Pregnancy is the condition of having a developing embryo or fetus in the body as the result of the union of an ovum and spermatozoon (conception). Pregnancy can occur anytime after a female begins menstruating (menarche) until she reaches menopause. However, most pregnancies occur in women ages 15 to 40 years. Pregnancies before the age of 15 and after the age of 35 have an increased risk of complications.
The first indication of a pregnancy usually is a missed menstrual period. Laboratory tests or home pregnancy test kits check for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the woman’s serum or urine; hCG is a hormone produced by the placenta. After confirmation of the pregnancy, the physician, with information from the mother, can determine an approximate date of birth. The length of pregnancy averages 270 days from fertilization but normally is counted from the first day of menses prior to conception (approximately 284 days). Thus, the gestational age of the fetus is two weeks less than the number of weeks a woman is considered pregnant.
The growth and development of the fetus is affected by many aspects of the mother’s health: nutritional status; use of drugs, alcohol and cigarettes; use of prescribed medications, herbal remedies, and dietary supplements; medical conditions; age at time of pregnancy; and prenatal care. |
Source: Medical Disability Advisor