Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Does This Ultrasound Report Indicate?
Question: I went in today for my first ultrasound and I was supposed to be 6.4 wks pregnant but the ultrasound showed the growth of a sac at 4.6 wks and no heartbeat was detected. I had a miscarriage at 8 wks after having a heartbeat at 6 wks in February and got pregnant right away again. I'm very scared because the doctor didn't seem very hopeful. He wants me to go back on Monday for a second ultrasound to determine if I need to have a D & C performed.
Brief Answer:
Pls share the 2 required dates with me, thank you
Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. Firstly let us deal with the calculation that you seem to be confused with, for which I need you to provide me with:
1. First day of your last menstrual period (LMP)
2. Date of conception (most important date to determine gestational age accurately)
4.6 weeks is a little early to detect the heartbeat if this is the actual gestational age, it is usually detected on or after the 6th week. So again, let us first determine the accurate gestational age.
I look forward to hearing from you in order to help you ma'am.
Best wishes.
Pls share the 2 required dates with me, thank you
Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. Firstly let us deal with the calculation that you seem to be confused with, for which I need you to provide me with:
1. First day of your last menstrual period (LMP)
2. Date of conception (most important date to determine gestational age accurately)
4.6 weeks is a little early to detect the heartbeat if this is the actual gestational age, it is usually detected on or after the 6th week. So again, let us first determine the accurate gestational age.
I look forward to hearing from you in order to help you ma'am.
Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I got my period on 3/6 and possibly ovulated on 3/17. I was on fertility hormones prescribed by my fertility endocrinologist. This is how I've gotten pregnant twice. According to calculations I am supposed to be 6.4 wks but the growth of the sac only shows growth of 4.6. He wants to repeat the ultrasound on Monday and if there is no change then send me to get a D &C. I'm very down because I thought everything was going well. My HCG levels doubled in the beginning how they had to and I've had no bleding or spotting or cramping.
Brief Answer:
Wrong calculation in my opinion, wait until 1st May for next ultrasound
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.
A common mistake that most women make is with the calculation. The method use on most sites and by your calculation as well, is to include the days before the conception as well.
Now, if you ovulated on approximately 3/17 and today is 4/21, how many days is that? Approximately 5 weeks, am I right?
If you ovulated on 3/17 and you would have probably conceived on 3/17 or 3/18, then the fertilisation, growth and development began from that very day, correct?
If you ovulated on 3/17, then how can you include the days prior to that (which were days before the fertilisation and conception took place), to the gestational age?
So by the more accurate calculation, and by the ultrasound method, you would most probably have ovulated on 3/17 or 3/18, and fertilisation would have taken place on 3/18; according to which your gestational age should be about 5 weeks.
And, a gestational age of about 5 weeks is too early to detect the fatal heartbeat. So lets wait until your accurate gestational age is at least 6 weeks or more.
Do not visit the doctor on Monday, give the pregnancy some more time. Calculate how I have explained, and go for the ultrasound only by the 6th week (around mid week), which would be around the 1st or 2nd of May, not earlier.
I shall say a prayer for you, and hopefully all goes well, and the heartbeat is detected. My best wishes to you, trust in God, he does only whats best for you.
I hope I have explained things in a manner best understood by you. Please do not hesitate to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help.
Best wishes.
Wrong calculation in my opinion, wait until 1st May for next ultrasound
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.
A common mistake that most women make is with the calculation. The method use on most sites and by your calculation as well, is to include the days before the conception as well.
Now, if you ovulated on approximately 3/17 and today is 4/21, how many days is that? Approximately 5 weeks, am I right?
If you ovulated on 3/17 and you would have probably conceived on 3/17 or 3/18, then the fertilisation, growth and development began from that very day, correct?
If you ovulated on 3/17, then how can you include the days prior to that (which were days before the fertilisation and conception took place), to the gestational age?
So by the more accurate calculation, and by the ultrasound method, you would most probably have ovulated on 3/17 or 3/18, and fertilisation would have taken place on 3/18; according to which your gestational age should be about 5 weeks.
And, a gestational age of about 5 weeks is too early to detect the fatal heartbeat. So lets wait until your accurate gestational age is at least 6 weeks or more.
Do not visit the doctor on Monday, give the pregnancy some more time. Calculate how I have explained, and go for the ultrasound only by the 6th week (around mid week), which would be around the 1st or 2nd of May, not earlier.
I shall say a prayer for you, and hopefully all goes well, and the heartbeat is detected. My best wishes to you, trust in God, he does only whats best for you.
I hope I have explained things in a manner best understood by you. Please do not hesitate to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help.
Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I thought gestational stage would be counting from the first day of my last period which would put me at 6.4 weeks; since my last period started on 3/6. I'm so confused. I really want to think that I'm too early and ignore the doctor's theory that it may just not be developing. Why is it that all docs count from the day of your last period to calculate the amount of weeks then?
Brief Answer:
Let me explain how this works
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.
The traditional method of counting 'gestational age' is by counting from the 1st day of the last menstrual period (LMP), but when an ultrasound is conducted and a more accurate date is found based on the information and date of ovulation and possible conception, that age is assumed till the end of pregnancy.
Did you understand?
So basically, the gestational age calculated using the 1st day of LMP is used for women who have irregular menstrual cycles, for women who did not know when conception occurred, for women who did not know when they ovulated, etc.
As you know the date of conception/ovulation, and other such dates; in such women if the ultrasound reports a more accurate date based on the date of ovulation/conception (which is known in this woman), then that age is adopted as the gestational age throughout the pregnancy.
So, there is a slight discrepancy here and I am hoping that is the reason we could not hear the heart beat. I am just trying to stay as positive as possible, and keep you as positive as possible. I hope and pray all goes well, but do not schedule a D&C this early, let us give this pregnancy a chance ma'am. In the meantime, request for duphaston 10 mg tablets (one tablet twice daily).
Best of luck ma'am.
Let me explain how this works
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.
The traditional method of counting 'gestational age' is by counting from the 1st day of the last menstrual period (LMP), but when an ultrasound is conducted and a more accurate date is found based on the information and date of ovulation and possible conception, that age is assumed till the end of pregnancy.
Did you understand?
So basically, the gestational age calculated using the 1st day of LMP is used for women who have irregular menstrual cycles, for women who did not know when conception occurred, for women who did not know when they ovulated, etc.
As you know the date of conception/ovulation, and other such dates; in such women if the ultrasound reports a more accurate date based on the date of ovulation/conception (which is known in this woman), then that age is adopted as the gestational age throughout the pregnancy.
So, there is a slight discrepancy here and I am hoping that is the reason we could not hear the heart beat. I am just trying to stay as positive as possible, and keep you as positive as possible. I hope and pray all goes well, but do not schedule a D&C this early, let us give this pregnancy a chance ma'am. In the meantime, request for duphaston 10 mg tablets (one tablet twice daily).
Best of luck ma'am.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Yes, the doctor has me on vaginal progesterone, which I believe is the same thing. Thank you for all your inout. I will try to stay as positive as possible.
Brief Answer:
Whatever happens, will happen for the best, best of luck
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thats good, and I wish you all the luck you need and pray.
You are in my prayers.
Best wishes.
Whatever happens, will happen for the best, best of luck
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thats good, and I wish you all the luck you need and pray.
You are in my prayers.
Best wishes.
Note: Revert back with your gynae reports to get a clear medical analysis by our expert Gynecologic Oncologist. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
