Implantation typically occurs about 6 to 12 days after ovulation, which translates to approximately 6 to 17 days after having sex, depending on when ovulation and fertilization occur relative to intercourse
. Here is a detailed timeline of the process:
- Sperm travel: After sex, sperm can take about 15 to 45 minutes to reach the fallopian tubes, but they can survive inside the female reproductive tract for up to 5 days, waiting for an egg to be released
- Fertilization: Fertilization can happen within minutes to hours if ovulation has already occurred, or it may take up to 5 days if sperm are waiting for the egg to be released
- Implantation: After fertilization, the fertilized egg (zygote) travels down the fallopian tube to the uterus, a journey that takes about 3 to 5 days. Once in the uterus, the blastocyst implants itself into the uterine lining, typically 6 to 12 days after ovulation (or 6 to 17 days after sex, depending on timing)
Pregnancy officially begins at implantation, which is why pregnancy tests are most reliable about a week after implantation, when hormone levels (hCG) rise enough to be detected
. In summary, implantation generally occurs about 6 to 12 days after ovulation, which can be from about 6 to 17 days after sex depending on when ovulation occurs relative to intercourse.
