User Rating 0.0
Total Usage 1 times
Is this tool helpful?

Your feedback helps us improve.

About

Standard pregnancy calculations usually start from the Last Menstrual Period (LMP) because the exact date of conception is rarely known in the general population. However, for individuals tracking basal body temperature (BBT) or confirming ovulation via medical testing, calculating from the Date of Conception offers significantly higher accuracy.

This method bypasses the follicular phase variability entirely. While the LMP method assumes a 14-day pre-ovulation phase, actual follicular phases can range from 10 to 21 days. By anchoring the timeline to the biological start of the embryo (fertilization), the "280-day rule" is replaced by the physiological gestation period of 266 days.

conception fertility pregnancy due date

Formulas

The calculation is a direct addition of the standard human gestation period to the confirmed conception date:

EDD = Dateconception + 266 days

This is mathematically equivalent to:

EDD = (Dateconception + 38 weeks)

Reference Data

EventTimeline (Days Post-Conception)Reference
Implantation6 - 12 DaysBlastocyst attaches to uterine wall.
Missed Period14 DaysApproximate. hCG levels become detectable.
Fetal Heartbeat22 - 25 DaysTubular heart begins beating.
Anatomy Scan126 - 140 Days18-20 Weeks gestation.
Estimated Delivery266 Days38 Weeks post-conception (40w LMP).

Frequently Asked Questions

Not necessarily. Sperm can survive in the reproductive tract for up to 5 days. Conception (fertilization) occurs when the sperm meets the egg, which happens within 12-24 hours of ovulation. Therefore, conception can occur days after intercourse.
The 280-day medical standard includes the 14 days of the menstrual cycle before ovulation occurs. Since you are starting the count from the moment of fertilization (Day 14 in a standard cycle), we subtract those 14 days. 280 - 14 = 266 days.
If the conception date is known with certainty (e.g., triggered ovulation or strict tracking), this method is extremely accurate, often matching the first trimester ultrasound dating within +/- 2 days.