When Did I Conceive?

Figuring Out the Moment

Conception happens when a man's sperm reaches a woman's egg. Normally, this happens after an act of intercourse. When the man ejaculates inside the woman's vagina, his sperm swim up into her uterus and fallopian tubes. If the woman has recently ovulated, the sperm may connect with an egg.

Sperm can live inside a woman's body for about 72 hours. An egg can survive after ovulation and without being fertilized for about 24 hours. This means that the window for conception could actually be any time within about three days after you have intercourse.

Still, most of us think of "conception" as the act of intercourse that led to the pregnancy. For purposes of calculating a due date, this works fine. But if you've been having sex often, you might never figure out exactly which act conceived the baby.

Counting Back

A good way to estimate your conception date is to count backward from your first missed period. If your cycles are regular, you probably ovulate about two weeks before your period each month. You can find more specific numbers at the LoveToKnow article on Conception Date.

You'll probably find that your doctor's estimation of how far along you are doesn't match your own estimated conception date. In fact, the doctor's calculations aren't meant to answer the question "When did I conceive?" The doctor calculates your due date from your last period, not from the moment of conception.

Can You Tell When It Happens?

Some women say they knew they were pregnant the moment it happened. For them, the question "When did I conceive?" seems easy. They talk about a feeling of excitement, of certainty, even of completeness. It is possible that some women can tell. It's also possible that these women thought they "knew" they were pregnant at other times, too, and then forgot about that feeling when the pregnancy test was negative.

About twenty percent of women have physical symptoms when they ovulate. These women feel a sharp or crampy pain, called mittleschmerz, on one side of the pelvis around the time that an egg is released. If you have mittleschmerz, you'll be able to guess your conception date within a few days.

If your periods are regular, you can keep track of your ovulation dates by monitoring your body temperature and your vaginal secretions. You can learn more about this at Signs of Ovulation.

More About "When Did I Conceive?"

There are a lot of myths about conception. People wonder if it's possible to get pregnant without having sex, if an orgasm is required, and how often birth control fails.

If you're asking "When did I conceive?" because you're wondering how you got pregnant, here are some facts:

• Conception always requires a sperm meeting an egg. Unless you had in vitro fertilization or some other type of assisted reproduction, your conception date can be traced back to a specific sexual interaction with a man.
• Conception does not require orgasm. In fact, technically, it does not even require penetration. If a man ejaculates outside your body but near your vagina, it's possible for the sperm to reach your egg.
• Birth control is not foolproof. Even the most reliable methods of birth control can fail. Read about birth control effectiveness to learn more about the different methods.
• Conception usually occurs mid-cycle, but surprises can happen. One of the reasons doctors don't try to pinpoint your exact conception date is that ovulation can occur unexpectedly. Most of the time and for most women, ovulation happens about halfway between periods, but irregular cycles, short or long cycles, or even stress can make ovulation unpredictable.

• Natural Ways to Induce Labor
• How Soon Can I Take a Pregnancy Test
• How to Conceive a Boy
• How to Conceive a Girl
• Early Pregnancy Symptoms

• When Did I Conceive%3F
• Vasectomy Reversal
• Trying to Conceive
• How to Conceive a Girl
• How to Conceive a Boy

• Maternity Workout Clothes
• Hip Maternity Clothes for Cheap
• Artistic Maternity Photos
• Teen Pregnancy Quiz
• Pregnancy Gender Quiz