Conception does not usually happen immediately after sex; it’s a multi‑step process that unfolds over days, sometimes weeks.

Quick Scoop

  • Sperm can reach the egg in as little as 30 minutes to a few hours after ejaculation if you had sex close to ovulation.
  • Sperm can survive inside the reproductive tract for up to about 5 days, waiting for an egg.
  • The egg, once released at ovulation, can be fertilized for about 12–24 hours.
  • Fertilization (conception in the “sperm meets egg” sense) usually occurs within that 12–24‑hour window after ovulation, which can be anywhere from shortly after sex to up to around 5 days later (if sperm were already waiting).
  • Implantation in the uterus, which is when pregnancy “officially” begins, typically happens about 6–12 days after fertilization, and overall roughly 2–3 weeks after sex.

Simple timeline example

  • Day 0: Unprotected sex.
  • Day 0–5: Sperm can survive and wait for ovulation.
  • Around ovulation: Egg is released; conception (fertilization) can happen from about 30 minutes up to roughly a day after the egg is released, as long as sperm are present.
  • About 6–12 days after ovulation: Implantation in the uterus; pregnancy hormones start to rise.

If you had unprotected sex and are concerned (hoping to conceive or to avoid pregnancy), speaking with a healthcare professional can give you personalized guidance on timing, emergency contraception, or fertility planning.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.