So 40 or 38?

Well, is it already time? Maybe yes, maybe no... But, if you get pregnant in this cycle, the doctor will say that you had a second week. Are you confused? We understand. The thing to remember is this: regardless of the cycle length, ovulation may occur in a period from about 9 to 21 days of the cycle. Illness, stress, coming off contraceptives, hormonal disruptions, great sex, a flash of sunshine, the stars aligning, or an egg that just couldn't wait any longer — any of these could be reasons for differing cycle lengths. If you do not do ovulation tests every day and do not measure basal temperature during romantic dates with a thermometer, it will be difficult to determine the exact date of ovulation. Same thing with conception: if you had sex at least 2 times this month (well, why not, right?), you cannot say exactly when the egg met the sperm.

So, since the exact date of the baby's conception can't be established, in medical practice pregnancy is considered to start from the first day of your last period. According to medical estimates, pregnancy lasts an average of 40 weeks; in fact, the baby develops for an average of 38 weeks — hence the confusion. You'll know for sure that you're pregnant around week 4. A whole month already gone and you didn't even notice, right?! We wish it worked like that at work — you don't even notice, and vacation is a month closer! ?

And if you do not have enough patience to wait for the first day of a missed period and two stripes on a test, feel free to take a blood test for hCG. It will show pregnancy a week after conception.

Since your baby is still two independent germ cells, here are some interesting facts about them. Sperm live for 3 to 5 days and can patiently wait for the egg to be released inside you. The wayward egg lives for only 24 hours after ovulation — it's during this window that the sperm must fertilize it. At the moment of ejaculation, 250 million sperm are released!!! Only about 400 will make it the distance, and within 10 hours they'll get close to the egg. And only one will merge with it. It seems like this hero deserves at least a round of applause. Don't forget to salute him after 9 months!