Medically reviewed by Holly Almond, RN, BSN.
Just saw two lines on a pregnancy test? Or think you could be pregnant? Here’s what you need to know about conception.
What does conception mean in pregnancy?
Conception in pregnancy is the moment after unprotected sex when sperm has traveled up your vagina and fuses with your egg in your fallopian tube (also called fertilization).
When did I conceive?
To conceive, your egg would need to be fertilized within twenty-four hours after its release. Your body releases an egg once during your menstrual cycle, called your ovulation phase. You can only conceive within your fertile window, which lasts from about five days before to 24 hours after ovulation.
Can I find out the exact day I conceived?
There’s no way to know 100% when you conceived. Here at The Pregnancy Network, we can give you an approximation based on an ultrasound and the date of your last menstrual period (LMP).
How soon after conception can you test for pregnancy?
Some tests can detect pregnancy as soon as 6 days before your missed period. However, you will get a more accurate result if you wait til you miss your period. If you test too early, you might get a false negative because your hormone levels are not high enough to be detected yet.
How many weeks pregnant am I when I conceive?
Conception technically occurs around week 2 of pregnancy. Pregnancy is dated from the first day of your last menstrual period, since your nurse can’t say for certain what day conception occurred. By the time you test positive for pregnancy, you may be about 4 weeks pregnant.
Want to read more about conception and finding out you’re pregnant? You might be interested in these blogs:
Adrienne Bergmeier
Adrienne Bergmeier is a Communications Coordinator at The Pregnancy Network.