195 views
in Pregnancy Period General by
I started my antenatal treatment on February 16, 2023. When I went for a scan on March 8, 2023, I was told that my gestational age is 17 weeks and 3 days. However, my last menstrual period (LMP) was on November 27, 2022, and I had intercourse on November 28, 2022. Why is my gestational age ahead by 2 weeks?

Your answer

Your name to display (optional):
Privacy: Your email address will only be used for sending these notifications.
Anti-spam verification:
To avoid this verification in future, please log in or register.
Artificial Intelligence Health Assistant's Answer

There are several possible reasons why your gestational age may be ahead by two weeks compared to your last menstrual period (LMP). Firstly, it's important to note that the calculation of gestational age is based on the assumption of a regular menstrual cycle of around four weeks. However, not all women have a predictable cycle length.

One possible explanation could be that you ovulated earlier than expected in your cycle. Ovulation typically occurs around two weeks after the start of your menstrual period. If you ovulated earlier than usual and conceived shortly after having intercourse on November 28th, it could account for the discrepancy in gestational age.

Another possibility is that there may have been an error in dating during the ultrasound scan. Ultrasound measurements can sometimes vary slightly depending on factors such as fetal position or technician experience. It's also worth noting that early ultrasounds are generally considered more accurate for determining gestational age compared to later scans.

Additionally, it's important to consider the potential margin of error in estimating gestational age based solely on LMP. This method assumes that fertilization occurred exactly two weeks after the start of your last period and doesn't take into account individual variations in conception timing.

If you're concerned about the difference in gestational age between LMP and ultrasound measurements, it's best to discuss this with your healthcare provider. They can provide further insight based on your specific circumstances and may recommend additional tests or evaluations if necessary.

3.7k questions

7.2k answers

904 comments

62.1k users

Most active Members
this month:
  1. Barbarayarbrough456 - 1 points


...