A pregnancy cannot be positive 8 days after intercourse. But, a pregnancy can be positive from the first day of your missed period. Some very sensitive pregnancy test kits can be used as early as 8 days after implantation (conception), even if you haven’t missed a period.
It is highly unlikely that you are pregnant from that act of intercourse if you have a positive pregnancy test 8 days after intercourse. Even if the egg was fertilized an hour later, there isn’t enough time for implantation (takes about 8-10 days) and hCG (pregnancy hormone) levels to rise to the point where a positive urine test is triggered. It’s considerably more likely that you conceived from another previous intercourse rather than one of 8 days before the pregnancy test.
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10 days after intercourse is the earliest you can test for pregnancy if you had intercourse during or after ovulation. However, it is still likely to give a false-negative result. In this case, it is recommended you repeat the test after 5 days to be really sure.
Most pregnancy tests can be done as early as the first day of a missed period. If you are unsure when your next period will arrive, take the test at least 21 days after your last unprotected intercourse. It can be difficult to know which act of intercourse led to pregnancy if you don’t keep track of your cycles. A pregnancy test is best performed on a sample of urine collected early in the morning. Testing in the morning provides a urine sample that is concentrated.
What Happens After Intercourse?
After sex, sperm can stay in a woman’s body for up to 5 or 6 days, ready to fertilize an egg on the day of ovulation in the fallopian tubes. So there’s already a 5 or 6 days period of uncertainty. On the other hand, fertilization happens quicker if sperm is released after ovulation. It can take about 30-45 minutes for sperm to reach the egg.
The egg usually takes 8-10 days to travel to the uterus and implant after ovulation and fertilization, although the time range can be as large as 6-14 days. A urine pregnancy test will usually indicate a positive 2-4 days after the implantation has taken place. In the case of twins, the test can turn out positive sooner because hCG levels are higher compared to that of a single zygote (baby).
The Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG)
A pregnancy only produces hCG once the embryo has implanted itself (in the uterus in a normal pregnancy, and elsewhere in an abnormal place as in an ectopic pregnancy). hCG is secreted after implantation which is roughly 8-10 days after ovulation, and the level is very low at this time. hCG testing in the blood can detect small quantities of hCG as low as 5IU/L. (anything greater than 5 is considered positive).
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In most OTC pregnancy tests, hCG cannot be detected in urine until it reaches a level of 20-25 IU/L. At the time of the missed menstrual cycle, you should expect a level of around 50 IU/L. As a result, a positive OTC pregnancy test should be expected a day or two before or on the day of the missing menstrual cycle.
Some Tips For Conceiving More Quickly
Pregnancy does not begin the day you have sex; it might take up to six days for the sperm and egg to combine and form a fertilized egg following intercourse. The fertilized egg must next fully establish itself in the uterine lining (implantation), which can take days. Here are some suggestions for conceiving more quickly:
- Get to know your cycle. How much do you know about your menstrual cycle?
- Don’t worry about the best positions for getting pregnant.
- Stay in bed right after intercourse.
- Don’t overdo it.
- De-stress any way you can.
- Live a healthy life.
- Avoid any movement after intercourse and, if feasible, keep your penis inside your vagina for as long as possible. This ensures that every sperm drop enters your vaginal canal, increasing your chances of becoming pregnant.
- Have multiple intercourse session in a day or week to increase the chances of pregnancy.
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Conclusion
Can a pregnancy be positive 8 days after intercourse? The answer is NO! Even if you had intercourse during ovulation, the fertilized egg usually takes 8-10 days to travel to the uterus and implant, although the time range can be as large as 6-14 days. It takes days for detectable levels of hCG to rise in urine after implantation. Therefore, a urine pregnancy test will usually indicate a positive 2-4 days after the implantation has taken place.
If you have concerns, please make sure to consult your doctor or gynecologist.