by C.V.Rajan

Created on: July 15, 2008   Last Updated: August 07, 2008

Determining when you have conceived?

A curious question indeed! A counter question: To what accuracy would you like to get the day of getting conceived? This question is very important because there is so much of biological variations and probability existing in the matter of conception.

If you want just an approximate period, then the answer is this:

If your menstrual cycle is a normal one with 28 days, then the date of conceiving can be taken as somewhere in the middle about 13 to 16 days after the starting date of your last period. For example, if your last period (the first date of your previous menstrual discharge) started on 1st May, the likely dates in which you may have conceived are 14th. 15th,16th or 17th May.

If you are not happy with such a wide period of speculation, then you should know from your memory or from your diary notes (if you have the habit of writing such "too personal" matters in a diary!) as to when you had intercourse with your partner during the above said dates. Assuming that you had only one intercourse with your partner on this specific period and assuming that the date is 15th June, then the most probable date of conceiving is 16th June.

What is the biological fact behind it? Once the ovulation takes place, the ovum travels to the uterus through fallopian tube and it can be alive for about 24 hours after release. When an intercourse takes place, the sperms from the ejaculated semen travel into the uterus (and even further into the fallopian tubes) and on the way, either inside the uterus or in the tubes, if the sperm meets the ovum, then the union takes place. The ovum now comes and implants itself in the inner walls of the uterus and that marks the beginning of pregnancy.

The normal life of sperms inside the woman is about 24 hours (though it may go up to 30 hrs or slightly more under favorable conditions). Hence we come to the conclusion that the conception would have taken place within 24 hours after intercourse.

What about other variable factors?

What if the menstrual cycle is not the normal one of 28 days? In such cases, you can consult an Ovulation Calendar (See for example: (http://www.babyhopes.com/ ovulation-calendar). Here, you can enter the date of beginning of your (previous) menstrual discharge and your normal menstrual cycle (no. of days). Where the menstrual cycle is from 21 days to 35 days, this calendar will give you the probable date of ovulation and the most conducive dates for getting pregnant. This could give a reasonably good idea.

What if intercourse had taken place on a couple of days during the "most conducive days"? In such case, it is difficult to pinpoint very accurately. It all depends on when the ovulation had taken place during these days. The ovulation itself has its own tolerance of plus or minus 2 days. Hence the conception could have occurred on account of any one of the days of intercourse.

But frankly, is there really any need for so much of accuracy on this matter?

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