How soon after intercourse can pregnancy be detected?

Pregnancy can be detected as early as approximately 7 days after intercourse via a blood test conducted at a hospital. For home pregnancy tests (urine-based), testing is generally recommended only after a woman’s menstrual period is at least one day late. These tests detect the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in urine to determine pregnancy. However, because the timing and levels of hCG secretion vary among individuals following conception, such tests may yield inaccurate results. Therefore, it is advisable to seek further evaluation at a hospital.