How Long After Implantation Does hCG Rise?

If you’re here, you’re probably in the grueling two-week wait, that stretch of days where every day, you’re constantly wondering, “Should I test today? Or wait one more day?” It’s an emotional limbo, and we get it. 

So is it too soon to test? Here’s a visual timeline:

hCG begins to rise within 24 to 48 hours after implantation. But even once it starts increasing, it takes a few more days before there's enough in your system to show up on a pregnancy test, especially a urine one.

Let’s say LH peak is Day 1, the day you’d see a positive ovulation test. Here’s what typically happens next:

Day	What’s Happening
0–1	Presumably you have sex before or on the day of your peak
1	LH peak (ovulation test turns positive)
2	Ovulation (egg is released ~24 hours after LH surge)
2–3	Fertilization (sperm meets egg in the fallopian tube)
7–10	Implantation (embryo attaches to uterine lining)
8–11	hCG starts rising (within 24–48 hours of implantation)
10–12	hCG detectable in blood test
12–14	hCG detectable on early-detection urine tests
14+	hCG detectable on standard urine tests (usually around your missed period)

Note: everyone's body is different,  this is an average timeline, not a guarantee.

Waiting Is Hard, Download the Lume app So You Don’t Have to Do It Alone

Those days between ovulation and testing can feel endless. If you’re riding that emotional rollercoaster, the Lume app (available on iOS and Android) is here to support you. Inside, you’ll find daily affirmations, a Fertility Readiness Assessment, and audio courses to help you understand your body and feel more in control.