Calculating your IVF due date

Infertility is a far more common problem than most people realize. Fortunately, at CARE Fertility, we offer a range of fertility treatments to help patients overcome fertility issues so they can experience the joys of pregnancy and parenthood. One of the most successful fertility treatments is IVF. IVF, or in vitro fertilization, assists throughout the reproductive process to maximize the chance of a successful pregnancy.

When an IVF pregnancy is confirmed, patients are eager to determine when their baby is likely to be born. Since IVF is different than a traditional pregnancy, the due date can be calculated based on the date of egg retrieval or transfer. Our fertility specialists are happy to assist with calculating your IVF due date after treatment at our Dallas, TX area fertility clinic.

Due Date Calculation Methods

A typical pregnancy lasts 40 weeks, or 280 days. When a woman conceives naturally, doctors determine the estimated due date based on the first day of the last menstrual cycle. This method is used because most people do not know exactly when they ovulate. A woman with a regular 28-day menstrual cycle typically ovulates on day 14. However, ovulation can actually occur earlier or later than this date, so a due date is only a rough estimation of when the baby is likely to be born.

Women who undergo IVF do know exactly when they ovulated, so it is more accurate to calculate a due date following IVF treatment. Below is a brief explanation of the two basic methods for calculating your IVF due date:

• Using egg retrieval date: If a woman undergoes IVF treatment using freshly harvested eggs, the due date can be determined using the date of the egg retrieval. The due date can be calculated by counting out 38 weeks, or 266 days, from the day the eggs are harvested.

• Using the embryo transfer date: Many women undergo IVF using frozen embryos. In these cases, the IVF due date will be calculated using the date of the embryo transfer. It should be noted that this method of calculation can also be used when fresh embryos are implanted. Using this calculation method, you count out 38 weeks from the date of the embryo transfer, and then subtract the age of the embryos. For example, if a 3-day embryo transfer is performed, you would count out 266 days, and then go back three days. For a 5-day embryo transfer, you would go back 5 days from the 38-week mark.

How Accurate Are IVF Due Dates?

Although IVF due date calculations are typically more accurate than those of traditional pregnancies, each due date is only an estimate. As a pregnancy progresses, ultrasounds will be used to measure the baby’s growth. It is common for pregnancy due date estimates to change based on information provided by the ultrasounds. However, even with these measurements, no due date is a guarantee, because there is no way to determine exactly how long a pregnancy will be. Due dates are simply the best way to provide patients with a window of time in which they are most likely to go into labor.

Schedule an Appointment

Patients who have been trying to conceive for a year or more should consider the benefits of fertility treatment. At CARE Fertility, we have treatments to help individuals dealing with a comprehensive range of fertility problems.

To learn how our services can help you achieve your dream of parenthood, schedule an appointment today.