It can be difficult to determine exactly when a woman became pregnant. There can be many reasons a patient wants to know the precise timeline. Reasons may include: sentimental purposes, health factors, and more. Though it may be impossible to determine the exact moment, we can make an estimation.
How do I make an educated estimation of when I become pregnant?
Let’s first define a few terms:
LMP: “Abbreviation for ‘last menstrual period.’ By convention, pregnancies are dated in weeks starting from the first day of a woman’s last menstrual period (LMP)” (MedicineNet).
Ovulation: “Ovulation is the phase in the female menstrual cycle when an egg or ovum, also known as an ovule or oocyte, is released from the ovaries” (News Medical).
Conception: “the process of becoming pregnant involving fertilization or implantation” (Merriam-Webster).
Implantation: “the attachment of the fertilized egg or blastocyst to the wall of the uterus at the start of pregnancy” (Oxford Dictionaries).
In order to evaluate when a woman became pregnant, she should first determine the first day of her LMP (Last Menstrual Period). Generally, most women ovulate approximately two weeks after their LMP. Therefore, once a woman has determined the first day of her LMP, she can conclude that she likely became pregnant approximately two weeks after that. For example, if your LMP was January 14th then you would likely become pregnant two weeks later on approximately January 28th.
An ultrasound scan can determine how far along you are in your pregnancy which would supply you with a more accurate estimation. To learn more about your menstrual cycle, dating, and more, check out our blog: How to Date…Your Menstrual Cycle.
If you think you might be pregnant, your best first step is to receive the completely confidential medical exam offered to you at no cost, no insurance required by Your Options Medical.