How many days after intercourse can pregnancy be detected?

The time it takes to detect pregnancy after intercourse varies depending on the regularity of a woman's menstrual cycle. For women with regular cycles, pregnancy can usually be detected 7–10 days after intercourse using a urine pregnancy test (such as a home pregnancy test). This is because, after the fertilized egg implants in the uterine lining, the body begins to secrete human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and hCG levels in urine gradually rise during early pregnancy, allowing detection through urine testing. For women with irregular menstrual cycles, ovulation may be delayed, which can result in later implantation of the fertilized egg. Therefore, pregnancy may be detected relatively later—typically around 14–20 days after intercourse—using appropriate testing methods.