There are a few ways to help you estimate how far along you may be. However, you need to know first if you are pregnant. Once you verify that, then you can use any of the below tools to help pinpoint how far along you are in your pregnancy or to guess about what timeframe you may have conceived.
The Last Time You Had Sex
This one is a bit more obvious but if you know when the last time was that you had sex, that might point you to a time frame of when you conceived. Conception doesn’t happen immediately but can take some time. After all, a man’s sperm can live inside your body up to 3-5 days after sex. (We mention that later in this article.)
Check the Date of Your Last Menstrual Period
If you have a regular period and know the first day of your last menstrual period, you can figure out about how far along you are in your pregnancy or, in other words, the gestational age of your baby. According to American Pregnancy Association, “gestational age is calculated from the first day of your last menstrual period and not from the date of conception.”
If you have irregular periods, it can be difficult to tell if you are pregnant. (This is where pregnancy tests come in handy! Ask us about our free lab-grade pregnancy testing.)
Ultrasound is the Most Accurate Tool
What is the best and most accurate way to find out exactly how far along you are, especially early on in a pregnancy? An ultrasound! During an ultrasound, the technician takes a measurement of your baby. The best time to estimate gestational age (down to the week and day) is between the 8th and 18th weeks of pregnancy, which is the time frame during which we offer free, non-diagnostic ultrasounds. If you have the date of your last menstrual period, this is used to help further confirm the gestational age found during an ultrasound.
Please note, you must first take a pregnancy test with us before scheduling an ultrasound.
When does conception happen?
According to American Pregnancy Association, “for a woman with a regular period, conception typically occurs about 11-21 days after the first day of the last period.” The range of 11-21 days is an estimate of when a woman may ovulate for conception to occur. It can be difficult to know when you are ovulating unless you use some common tools or signs that can help you to know when you are ovulating. These include ovulation test kits and watching for symptoms your body gives you to indicate you may be ovulating, including a slight rise in temperature, a type of vaginal discharge, and other symptoms.
What is ovulation?
American Pregnancy Association describes ovulation as “the process in which an egg is released from an ovary.” In other words, ovulation is the time in which you can become pregnant. Once the egg is released from the ovary, it can be fertilized for around the next 12 to 24 hours. Something to keep in mind is that “sperm can live inside the female reproductive tract for about 3 to 5 days after sex. The chance of getting pregnant is highest when sperm are in the fallopian tubes during ovulation.”
As a woman, it’s important to understand when you can become pregnant. As an example, in an average 28-day menstrual cycle, ovulation usually happens about 2 weeks or 14 days before the next period starts. But, as the American Pregnancy Association shares, “the length of each person’s cycle may be different. And the time between ovulation and the start of a period can be different month to month.” Because ovulation is hard to pinpoint, pregnancy can happen in any of the days surrounding your estimated time of ovulation.
If you aren’t doing it now, you can start tracking your menstrual cycle to find out when your time of ovulation may be happening. You can look for a phone app to help track your menstrual cycle and predict ovulation.
Also, keep in mind that even if you or your partner use birth control, you could still become pregnant. No method of birth control is 100% effective at preventing pregnancy.
Next Steps
The tools listed above can help you figure out which date(s) you may have conceived. However, there’s a lot more to think about once you know you are in fact pregnant and how far along you are. Start with a free pregnancy test at any one of our centers and get the answers you need on pregnancy, getting a free ultrasound, abortion pills, procedures, adoption, parenting, and more.
Sources:
https://americanpregnancy.org/getting-pregnant/calculating-conception/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/getting-pregnant/expert-answers/ovulation-signs/faq-20058000
https://www.babycenter.com/getting-pregnant/ovulation/ovulation-symptoms-how-can-i-tell-when-im-ovulating_484
Disclaimer: The information on this website and blog does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment but is intended for general understanding only. The information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. We always strongly encourage you to talk to your doctor for any medical concerns.