When does the gestational period begin?
Disease description:
I found out this month that I'm pregnant, which came as quite a surprise. However, after getting the test results, I'm unsure how to calculate the gestational age. Doctor, from when should the pregnancy cycle be calculated?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhang Lu
The calculation of the gestational period typically starts from the first day of the pregnant woman's last menstrual period. This method is based on the principle that the menstrual cycle is relatively regular and easy to record. Each gestational week consists of seven days, and the entire pregnancy lasts 40 weeks, or 280 days. This method is the most commonly used and convenient, especially suitable for women with regular menstrual cycles.
Due to individual differences in women's menstrual cycles and ovulation times, the specific estimated due date may vary by one to two weeks, which is considered normal. For women with irregular menstrual cycles, other methods such as ultrasound examination results may be needed. In such cases, doctors will estimate the gestational age and due date based on the fetal development.
