International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Obstetrics and gynaecology experts do not agree on when pregnancy actually starts, it has been found, with one expert saying science will never be able to answer the question.

Research led by Dr Farr Curlin of the University of Chicago in the US and published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology found 57 per cent of doctors responding to a poll believe it begins at conception, while 28 per cent thought it was at implantation.

Every other professional surveyed was unsure on the matter, even though the American College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology officially defines pregnancy as starting one week after implantation.

However, many doctors disagreed and the study discovered physicians who are religious or had political opinions about abortion or conception are more likely to believe it begins earlier.

Speaking to Reuters Health, Dr Curlin said: "In this case, the science shows exactly what happens, but what you define as pregnancy is not what science can settle."

This comes after a study published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology revealed patient-doctor relationships can be affected by legislation based more on political opinions than on medical facts.

Posted Carla Mackenzie