Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Can A 2-3 Week Pregnancy Be Detected Through Ultrasound?
Question: On February 2nd I went with wife for an ultrasound. To confirm she was pregnant. She was so early they couldn't measure it. They said she was 2-3 weeks does this mean 2-3 weeks from conception or 2-3 weeks pregnant. I would think 2-3 from conception because 2 weeks counts as the first day of pregnancy. So wouldn't be possible to know you were pregnant until about 3 weeks and some odd days, which makes me think they meant 2-3 weeks from conception 4-5 weeks pregnant?
They said she was probably 2 and a half weeks, so maybe they meant 4 and half since there is no way to know your pregnant or confirm it if your 2 and a half weeks pregnant, you wouldn't be done implanting yet?
They said she was probably 2 and a half weeks, so maybe they meant 4 and half since there is no way to know your pregnant or confirm it if your 2 and a half weeks pregnant, you wouldn't be done implanting yet?
Brief Answer:
Too early to be detected by ultrasound
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX I have gone through your question and understand your concerns. Diagnosis of pregnancy by even sensitive transvaginal ultrasound can be done only after 5 weeks of pregnancy, the 5 weeks calculated from the last menstrual period.
If your ultrasonologist said that the pregnancy was not detected at 2-3 weeks gestation( and by that he meant 4-5 weeks from the last menstrual period), it is quite possible. Such early pregnancy is only detected by urine or blood tests, the ultrasonographic evidence comes after 5 weeks, and that too in a transvaginal ultrasound
By transabdominal ultrasound, it is evident by nearly 6 weeks of gestation.
Implantation occurs by 5 th day after conception, but it takes time for the pregnancy to be visible by ultrasound.
Hope you found the answer helpful. Please do get back for further queries.
Wishing you good health.
Regards,
Dr Deepti Verma
Too early to be detected by ultrasound
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX I have gone through your question and understand your concerns. Diagnosis of pregnancy by even sensitive transvaginal ultrasound can be done only after 5 weeks of pregnancy, the 5 weeks calculated from the last menstrual period.
If your ultrasonologist said that the pregnancy was not detected at 2-3 weeks gestation( and by that he meant 4-5 weeks from the last menstrual period), it is quite possible. Such early pregnancy is only detected by urine or blood tests, the ultrasonographic evidence comes after 5 weeks, and that too in a transvaginal ultrasound
By transabdominal ultrasound, it is evident by nearly 6 weeks of gestation.
Implantation occurs by 5 th day after conception, but it takes time for the pregnancy to be visible by ultrasound.
Hope you found the answer helpful. Please do get back for further queries.
Wishing you good health.
Regards,
Dr Deepti Verma
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
She has a 20 to 25 day cycle her period started on January 10th so according to her she is 25 weeks and some odd days which means she got pregnant anywhere from the 15-20 of January to have it picked up on the 2nd?
Brief Answer:
Dates explained
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX thanks for responding. By her last menstrual period, her period of gestation today is 24 weeks4 days.
Her ovulation might have occurred around 21-22 January, so by second February, she would be around 11-12 days post conceptional. It is not possible to detect pregnancy by ultrasound at this stage, however urine pregnancy test can detect pregnancy at such an early pregnancy.
Hope you found the answer helpful. Please do get back for further queries.
Wishing you good health.
Regards,
Dr Deepti Verma
Dates explained
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX thanks for responding. By her last menstrual period, her period of gestation today is 24 weeks4 days.
Her ovulation might have occurred around 21-22 January, so by second February, she would be around 11-12 days post conceptional. It is not possible to detect pregnancy by ultrasound at this stage, however urine pregnancy test can detect pregnancy at such an early pregnancy.
Hope you found the answer helpful. Please do get back for further queries.
Wishing you good health.
Regards,
Dr Deepti Verma
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Alright, the doctor has her date of conception as January 18th. I know there is no way to know when you actually conceived, and the later you are the less accurate ultrasounds become. If you could give me a a time frame sort of to see if it matches. As she is 25 weeks and 4 days. But your dates are very close the 20th. They are also not going by her lmp. She has a history of short and irregular cycles which makes if that much harder to get conception time right.
If it helps I knew she was pregnant on February 1st, she looked very bloated almost and I made her take a test. In which she got 4 positive test in like a minute. Which makes me think she must have been pregnant for at least 12 days, and also wasn't even with morning urine. She took the tests at 1pm February 2nd and went for ultrasound to help confirm she was pregnant on February 4th. And they confirmed it but you couldn't see anything but a tiny little peanut shape. That they couldn't measure it was so small.
If it helps I knew she was pregnant on February 1st, she looked very bloated almost and I made her take a test. In which she got 4 positive test in like a minute. Which makes me think she must have been pregnant for at least 12 days, and also wasn't even with morning urine. She took the tests at 1pm February 2nd and went for ultrasound to help confirm she was pregnant on February 4th. And they confirmed it but you couldn't see anything but a tiny little peanut shape. That they couldn't measure it was so small.
Brief Answer:
18 th January to 21 st January
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX if calculated from her last menstrual period, her period of gestation today is 24 weeks 4 days( I have checked my calculation thrice).
If her cycle length varies between20-25 days, then the day of ovulation is likely to be 14 days prior to the next expected periods, which means from Day 8 to day 11 of the menstrual Cycle. If her last menstrual period was on 10 th January , then the ovulation would have occurred anywhere between 18th January to 21 st January. The conception usually occurs within24 hours of ovulation.
Hope you found the answer helpful . Please do get back for further queries.
Wishing you good health.
Regards,
Dr Deepti Verma
18 th January to 21 st January
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX if calculated from her last menstrual period, her period of gestation today is 24 weeks 4 days( I have checked my calculation thrice).
If her cycle length varies between20-25 days, then the day of ovulation is likely to be 14 days prior to the next expected periods, which means from Day 8 to day 11 of the menstrual Cycle. If her last menstrual period was on 10 th January , then the ovulation would have occurred anywhere between 18th January to 21 st January. The conception usually occurs within24 hours of ovulation.
Hope you found the answer helpful . Please do get back for further queries.
Wishing you good health.
Regards,
Dr Deepti Verma
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Answered by
Dr. Deepti Verma
OBGYN, Maternal and Fetal Medicine
Practicing since :2009
Answered : 5064 Questions
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
