QuestionI've asked questions about this in other forums but I'm hoping that asking a fertility expert will be better.
Basically, I'm afraid I conceived 3 weeks before my first u/s says I did. For this to have happened, first I would have had to have ovulated on day 22 of a 27 day cycle, then the fertilized egg would have to survive a normal menstrual period, and then finally implant into the layer of the new cycle, making it look like the pregnancy occurred from that ovulation instead.
Is this even possible?
If I did in fact ovulate that late, can a luteal phase be that short and still allow implantation? If so, can the growth be somewhat "delayed" so long to appear it happened the following cycle? And if not, can a fertilized egg survive and wait around for a new layer to implant into?
My first 2 u/s both agreed that the pregnancy was from the following cycle, but I'm still concerned.
I hope this isn't too confusing...I've been reading a lot and have found different reasons as to why or why not this could be possible, so I'm hoping you can sum it up for me :)
Thank you so much!!
AnswerHello Kristin from the U.S.,
If you have defined your cycle of 27 days by the fact that you had a bleed (period), then it is very unlikely that you became pregnant in that cycle. You can't have a 5 day luteal phase. However, spotting can occur with implantation (called implantation bleeding), which would be approximately 7 days after ovulation. It would NOT be flow like a period, but light spotting and would only last for one day. This would be the exception. If ovulation occurs, the period ALWAYS occurs 14 days after, unless you become pregnant, in which case, the period does not occur.
If the ultrasounds were done between 7-9 week gestational age, then the dating is very accurate and within +/- 3 days. You can rely on that. I hope this helps to clear things up.
Sincerely,
Edward J. Ramirez, M.D., FACOG
Executive Medical Director
The Fertility and Gynecology Center
Monterey Bay IVF Program
www.montereybayivf.com
Monterey, California, U.S.A.
for additional information check out my blog at http://womenshealthandfertility.blogspot.com check me out on facebook and twitter with me at @montereybayivf
