At what week of pregnancy are you? If you don't know, find out how to determine it with our article!
Weeks of pregnancy and weeks of amenorrhea: what is the difference?
To estimate the progress of your pregnancy, there are two main methods: the calculation of the week of pregnancy or the calculation of the week of amenorrhea. By week of pregnancy, we mean "effective week of pregnancy": in other words, the calculation starts from the day of fertilization. On the other hand, the weeks of amenorrhea count the number of weeks without menstruation, i.e. since the day your last period began.
This difference between the two methods of calculation leads to a two-week difference in the result obtained. In total, a "normal" 9-month pregnancy is equivalent to 39 weeks of pregnancy or 41 weeks of amenorrhea. Practical data to determine your due date! Please note: doctors use the calculation in weeks of amenorrhea instead.
Follow your pregnancy week by week
How to calculate your week of pregnancy?
To calculate your actual week of pregnancy, simply count the weeks that have passed since the supposed day of fertilization. If you have a very regular 28-day cycle, your ovulation normally takes place on the 14th day after the beginning of your period. Your fertile period then extends from the 10th day to the 15th day of the cycle (four days before ovulation and one day after).
You can refine the result according to the date of your sexual intercourse, but in practice, determining the exact date of fertilization is impossible for most women, because they do not know the day of their ovulation. This is why doctors usually prefer to calculate in weeks of amenorrhea: simply count the weeks since the day your last period began. This date is much easier to know than your ovulation date!
Ultrasound dating: to determine the exact week of pregnancy
If the week of pregnancy is not easy to calculate by yourself, it is on the other hand easy to determine thanks to the dating ultrasound. Taking place between the 11th and 13th week of amenorrhea, it gives an accurate estimate of the age of the baby according to its level of development. This way, you will know how far along you are in your pregnancy!
