Do I Need to Know When I Conceived? If So, How?

Many women assume conception happens on the day they have sex. But conception timing can be confusing because:

• Sperm can live inside the body for up to 5 days

• Ovulation may happen earlier or later than expected

• Stress, illness, travel, and hormonal changes can delay ovulation

• Some women have irregular cycles and may not ovulate on a predictable schedule

Make an Appointment

Common dating methods - and why they can be wrong

1) Last menstrual period (LMP)

Most online calculators estimate pregnancy based on the first day of your last period. But LMP dating can be inaccurate if:

• You have irregular periods

• You had spotting and thought it was a period

• You recently stopped birth control

• You had a very light bleed that wasn’t a true

  period

2) Ovulation tracking apps

Apps are helpful for patterns, but they often predict ovulation rather than confirm it. The app is still a best guess.

3) “I know the exact day it happened.”

Even if you know the day you had sex, conception may occur days later, and implantation later still.

4) Online due date or conception calculators

Due date calculators are designed for general estimates.They assume a “typical” cycle and typical ovulation timing. But real life isn’t typical for everyone. Online calculators may be inaccurate when:

• Your cycle isn’t 28 days

• You don’t ovulate on day 14

• You had irregular bleeding

• You recently had a pregnancy, miscarriage, or hormonal changes

• You have conditions like PCOS (which can go undiagnosed)

A calculator can be close, but it can also be significantly wrong. Having an accurate date

matters when considering an abortion or making a pregnancy decision.

Is an ultrasound needed before taking abortion pills?

An ultrasound is not just about “getting a picture.” It’s about medical safety and accurate

information. An ultrasound helps confirm:

1) How far along you are (gestational age)

This is critical because medication abortion has different effectiveness and risk profiles

depending on gestational age. Knowing the correct gestational age helps reduce the chance of:

• incomplete abortion

• heavy bleeding

• unexpected complications

2) Where the pregnancy is located

An ultrasound can help identify whether the pregnancy is in the uterus (typical) or ectopic (potentially dangerous).

3) What’s actually happening in your body

Sometimes what feels like pregnancy might involve a miscarriage already in progress or a

pregnancy that stopped developing.

Without confirming what’s going on, someone may take pills expecting one outcome and experience something very different.

A Practical Next Step: Obtain Accurate Information To Protect Your Health

If you’re considering abortion pills and you’re not 100% confident about your dates, consider

getting a free ultrasound appointment.

You deserve to know:

• how far along you are

• what options are safest for your situation

• what to expect physically

If you're considering your pregnancy decision, we recommend scheduling a free pregnancy test and ultrasound confirmation appointment with our nurses. Even if you feel pressured to act quickly, getting accurate information first can help prevent scary, painful, and potentially dangerous complications later.