When a woman finds out about her new position, she has many questions. Of course, she cares about how the baby will develop, whether everything complies with the standards. Every future mother is worried that the pregnancy may abort. However, most babies are still born without any problems.
After realizing that you will soon become a mother, you need to visit a gynecologist. From this moment, the doctor will carefully monitor your condition. Many women are interested in what day gynecologists consider the gestational age. It is not always possible to answer this question right away. The individual characteristics of conception and female health determine a lot. This article will present you with several cases examined, which describe from what day doctors consider pregnancy.
Pregnancy from the moment of conception
Before finding out from what day doctors consider pregnancy to be, it is necessary to explain the very principle of fertilization. The female body undergoes cyclical changes throughout the reproductive age. In one month in the body of the representative of the weaker sex, many processes occur. First, the pituitary gland produces the hormone estrogen. Under its action, follicles in the ovaries grow . Around the middle of the cycle, the dominant is determined. It is from him that the egg will subsequently come out.
Ovulation is the moment when the female gamete reaches the limit of its growth and development (dominant follicle). This process starts luteinizing hormone. Subsequently, progesterone begins to be released, which produces the corpus luteum. Under its action, there is an increase in the endometrium and preparation of the uterus for pregnancy. Fertilization occurs in the fallopian tubes. Already from there, continuously dividing cells enter the cavity of the genital organ, where pregnancy will develop. It would seem that everything is very simple, and the question of from which day they consider pregnancy should not arise. However, doctors adhere to a slightly different point of view and conduct their own calculation of the term. Consider several individual cases.
The average female cycle and the calculation of the gestational age
From what day to count the weeks of pregnancy, if the duration of the female cycle is 26-29 days? To begin with, it is worth saying that it is the average statistical length of the period that most women have. When they come to the gynecologist's appointment, the doctor begins his calculation. In this case, the starting day is the first day on which bleeding began. Why is this calculation made?
This method of setting the gestational age is called obstetric. It takes its beginning on the first day of the last menstruation. However, at this moment, even the female body did not know about pregnancy. It is worth noting that the bearing of the child for an obstetric period lasts 40 weeks or, as indicated in some sources, 280 days. The two weeks that preceded ovulation can be deducted from this time. In this case, the duration of pregnancy will be 38 weeks.
Short cycle and its features
From what day do gynecologists consider pregnancy in women with a short cycle? Experienced doctors must take into account how long this period has. If this is not taken into account, then the calculation may not be entirely accurate. A short cycle lasts approximately 21 days, or 3 weeks. If you start the countdown from the very first day of the last menstruation, it turns out that one week will not be enough. So, often girls with a short cycle do not reach the deadline. Their birth occurs not at 40 weeks, but at 39.
If the gynecologist takes into account the peculiarity that the woman’s cycle is short, then she will be able to correctly calculate the estimated date of birth. To do this, you just need to add an additional missing week to the total gestation period. At the same time, we can conclude that the gestational period (obstetric) originates even before the appearance of the last menstruation (in the previous cycle).
How long gynecologists calculate pregnancy
From what day should the pregnancy begin if the duration of the female period is more than 30 days? The long cycle is when about 35 days pass from one menstruation to another. From this we can conclude that this period lasts five weeks. How do doctors calculate in such situations?
In a long cycle, ovulation occurs on approximately the 20th day of the cycle. As you already know, about 38 weeks elapse from the moment the ovum leaves the ovary until the onset of labor. However, doctors begin to count from the first day of the last menstruation. That is why it turns out that the gestational age in women with a long cycle is on average one week longer. It turns out that their natural birth does not begin at 40, but at 41 weeks. If the doctor is attentive and has sufficient work experience, then the calculation in the described situation will be carried out from the 7th day of the cycle. This will lead to the fact that deviations in the estimated dates can be avoided.
In vitro fertilization: a short protocol
From what day to consider pregnancy with IVF? This question arises for all representatives of the weaker sex who had to use the artificial insemination service. With this manipulation, a woman takes certain types of hormones on established days. It is worth noting that the short protocol differs little from the usual cycle. In it, a woman takes drugs that stimulate the growth of follicles for several days. A few days before the alleged ovulation, they are removed from the ovarian cavity. In the usual cycle, fertilization is carried out at this stage. However, with the IVF procedure, everything is somewhat different. After receiving the eggs, they are combined with sperm. Then, for several more days, cell division is monitored by specialists. Embryo transfer takes place on the third or fifth day. It is from this day that we are talking about pregnancy.
From what day do gynecologists consider the beginning of pregnancy? With artificial insemination, the period is calculated from the moment the eggs are removed, but with the addition of two weeks. In a short cycle, it is often not necessary to manipulate the calculation. Gynecologists say that the first day of the last menstruation is the beginning of pregnancy.
Features of the long protocol for in vitro fertilization
The long in vitro fertilization protocol has its own characteristics. So, before conducting stimulation and growing follicles, a woman must undergo a certain correction.
First, a representative of the weaker sex takes drugs that block the work of the ovaries. And only after a few weeks does stimulation begin. If you calculate pregnancy from the first day of the last menstruation, then its estimated term will be 7-8 weeks. Whereas the real picture will show only 3-4 weeks. That is why gynecologists must take into account the day of embryo replanting and take it as a reference point.
Special cases
From what day do gynecologists consider pregnancy in special situations? Such circumstances include those circumstances in which a woman cannot name the date of the last menstruation. This can be with breastfeeding, taking certain hormonal drugs, and so on.
Doctors say that in such cases it is necessary to conduct an ultrasound examination. In the early stages, such a diagnosis allows you to fairly accurately determine the number of weeks of pregnancy.
How does this happen in life
Now you know how gynecologists and obstetricians usually calculate pregnancy. Currently, it is increasingly possible to encounter the fact that doctors are not particularly fixated on taking into account the length of menstruation and setting the date of ovulation. Often, doctors simply add one week to the date of the last bleeding and from here they are already calculating the term.
For example, if menstruation began on January 1, then the period will be taken into account only from the 7th day. Doctors explain this calculation by the fact that during menstruation pregnancy could not occur.
Instead of a conclusion
Now you know from what day to consider pregnancy. After conception, a new position can be found only after two weeks. The pregnancy test will tell you about this. However, it is likely that fertilization can be confirmed only after a few weeks, during an ultrasound diagnosis. Easy your pregnancy!