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What Is Gestational Age?

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Posted on Mon, 20 Jun 2016
Question: what does gestational age mean? and what is fetal age??? on my ultrasounds it says
GA: 6 weeks and 1day?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (41 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
there is a 2-weeks difference between them

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

a few days after a woman's period, ovulation occurs. Then a sperm may fertilize the egg and the woman may become pregnant. The time between this time and today is the fetal age. The gestational age starts counting from the first day of your last period, which is usually a couple of weeks earlier but it could be less or more, depending on the length of the cycle.

I hope it's easy for you to note the difference now!
Please contact me if you'd like further explanations.

Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (8 minutes later)
so if my ultrasound says GA: 6 weeks and 1 day thats means I conceived approximately 4 weeks and 1 day ago? thats what had me kind of confused because six weeks ago I waz on my period.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (11 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
it's obvious now, I suppose...

Detailed Answer:
That's right. The doctor calculates your gestational age by including the first day of your period. The fetal age can be a couple of weeks shorter but if your cycle was not a 28-day cycle then variable differences may occur. For example if you ovulated only 1 week after the first day of your period then your baby's fetal age should be only 1 week shorter. The fetal age calculation depends on ultrasonographic findings and is not 100% accurate. So even if you see strange differences between ultrasound scans or between your gestational and fetal age, do not be alarmed unless your doctor says you should!

Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (3 minutes later)
Because to my calculation I got pregnant Around April 1-3. because I only see my husband once a month. and it couldn't be
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
it could be April 3

Detailed Answer:
I had a fast look at the calendar. April 3 is definitely possible (obviously since you got pregnant!). Please take a look at the example I used in my previous answer. If you had a shorter first phase of your menstrual cycle (lasting 1 week only) then the ovulation occurred on April 2 or 3. Thus pregnancy at that date was possible.

The only stable part of the menstrual cycle is the second part (after ovulation) which lasts 14 days. The first part if variable and that's why it's not easy to calculate the ovulation date.

I hope it's more clear now.
Kind Regards!
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1999

Answered : 3814 Questions

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What Is Gestational Age?

Brief Answer: there is a 2-weeks difference between them Detailed Answer: Hello, a few days after a woman's period, ovulation occurs. Then a sperm may fertilize the egg and the woman may become pregnant. The time between this time and today is the fetal age. The gestational age starts counting from the first day of your last period, which is usually a couple of weeks earlier but it could be less or more, depending on the length of the cycle. I hope it's easy for you to note the difference now! Please contact me if you'd like further explanations. Kind Regards!