vagina increases, which helps bacteria get from the urethra into the bladder. It is also worth considering that immediately after fertilization, blood circulation in the pelvis increases, against the background of which the urge to go to the toilet may also become more frequent.


Real pregnancy symptoms

Women who have been trying to get pregnant for a long time, as a rule, begin to feel some changes literally immediately after unprotected intercourse. But, according to experts, in the first hours and even days after the egg meets the sperm, a woman cannot feel any signs of pregnancy.

The entire time the egg is in the fallopian tubes, the body will think that conception has not occurred. And only after the zygote turns into an embryo and it penetrates into the uterine cavity, the woman will begin to feel her unborn baby.

At the initial stage, these will be some indirect signs, but as the embryo grows, more and more new and, most importantly, obvious symptoms of pregnancy will appear. As practice shows, approximately 5-6 weeks after conception, a woman can begin to feel the fullness of her uterus and, even without a test, determine that she is pregnant.

We found out when conception occurs after intercourse. The symptoms of this event are almost impossible to feel. At least until the egg reaches the uterus. There, as we have already said, attachment to the wall of the uterus will occur for further development. This process is called implantation.

This is exactly what women can feel. During implantation, a slight nagging pain occurs. It is felt in the lower abdomen. Sometimes implantation bleeding appears - a few drops of blood or spotting from the vagina. Bleeding lasts from a couple of minutes to 3-4 hours.

The process of conception can occur either a few hours or a week after unprotected sex. Both situations are completely normal. After all, sperm live in a woman’s body for some time after ejaculation. And they can wait until ovulation with an egg ready for fertilization.

Now let's look at the first real signs of an interesting situation. We will talk about a situation in which more than 10 days have passed since fertilization. That is, the time of the next critical days is approaching.

At this point, it is customary to highlight the following phenomena:

  • abdominal enlargement;
  • bloating;
  • toxicosis;
  • pain in the abdomen;
  • intolerance to certain odors;
  • mood swings;
  • fast fatiguability;
  • drowsiness.

In addition, a clear sign of pregnancy is a delay in menstruation. If bleeding does not start on time, it is recommended to wait a couple more days and take a pregnancy test. By this time, 2 stripes or “ghosts” should appear on it.

The only way to find out that pregnancy has occurred as early as possible is to determine the level of human chorionic gonadotropin in the woman’s blood or urine. Keeping in mind the timing of ovulation and the rate at which the level of this substance grows, it becomes clear that on the 5th day after ovulation or on the 7th day there is not the slightest point in doing pregnancy tests. Even if implantation was early, the hormone did not have time to accumulate in the urine. First it must reach high levels in the blood.

Therefore, donating blood for hCG in a clinic is the best option for early accurate determination of an “interesting situation.” The analysis can be done and get a positive result even before the delay - 3 days before the expected menstruation or 11-12 days after ovulation.

In the urine, the level of the hormone will increase at a slightly slower pace, and the test zone of the pregnancy test strip will become colored no earlier than on the first day of the delay. If implantation was late, then within a week after the start of the delay, and if early, then an earlier positive result is possible - a couple of days before the start of the delay.

If you use highly sensitive tests, you can get results the day before the delay, but it should be understood that such tests can give false positive results because they react to some other hormones that are similar in molecular structure to hCG.

First signs of pregnancy

Most of the symptoms that girls and women “look for” in themselves before the delay are actually a consequence of the effect of progesterone on the vital functions of the female body. The corpus luteum appears, regardless of whether conception has occurred or not, and therefore all women experience the effects of progesterone in the second half of the cycle. Thus, they cannot be considered reliable signs of pregnancy.

These include drowsiness, increased appetite, slight enlargement and sensitivity of the mammary glands. Only 5-6 days (at the earliest) after implantation, some signs may appear, for example, systematic daily increases in body temperature, a feeling of fullness in the abdomen, and frequent urination.

A specialist must reliably determine the onset of pregnancy by conducting the necessary studies and examination. There are many signs that can be determined during examination: cessation of menstruation (amenorrhea), softening of the uterus in the isthmus area (Horwitz-Hegar symptom); mobility of the cervix (Gubarev and Gauss's sign), development of asymmetry of the uterine sac at the site of attachment of the embryo (Piskachek's sign).

Basal temperature is the body temperature at rest. Most often, it differs by several divisions from the usual indicators. Basal temperature is measured in the morning after sleep before waking up. During ovulation, it rises to 37–37.3 degrees, and then decreases to the usual levels.

If fertilization has occurred and the body begins to intensively produce progesterone, the basal temperature does not decrease. The absence of an elevated temperature may be an unfavorable signal, indicating a lack of progesterone and threatening termination of pregnancy.

After fertilization has occurred after ovulation, and the zygote has penetrated the wall of the uterus, serious changes are observed in the functioning of the body. He is actively preparing to bear the fetus.

The expectant mother can feel pregnancy literally from the moment the embryo is implanted. This event is often accompanied by tingling and a feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen, sometimes with a small amount of yellowish-brown mucous discharge from the vagina.

A woman can also judge pregnancy by other signs:

  1. Implantation bleeding.
  2. Implantation retraction of BT.
  3. Nervous tension, reminiscent of PMS symptoms.
  4. New taste preferences, increased appetite.
  5. Aversion to certain smells.
  6. Digestive problems for no apparent reason (bloating and a feeling of fullness in the abdomen, indigestion, symptoms of poisoning in the morning).
  7. Frequent urge to urinate (the result of changes in hormonal levels and, as a result, an imbalance of the vaginal microflora).The symptoms differ from those of cystitis - the urine is clear, there is no characteristic pain. The pain may be localized above the pubis.
  8. Distracted attention, fatigue.
  9. Increased breast sensitivity (tingling, pain, itching, swelling, burning). This is a consequence of a sharp increase in blood levels HCG (“pregnancy hormone”) immediately after embryo implantation. Increased growth of cells in the glandular tissue of the breast begins, which causes irritation of the nerve endings.
  10. Decreased blood pressure, increased basal temperature and low-grade body temperature. It can throw you either hot or cold. The risk of colds increases.
  11. Nagging pain in the abdomen and lower back.

Traditionally, the main sign of conception is the absence of regular menstruation. But other indirect manifestations of pregnancy also need to be taken into account, since cycle failure can be triggered by taking medications, stress, acclimatization and other factors.

Well, what can you do - this is life.

So, in the blink of an eye, a week has flown by. During this time, our “nimble babies” manage to run to the uterus and “snuggle” up to their own body.

And so, in the first days there are signs of pregnancy:

  1. Tingling in the uterine area.
  2. Minor nagging pain in the lower abdomen.
  3. Implantation bleeding.

The last sign is not such in the literal sense. This may be a slight pink or yellowish discharge that is found on your underwear.

This is explained by the fact that the fertilized egg, in its desire for life, when squeezing into the wall of the uterus, can slightly damage small vessels.

However, this is more the exception than the rule. Many ladies don’t even notice this.

If the embryo has penetrated the uterus, but has not yet attached, then the beginning of the second week will pass without any special changes.

If, as one great figure said, “the process has begun,” then by the time the 10th day arrives, changes will actually occur in the form of:

  • headache;
  • sudden mood swings;
  • lethargy, drowsiness, fatigue;
  • heaviness, fullness in the lower abdomen;
  • breast compaction and enlargement, colostrum secretion.


Depending on the individual female “design”, these changes can occur in different ways: for one, gradually, one by one, and for another, all at once and in an extremely painful form.

But you shouldn’t immediately blow yourself up and run with horror or joy to the pharmacy for a test. Wait a minute.

Well, if it’s really unbearable, then do a blood test for hCG. This method still remains the most objective for early diagnosis.

The third week is the period when not only the doctors say, but the woman herself understands what happened.

The body gives very definite signals that motherhood awaits you ahead.

The woman feels:

  1. Mild nausea, although severe toxicosis cannot be ruled out at an early stage.
  2. Unusual tingling in the uterus.
  3. Head spinning.
  4. Firmness of the nipples and increased sensitivity.
  5. Painful exacerbation of smell.
  6. Craving for unusual, previously unusual sensations.

Previously familiar odors can now cause irritation and sometimes even vomiting.

But at the same time, the weaker sex may exhibit some oddities: the desire to chew the tree resin of stone fruit trees, chalk, sponge, foam rubber, crumble an eraser with your teeth or rub foam on glass.

In addition, the expectant mother may experience a broken body. Previously habitual morning activities already require additional volitional efforts.

Being in the kitchen is disgusting. Cooking turns into a terrible ordeal.

Due to bloating, the stomach can no longer “take” its usual place. There is a frequent urge to go to the toilet, reminiscent of cystitis, only without pain.

Redness of the face in the evening, increased temperature, darkening of the body around the nipples, increased gas formation - all this indicates that the unborn child is developing and everything must be bravely endured.

Such signs appear quite rarely and are not perceived by most women as signs of conception. Only those who are aware of the changes in the body that are caused by ovulation, conception and changes in hormonal ratios are able to feel these signs.

Most often, the first signs of conception are noticed by women who want to have a child and all previous processes are aimed at this result. Otherwise, any signs are subconsciously rejected until they become too obvious to ignore.

It is worth noting that some signs of conception may resemble ovulation. It is precisely the fact that ovulation “manifested itself” at the wrong time and draws attention to possible conception.

Manifested in the following:

  • An increase in basal temperature above the monthly average;
  • An increase in general temperature by 0.5 - 1 degree, without accompanying symptoms;
  • Increased fatigue, fatigue, weakness, with the same daily loads;
  • Changes in the tactile sensation of the skin. They become drier or too greasy to the touch;
  • Feeling of fullness or heaviness in the lower abdomen;
  • Some are characterized by early toxicosis.

In the case when a woman keeps a journal of her cycles and monitors her basal temperature, changes in its amplitude will be immediately noticeable and this is due to ovulation. From a medical point of view, keeping such a journal is necessary for all women who plan to become a mother, even in middle age. In addition to determining cycle deviations and deducing the day when ovulation occurs, a full-fledged journal will immediately draw attention to diseases, female colds, and the like. It is known that earlier treatment guarantees less damage.

In the case where the log is not kept, only an ultrasound can answer reliably whether ovulation has occurred or not, however, it will not show the exact time of ovulation and the moment may be missed.

The pituitary gland produces the hormone progesterone, which converts the ruptured follicle into the corpus luteum, which produces hormones for maintaining a fertilized egg. Moreover, implantation - the fixation of the fertilized egg on the wall of the uterus - depends on the level of progesterone.

Interesting fact. After first ovulation and then conception, the egg turns into a zygote, before the first cell division inside. Further, after division into blastomeres, it becomes a blastocyst. Finally, after implantation into the wall of the uterus, it becomes a fertilized egg. Until the last moment, on the way to the uterus, the blastocyst is actively dividing, increasing the number of cells inside the shell, but remaining the same size externally. Successful implantation of the embryo into the wall of the uterus after ovulation and conception, as well as a long journey to the uterus, is the official start of pregnancy.

This is due to the fact that conception is a manifestation of a foreign body in the female body and the immune system is temporarily muted so that it does not attack the embryo. As a result, viruses and bacteria that were previously neutralized in time by the immune system can develop in the body. This is also an indirect sign of conception and implantation.

  • Ovulation is the main point in the cycle, from which all other processes begin, resulting in the birth of a child;
  • Signs of conception are easiest to establish when a woman keeps a diary, knows what day ovulation occurs, and counts favorable and unfavorable days for fertilization;
  • For those who do not even know what ovulation is, the signs may seem unimportant, but the actual signs remain unnoticed. If the question is acute, but your own observations are not enough, take tests or do an ultrasound of the pelvic organs to establish the truth;
  • A gynecologist or obstetrician will not be able to confirm the diagnosis of pregnancy earlier than 2 - 3 weeks during examination;
  • Pregnancy tests will be able to confirm the fact at least 10 days after conception, not to be confused with sexual intercourse, which many take as the moment of conception. Ovulation can occur 2-5 days after ejaculation and lead to conception.
  • During periods of uncertainty about the fact of pregnancy and, especially after its confirmation, do not take any pills without consulting a doctor, do not drink alcohol, nicotine and any negatively affecting allergenic products;
  • If there are signs of toxicosis, try to exclude sources of intolerable odors, foods and any sources from your environment

How does your stomach feel after conception?


Feelings in the abdomen after conception

In principle, immediately after fertilization of the egg, women do not feel anything. All the while the zygote is being formed, the girl may not even suspect that a new life is being born under her heart. But as soon as the embryo reaches the uterus and is securely fixed in it, the body will begin preparations for bearing and giving birth to a baby.

It is at this moment that many women begin to feel that they are pregnant. As a rule, literally immediately after the implantation of the embryo into the uterus, a woman begins to experience a slight tingling sensation in the lower abdomen, which in very rare cases is accompanied by brown discharge. Note that this should be a discharge more like mucus.

If you see bloody discharge, this may indicate that the embryo was unable to consolidate and died, and the body began to get rid of it. In addition, causeless heaviness in the lower abdomen may appear, which will not be accompanied by any other symptoms. As a rule, it disappears immediately after the fetal neural tube begins to form in the baby.

Body temperature and conception


Basal temperature after conception

If you use basal temperature measurements to determine ovulation, you can find out about your interesting position even before special tests can determine it. To do this, you will only need to carefully monitor the obtained indicators. Those who regularly measure their basal temperature know that before ovulation its readings do not exceed 36 degrees.

But as soon as the egg leaves the corpus luteum, the temperature rises to 37 degrees. If conception does not occur after ovulation, it drops again to 36 degrees and remains this way until the next ovulation period. Well, if you are lucky and a new life has arisen under your heart, then the basal temperature will continue to remain at 37 degrees.


HCG level after conception

The hCG hormone appears in a woman’s body immediately after fertilization. Since the source of its formation is the membrane that protects the fetus, its presence in a woman’s body can be determined only 7-10 days after conception, that is, after the egg meets the sperm and begins to divide intensively.

As practice shows, maximum hCG levels are observed at 10 weeks of pregnancy, and after that a gradual decrease in the amount of this hormone begins. True, you should take into account that in the first days after conception there is a period when the hCG level can drop to a minimum.

As a rule, this occurs during the period when the embryo is attached to the uterine cavity. In this way, the body creates the conditions for this process to proceed as quickly and well as possible. After the embryo is fixed, the hCG level will begin to rise again.

The incomprehensible abbreviation hCG has an even more incomprehensible decoding - human chorionic gonadotropin. Knowledgeable people call it the pregnancy hormone. For some, the news of its increased content in the blood is a long-awaited joy, while for others such news comes as a shock, leaving them speechless.

But be that as it may, gonadotropin is an important hormonal protein that is produced by the tissues of the embryo after it attaches to the cervix. Its main purpose is to stimulate the development of the placenta (the baby's cradle in the womb).

As the fetus develops, up to the 15th week, the hCG level increases all the time, almost every week.

Period (week) CHC indicator (mU/ml)
1 20–150
2nd–3rd 100–4870
4 2.5–82 thousand
5 Up to 151 thousand
6 Up to 233 thousand
7–10th 20.9–291 thousand
16 (level drops) 6.1–103 thousand
20 4.7–80 thousand
From 21 to 39 2.7–78 thousand

Doctors monitor this indicator throughout the entire period of gestation. For a decrease in level by more than 50% of the norm may indicate an ectopic or non-developing pregnancy, which equally indicates pathology. In addition, this may be a threat of failure, placental insufficiency, miscarriage of the fetus, or, worst of all, its death at a late stage.

Elevated hCG levels may also indicate the development and detection of the following problems:

  1. Incorrect deadline (longer than expected).
  2. Presence of hydatidiform mole. This occurs when the uterus is enlarged and there is a high probability of bleeding.
  3. Multiple pregnancy (twins or more).

How long after intercourse does conception occur? We have already sorted out this issue. There is no way to answer it unequivocally.

Let's talk a little about ways to determine an interesting position at first. Only certain categories of girls can do this without much difficulty. For those who keep a basal temperature chart.

If BT stays at up to 37.5 degrees Celsius for 3-4 days longer than usual, you can judge successful conception. But this option for identifying an interesting position is not suitable for everyone. You will have to wait about 2 weeks until the pregnancy appears in full swing.

Could there be changes in behavior, psychological aspect?


Breast tenderness immediately after conception

As you already know, immediately after conception, hormonal changes begin in a woman’s body, as a result of which the expectant mother’s body begins to prepare for childbirth and, of course, feeding the baby.

And it is hormones that are to blame for the fact that a woman’s breasts begin to hurt. In particular, this is influenced by the so-called pregnancy hormone, which begins to stimulate the growth of the mammary glands. Immediately after the embryo begins its development, hCG provokes increased growth of glandular cells, while the connective tissue remains the same as it was before conception.

For this reason, glandular cells begin to put pressure on all nerve endings and, as a result, the woman experiences pain. In addition to pain, some girls may experience itching, mild burning and tingling.


Changes in behavior after conception

If you carefully read our article, you probably realized that the first weeks of pregnancy are a lot of stress for the female body. The cause of all negative consequences is hormonal chaos, which begins immediately after fertilization of the egg. Such an uncontrolled hormonal storm has a very strong negative effect on the nervous system of the expectant mother.

As a result, the woman becomes very irritable, whiny and nervous. Her mood can change literally in a matter of seconds, she can laugh and cry at the same time or fall into apathy for no apparent reason. In addition, in the first weeks of pregnancy, women may experience sleep problems.

But don’t think that all these problems will accompany you throughout the entire period of bearing a child. After the tenth week of pregnancy, the placenta will begin to intensively produce hormones that normalize the woman’s condition. She will start sleeping normally again and will stop crying for any reason.

If you can do “before”, then you can do “after”?

There is a misconception that you can get pregnant 2 - 3 days before ovulation and, accordingly, 2 - 3 days after it. So what is the probability of conception, actually, before ovulation and a few days after it?

  1. Pregnancy before:
    3 - 4, and even five days before ovulation, you can get pregnant if you have unprotected sex. Pregnancy itself occurs when the egg is released from the follicle and enters the fallopian tube, where it merges with the sperm and forms a zygote. The fact is that sperm are too cunning “guys” and they can sit quietly for 4 - 5 days and wait in the wings. The vital activity and mobility of sperm can last up to 5 days. This is why at least 4 days before ovulation are considered “dangerous”. In fact, these are days favorable for conception.
  2. Pregnancy after:
    The ovulation process itself lasts up to 2 days. If this is exactly what happened to a woman, then the probability of pregnancy is very high. Pregnancy cannot occur on the 3rd or 4th day after ovulation. If pregnancy is a desired state for a woman, then you need to use 2 days to achieve the goal. But on the 4th day after ovulation, if it really happened, all attempts will not be successful.

What determines the level of hCG?

What is the probability of accurately determining ovulation and in what way?

Let's look at the most common methods:

  • Ovulation test. The most reliable and most cost-effective way to determine the day of ovulation is tests. In every pharmacy you can buy an ovulation test and check the level of the LH hormone within 4 - 5 days. If you take the cycle duration as 28 days as a basis, you need to check 4 days before expected ovulation, i.e. start on day 11 of the cycle.
  • Calendar method. You can calculate ovulation using the calendar method. If most women consider the middle of the menstrual cycle to be ovulation, the calendar method may give more accurate results. In this case, you need to keep a calendar where you mark the beginning of menstruation every month. You need to keep a monthly calendar for at least 6 months. But the results may not be accurate.
  • Basal temperature. Measuring your basal temperature for at least 4 months will more accurately determine the day of ovulation. But a woman should understand that it is impossible to get out of bed before taking the temperature; it is advisable not to make sudden movements at all. You need to measure daily.
  • Feel . Many women experience an increase in libido 2 to 3 days before ovulation. Everything is banal - I want sex! The discharge becomes more abundant and transparent. They look like slime. Sometimes the lower abdomen feels tight. You need to listen to your body and you can understand: in 2 - 3 days the favorable time for conception will come. More precisely, these days have already arrived, because the probability of conception is already very high these days.

Bottom line: conception is possible even on the 2nd day after the start of ovulation, because this process can last 48 hours. On day 3, the probability of fertilization of the egg is zero. So plan your pregnancy 3 days before ovulation, and not after it, and don’t believe the “smart guys” who say otherwise. But for successful conception you need to know the exact day of this process.

Nature has endowed the weaker sex with the ability to bear children. They can regulate this process by their desire or lack thereof. However, the body determines the readiness to fertilize an egg solely by itself. To do this, a magical preparatory process is launched, which ends with ovulation.

According to a conditional command given by the stars, a mature egg appears from the ovarian follicle and “pronounces” a phrase understandable to the female soul: I am ready!

A follicle is one of the components of the ovary, which consists of epithelial cells of connective tissue (a layer of cells lining the surface) and the egg itself.

Conception and ovulation are inseparable and harmonious phenomena. It is during this period, and not any other, that the egg is ready for fertilization.

Perhaps there is no need to convince you that at this stage families who want to have a child need to increase the frequency of love contacts. And if such a scenario of events is extremely undesirable, then, in order to avoid problems, you need to temporarily protect yourself from receiving pleasure or switch to using contraceptives.

A woman can determine the onset of ovulation not only by her exclusive calendar, which takes into account menstrual cycles, but also by certain signs.

These include:

  1. The appearance of painful sensations in the lower abdomen.
  2. Vaginal discharge that becomes stringy and sticky.
  3. Not only their color may change, but also the appearance of small veins.
  4. The attraction to the opposite sex intensifies, and the process of intimacy becomes more desirable.

These are physical symptoms. However, there are other methods to determine the onset of ovulation:

  1. Basal temperature control.
  2. Calendar method.
  3. Ultrasonography.
  4. Test method.

The above methods are good guides for people who have an irregular menstrual cycle.

When conception occurs after sexual intercourse, we answered. And we also got acquainted with some of the features of this event. A few words about how to determine the favorable time of conception.

At the moment, there are the following methods for determining “day X”:

  • calendar;
  • test;
  • medical;
  • physiological;
  • according to the BT schedule.

We have already dealt with the calendar reception. Now let's study other options for the development of events.

If you determine ovulation using a basal temperature chart, then it is worth keeping records of several menstrual cycles. BT measurements are carried out daily. The indicators are plotted on a graph. During ovulation, body temperature reaches 37-37.5 degrees Celsius.

The physiological method of determining the favorable time for conception is not particularly effective. But women often observe during ovulation:

  • increased sexual desire;
  • increased vaginal discharge;
  • pain in the ovaries and abdomen.

This method, as already stated, should not be relied upon. It is better to give preference to other methods of determining the favorable day of conception.

For example, test. It involves conducting a rapid test at home. The measuring device resembles a pregnancy test. The woman must urinate on the test strip and wait for the result. One line - ovulation will not come soon, two - the favorable time has come for conception. It is recommended to take the test in the middle of the menstrual cycle.

The most reliable method for determining ovulation (and pregnancy as well) is a medical method of bringing the idea to life. It is based on an ultrasound examination. The operation is performed approximately in the middle of the menstrual cycle.

During an ultrasound, the specialist will see not only the position of the egg, but will also be able to report the onset of pregnancy. To accurately “catch” ovulation, it is recommended to carry out the procedure once every 3-4 days from the middle of the monthly cycle.

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