diff --git a/include/mbedtls/ecp.h b/include/mbedtls/ecp.h
index d56069e..0e2d47f 100644
--- a/include/mbedtls/ecp.h
+++ b/include/mbedtls/ecp.h
@@ -236,6 +236,27 @@
  * odd prime as mbedtls_ecp_mul() requires an odd number, and
  * mbedtls_ecdsa_sign() requires that it is prime for blinding purposes.
  *
+ * The default implementation only initializes \p A without setting it to the
+ * authentic value for curves with <code>A = -3</code>(SECP256R1, etc), in which
+ * case you need to load \p A by yourself when using domain parameters directly,
+ * for example:
+ * \code
+ * mbedtls_mpi_init(&A);
+ * mbedtls_ecp_group_init(&grp);
+ * CHECK_RETURN(mbedtls_ecp_group_load(&grp, grp_id));
+ * if (mbedtls_ecp_group_a_is_minus_3(&grp)) {
+ *     CHECK_RETURN(mbedtls_mpi_sub_int(&A, &grp.P, 3));
+ * } else {
+ *     CHECK_RETURN(mbedtls_mpi_copy(&A, &grp.A));
+ * }
+ *
+ * do_something_with_a(&A);
+ *
+ * cleanup:
+ * mbedtls_mpi_free(&A);
+ * mbedtls_ecp_group_free(&grp);
+ * \endcode
+ *
  * For Montgomery curves, we do not store \p A, but <code>(A + 2) / 4</code>,
  * which is the quantity used in the formulas. Additionally, \p nbits is
  * not the size of \p N but the required size for private keys.
@@ -256,8 +277,11 @@
 typedef struct mbedtls_ecp_group {
     mbedtls_ecp_group_id id;    /*!< An internal group identifier. */
     mbedtls_mpi P;              /*!< The prime modulus of the base field. */
-    mbedtls_mpi A;              /*!< For Short Weierstrass: \p A in the equation. For
-                                     Montgomery curves: <code>(A + 2) / 4</code>. */
+    mbedtls_mpi A;              /*!< For Short Weierstrass: \p A in the equation. Note that
+                                     \p A is not set to the authentic value in some cases.
+                                     Refer to detailed description of ::mbedtls_ecp_group if
+                                     using domain parameters in the structure.
+                                     For Montgomery curves: <code>(A + 2) / 4</code>. */
     mbedtls_mpi B;              /*!< For Short Weierstrass: \p B in the equation.
                                      For Montgomery curves: unused. */
     mbedtls_ecp_point G;        /*!< The generator of the subgroup used. */
@@ -990,6 +1014,26 @@
 
 #if defined(MBEDTLS_ECP_SHORT_WEIERSTRASS_ENABLED)
 /**
+ * \brief           This function checks if domain parameter A of the curve is
+ *                  \c -3.
+ *
+ * \note            This function is only defined for short Weierstrass curves.
+ *                  It may not be included in builds without any short
+ *                  Weierstrass curve.
+ *
+ * \param grp       The ECP group to use.
+ *                  This must be initialized and have group parameters
+ *                  set, for example through mbedtls_ecp_group_load().
+ *
+ * \return          \c 1 if <code>A = -3</code>.
+ * \return          \c 0 Otherwise.
+ */
+static inline int mbedtls_ecp_group_a_is_minus_3(const mbedtls_ecp_group *grp)
+{
+    return grp->A.p == NULL;
+}
+
+/**
  * \brief           This function performs multiplication and addition of two
  *                  points by integers: \p R = \p m * \p P + \p n * \p Q
  *