Conception and Pregnancy Confirmation FAQs

Exact moment of conception is impossible to tell. The time lines are:

• Two weeks after your menstruation ends.
• It is a three step process
• When the ovary releases the egg
• When the sperm and the egg combine in the fallopian tube called ovulation
• When the fertilized eggs implants into the uterine wall, called implantation, which is 6 to 12 days after ovulation

It is only after the fertilized egg connects with the blood stream, well after implantation, that progesterone is produced and HCG the pregnancy hormone is released. This is the time that change in feelings can be felt by women and not before this.

Pregnancy is indicated by the level of the HCG hormone. This level gradually increases all through the pregnancy. Test for pregnancy can be confirmed by a check for this hormone in the urine. However the results are more accurate after a missed period. It depends on your HCG level

The blood test checks the levels of the hormone HCG and progesterone in the blood.

WEEKS OF PREGNANCY                                   AMOUNT OF HCG IN mIU/L

• 3 weeks                                                                   5 to 50
• 4 weeks                                                                   5 to 426
• 5 weeks                                                                   19 to 7,340
• 6 weeks                                                                   1,080 to 56,500
• 7 to 8 weeks                                                           7,650 to 229,000
• 9 to 12 weeks                                                         25,700 to 288,000

The urine pregnancy test measures only the presence of HCG and depending on the concentration of the urine, the level of HCG indicated may be too little to indicate a positive result. Hence follow instructions on the package for the most accurate results. In general midstream is the best.

The test sensitivity is measured in mIU/mL and is indicated on the kit. Lower the number the higher is the test sensitivity. Hence choose the kit with the highest sensitivity so that the results are accurate.

A positive urine test does indicate pregnancy. However positive indications are also there in chemical pregnancies which do not continue. Many pregnancies may end up in miscarriages shortly after implantation.

Even a faint line on the urine pregnancy test is a positive result and indicates pregnancy. However, you need to re-confirm this by doing the test again, maybe a week later, exactly as per the procedure given in the test kit.

Not following the procedure given in the test kit, or too early a test can indicate a false negative. This could happen if there is too little HCG in the urine sample or that the implantation has taken place later.

The menstrual cycle depends on a lot of factors. Have you been always consistent in the cycle, diet change; sleep deprivation, medication, thyroid issues and anxiety are few of the things that have an effect on the monthly cycle. Confirmation of pregnancy can be fully determined by a simple blood test.

No, pregnancy means no ovulation and no shedding of the lining of the uterus (endometrial) which translates to your monthly period. Bleeding does occur in pregnancy at times but this is not normal though it is quite common.

Missing a period is the first sign of pregnancy that manifests itself. However, this can be confirmed by a simple home pregnancy test. Please note that a missed period is not confirmation of pregnancy by itself as there are many reasons for missing a period. It is an indication that pregnancy test should be taken to confirm or eliminate the possibility of pregnancy

The main symptoms of pregnancy are frequent urination, fatigue, nausea, tender or swollen breasts, food aversions, food cravings etc. These can be different for different women and quite often no such symptoms are noticed in early pregnancy. The symptoms become apparent only once the hormone levels rise.

Ovulation takes place about two weeks before your period. Implantation happens in this two week period. If there is light pinkish spotting early in the cycle it could be a sign of implantation. This will not last beyond a day or two

Please note that all due date calculations are approximate as exact time of implantation cannot be calculated. However, by adding 40 weeks to the first day of your last period an approximate due date is calculated by your doctor. This again depends on the regularity of your 28 day cycle of menstruation.

The initial due date is calculated on the basis of the first day of your last period. Subsequently, when the first ultrasound is performed, the size of the fetus and its stage of development will confirm the actual gestational age of the fetus and the approximate date of birth. Again this will remain an approximation as babies choose their own time of birth and it can vary a week or even two.