Fertilization - what it is and how the process occurs. Artificial insemination

Many women begin to panic if pregnancy does not occur within two to three months after they stop using contraception. However, for healthy married couples with regular sexual activity, the typical picture looks like this:

60 out of every 100 couples can conceive within six months;

80 out of every 100 married couples can conceive a child within one year;

90 out of every 100 married couples can conceive a child within two years.

Despite the fact that any of these three situations is the norm, we can speed up conception somewhat by following certain rules.

A little physiology

In order for a child, a boy or a girl, to be born, two cells must meet: the male - the sperm and the female - the egg. When they merge, a fertilized egg is formed - a zygote.

Every month, under the influence of hormones from the pituitary gland (an endocrine gland located in the brain), a tiny follicle vesicle matures in the ovary, which contains an egg. The walls of the follicle produce female hormones - estrogens, due to which the follicle grows to the size of a small cherry and bursts in the middle of the menstrual cycle, releasing the egg. This process is called ovulation. Having left the ovary, the egg is “captured” by the villi of the fallopian tube and, thanks to its contractions, moves towards the uterus. The egg retains its ability to fertilize for an average of 24 hours.

Sperm are produced in paired male gonads - the testicles. The cycle of their formation is 70-75 days. During sexual intercourse, 3 - 5 milliliters of sperm enters a woman's vagina, which contains 300-500 million sperm. Only some of them enter the cervical mucus inside the cervical canal. Before reaching the egg, sperm must cross the uterus and enter the fallopian tube. They make this journey in 2-2.5 hours, and retain their fertilizing ability in the fallopian tube, according to various sources, from 2 to 7 days. In order for fertilization to occur, the sperm must overcome the barrier of corona radiata cells surrounding the egg and the membrane of the egg. For this, the “power” of one sperm is not enough - an “attack” of 100 to 400 thousand sperm is required, although only one of them will penetrate the egg!

During the first 12 hours after fertilization, the male and female nuclei come together and the genetic material combines to form a zygote - a one-cell embryo. During fertilization, the embryo begins to move through the fallopian tube into the uterine cavity. As the embryo moves through the fallopian tube, its cells divide, then the embryo enters the uterine cavity, where on the 11th - 12th day after the conception of the child it is implanted - introduced into the mucous membrane of the uterus.

So, for pregnancy to occur, the following conditions are necessary:

1. The readiness of the body as a whole to ensure the normal development of the fetus, which is ensured by the general level of health.

Even if you consider yourself absolutely healthy, it’s a good idea to verify this again by undergoing an examination with a therapist, gynecologist, dentist, and maybe even a geneticist. It's time to start leading a healthy lifestyle: get a good rest (optimally - spend a vacation in nature); “quit” bad habits; limit contact with household chemicals and the use of pharmacological agents as much as possible, because all this can negatively affect not only the health of the expectant mother, but also the formation and development of the child.

2. Maturation in the ovary of an egg capable of fertilization, ovulation, entry of the egg into the fallopian tube.

In order for this complex mechanism to work, a clear functioning of the hormonal system of the woman’s body is necessary. This system works best in women whose body weight is close to the medical norm.

Recently, the press has been persistently advising women who want to give birth to a child of a particular gender to adhere to a certain diet. How effective this method is in gender planning is unknown, because there are no scientific works on this topic, but one thing is certain: the nutrition of a woman who decides to become a mother must be balanced. The main guardians of the maturing egg are foods containing vitamin E: vegetable oils, eggs, grain bread, buckwheat and oatmeal, legumes, nuts. Sprouted wheat grains, including flakes and flour made from them, are richest in vitamin E.

Another important vitamin is folic acid. 400 mcg of folic acid per day significantly reduces the likelihood of having children with disorders such as defects of the central nervous system and spine. Folic acid is sold in all pharmacies, it is also found in foods: fresh herbs (except parsley), cabbage, beets, carrots, potatoes with skin, bran, seeds and nuts. Taking folic acid before pregnancy significantly reduces the likelihood of birth defects. If you live in an iodine-deficient area, switch to iodized salt or take 100 mcg of potassium iodide per day. All this is only true if you do not suffer from thyroid disease: in this case, the doctor will give you individual recommendations. Without iodine, the thyroid gland cannot function normally; in women with reduced function of this gland, ovulation occurs very rarely. In addition, iodine deficiency can subsequently have a detrimental effect on the child’s mental development.

To protect yourself and your unborn child, start taking multivitamin supplements 2-3 months before conception. It is recommended to stop using oral contraceptives 2 to 3 months before planned conception. Sometimes, after long-term use of oral contraceptives, a complication occurs - the absence of menstruation and the possibility of conception for 6 months after stopping their use.

There are other reasons for ovulation disorders in women. Constant stress in a business woman can lead to a complete absence of ovulation while menstruation continues.

Ovulation disorders can also occur due to intense physical activity. There are two reasons for this. The first is the rapid loss of adipose tissue, and the second is an increased release of endorphins - brain chemicals (these chemicals, by the way, are also called pleasure hormones). They can affect prolactin levels in women, and prolactin is a hormone that promotes successful breastfeeding but interferes with egg maturation. Is this why our grandmothers advised women who wanted to give birth to a child to lead a quiet lifestyle, play with children more often, sew beautiful children's things, and read children's books? All this “tunes” the body for conception.

Weight and pregnancy

A sharp decrease in body weight by 10% per month, as well as a weight less than 45 kg with average height, leads to the cessation of menstruation. Researchers have found that body fat can actually produce and store estrogen, a hormone that prepares the body for pregnancy. But not only low levels of this hormone are bad, but also high levels. Therefore, if you are overweight, try to lose weight, but only gradually, no fasting!

3. A sufficient number of motile sperm in the semen and their ability to fertilize the egg.

One of the main myths is the connection between potency and infertility. In reality, a man with very weak potency can have good sperm for conception, but the “sexual giant” may suffer from infertility. Moreover, too frequent sexual intercourse does not increase a couple's ability to conceive a child. The likelihood of conception during repeated sexual intercourse is reduced due to the fact that the second portion of sperm contains fewer full-fledged sperm, and the excess volume leads to its leakage from the woman’s vagina. When ejaculation occurs at long intervals, this is also bad. It is not so much the number of sperm that decreases, but their mobility - they no longer rush to the target so quickly. The optimal rhythm for the full maturation of sperm is the rhythm of sexual activity every other day (3 times a week) during the period of probable ovulation with desirable abstinence for 4-5 days the day before.

Of course, the likelihood of pregnancy depends on the quality of the sperm. And the main risk factor is a man’s lifestyle. Thus, low physical activity, sedentary work and excess weight, as well as smoking can lead to stagnation of blood in the pelvic organs of a man and inflammation. Spermatogenesis (maturation of sperm), like the female menstrual cycle, is regulated by the body's hormonal system. Therefore, if a man takes anabolic steroids (these hormones can be used to treat some diseases, but more often - to build muscle mass in men involved in sports), then the natural balance of hormones in the body is disrupted and leads to male infertility.

There is one more factor, characteristic only for men, that influences reproduction. This is overheating. The number of sperm produced in the testicles increases at temperatures that are slightly lower than general body temperature. It is known that those who visit the sauna twice a week have a statistically higher risk of developing male infertility compared to those who steam once a week. For the same reason, a man who wants to become a father should not wear tight underwear made of synthetic materials and tight trousers, as this can increase the temperature of the testicles. Any febrile conditions (high temperature) lead to a deterioration in the quality of sperm, and such a decrease in sperm quality can persist for up to three months - that is how long the maturation of each sperm in the testicle continues.

Another common and quite dangerous risk factor for infertility in men is chronic stress. From a biological point of view, offspring should be born in the most favorable environmental conditions. This regulation is ensured by the close relationship between the reproductive system and all other systems of the body, primarily the nervous system.

4. The normal environment in the vagina, uterine cavity and fallopian tubes, ensuring the active movement of sperm.

If you want to get pregnant, do not use vaginal lubricants. They sometimes contain substances that change the acid-base environment of the vagina and destroy sperm. If you can't do without them, try using egg whites during those few days a month when conception is possible, unless, of course, you are allergic to chicken eggs. Egg white has the least effect on sperm motility and survival.

Any infection in a woman’s genital tract, as well as the use of various vaginal medications, antibacterial and scented hygiene products, and douching also disrupts the acid-base environment in the vagina, which also reduces the chances of pregnancy.

5. “Meeting” of an egg with sperm and optimal conditions for the fusion of germ cells.

The most favorable time for sexual intercourse for the purpose of fertilization is when ovulation is about to begin, because the mucous lining of the cervix becomes extremely sensitive, and sperm have enough time to enter the fallopian tubes, where they wait for the moment of ovulation. With regular sexual activity and a regular menstrual cycle, there is no need to specifically calculate this moment. However, there are times when it would be nice to know the exact date of ovulation. The simplest and most accurate method is to use special test strips to determine the level of luteinizing hormone. Modern tests look and use the same as pregnancy tests. The test strip must be placed under a stream of urine; the appearance of two stripes indicates ovulation. In addition, the day of ovulation can be tracked by ultrasound, changes in basal body temperature (temperature measured in the rectum), using a special device based on the pattern of saliva crystallization, or by the calendar method.

Another important point for the “meeting” of the sperm and egg is the position during sexual intercourse. There is no connection between the gender of the unborn child and the position during conception, no matter how much we would like it, but you can increase the likelihood of conceiving a child with the help of position. The mechanics of sexual intercourse determine which part of the vagina the sperm reaches. In some positions (for example, a woman on top or a standing position) it can be difficult to achieve deep penetration of the penis, so some of the sperm will simply be lost. The “man on top” or “man behind” position will be optimal. It is better if a woman lies on her back with her legs raised for 20-30 minutes after intercourse. Laziness in this case may be more useful than any position during sexual intercourse.

Of course, the most important thing is that sex gives you joy and pleasure. If a woman reaches orgasm, the likelihood of conception is higher: due to the contraction of the cervix during orgasm, sperm are literally drawn into the uterus.

6. The unhindered passage of the embryo through the fallopian tube and its entry into the uterine cavity, the readiness of the uterine mucosa to “accept” the embryo.

In addition to the anatomical features in a woman’s body, the use of intrauterine devices on the eve of conception can have a negative impact at this stage. After removal of the IUD, it is recommended to refrain from conceiving for 2-3 cycles to restore the functioning of the uterus and fallopian tubes and, therefore, reduce the risk of spontaneous miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy.

As for the time of day, it is believed that the best chances of pregnancy are for couples who make love in the afternoon (around 5 p.m.). At this time of day, the number of active sperm in a man’s body is maximum.

As for the season, most doctors agree that the optimal time to conceive a child is the beginning of autumn. The fact is that in every woman with a normal menstrual cycle and fairly good health, in 10% of cycles the egg does not mature and fertilization is impossible, i.e. There may be no ovulation 1-2 times a year. These cycles are more likely to occur during harsh winters with short daylight hours and unusually hot summer months.

The Czech doctor O. Jonas went even further. He argues that, along with the menstrual cycle, there is a second, individual, cycle of the greatest predisposition to conception, set already from birth and with incredible accuracy accompanying the entire reproductive period of a woman’s life.

This second cycle is focused on the phase of the Moon that preceded the birth of a given woman. The greatest chance of conception occurs on the days of intersection of these two cycles. No matter how controversial such a statement may be, there is a certain amount of truth in it. Most likely, the phases of the moon are associated with biorhythms, according to which the hormonal and psychological state of the body changes.

We hope that our advice will help everyone who wishes to become happy mothers and fathers!

The term “ovulation” itself comes from the Latin ovum - egg; This is the name given to the process of release of a mature egg capable of fertilization from the ovary into the abdominal cavity.

Physiologically, ovulation is one of the stages of the menstrual cycle. Ovulation in women of childbearing age occurs periodically, every 21-35 days - in the middle of the menstrual cycle (the cycle is usually counted from the first day of menstruation). The frequency of ovulation is regulated by hormones from the pituitary gland, an endocrine gland located in the brain, and ovarian hormones (estrogens and progesterone). Ovulation stops with the onset of pregnancy and after the cessation of menstrual function.

The most favorable time for sexual intercourse for the purpose of conception is when ovulation is about to occur and sperm have enough time to enter the fallopian tubes, where they “wait” for the release of the female germ cell, or immediately immediately after ovulation, when the egg is already in fallopian tube.

Day of Conception

If you correctly calculate what day ovulation will occur and have sexual activity during this period of time, then there is a high probability that the woman will become pregnant.

So, how can you determine ovulation? First of all, using subjective signs. This may include short-term pain in the lower abdomen, a feeling of a “bursting bubble” in the middle of the cycle, some women note an increase in sexual desire - this is due to the release of estrogens during ovulation - female sex hormones that are produced in the ovaries. Some signs can be detected during a routine gynecological examination, although it is difficult to imagine that a woman who believes that she has no reproductive problems will consult a gynecologist just to determine ovulation. However, a woman can notice a number of signs herself.

The day of ovulation can be determined by observing the secretion of mucus from the cervical canal. The maximum secretion of mucus is associated with a sharp increase in estrogen levels and coincides with the moment of ovulation. In addition, sometimes the stretchability of mucus is used, and its crystallization is also observed. During ovulation, the mucus becomes very viscous, it can be stretched between the fingers up to 8-10 cm. The more pronounced the crystallization, the greater the likelihood of ovulation. This phenomenon is most clearly manifested 3-4 days before ovulation and reaches a maximum on the day of expected ovulation. Crystallization is the result of biophysical and biochemical changes in the cervical mucus. During this period, there is an increase in the amount of mucus and an increase in the concentration of salts, primarily sodium chloride, which, along with potassium ions, is responsible for the phenomenon of crystallization. With pronounced crystallization, mucus looks like a fern under a microscope. There are special microscopes for home use that you can apply mucus or saliva to. The main changes occur precisely in the vaginal mucus, but they also affect the entire body, so for convenience they began to work with saliva, in which it is also possible to determine the symptom of crystallization. The action of the Baby Plan ovulation detection device is based on this phenomenon.

The next most accurate and informative method for determining ovulation is measuring basal temperature - the temperature in the rectum. The method is quite simple and does not require virtually any special equipment other than a regular medical thermometer.

Basal temperature is measured with the same medical thermometer in the morning, immediately after waking up, without getting out of bed. The measurement must be carried out at the same time, inserting a thermometer into the anus to a depth of 4 - 5 cm. Temperature measurement data is plotted on a graph, the vertical axis of which is the temperature, and the horizontal axis is the day of the menstrual cycle. The chart also shows days of sexual intercourse.

For many women, careful monitoring of the basal temperature chart can reveal that before the temperature rises, there is a short drop in temperature. According to this method, it is believed that the moment of ovulation occurs 12 hours before the increase in basal temperature or between the decline and the beginning of its rise.

Is it possible to choose the gender of the child?

When planning a pregnancy, few potential parents do not think about how to choose the gender of their unborn child in advance. Some need a boy, others need a girl. Such planning becomes especially relevant when the family already has one child. As a rule, parents dream of having a second child of the opposite sex.

There is only one way to more or less scientifically soundly try to plan the gender of the child. A sperm with a male set of chromosomes moves faster, but lives shorter than a sperm with a female set. Therefore, the coincidence of sexual intercourse with ovulation (about 14 days before the onset of menstruation in a 28-day menstrual cycle) increases the likelihood of having a boy, and the birth of a girl is more likely if intercourse occurs 2-3 days earlier. However, this rule does not always work, since it concerns the classic situation of parents who are “super healthy” in all respects. If one of the partners has health problems, this, as a rule, affects the “speed characteristics” of sperm. For example, this happens when the acid-base balance of the genital tract is disturbed or the qualitative composition of the secretion changes in women, or when physical fatigue occurs in men (it also affects the mobility of the “livelings”).

But all these listed methods give only approximate results. Their accuracy makes it possible to determine the moment of ovulation only by using all of them in a comprehensive manner and with fairly long-term observation. What allows you to accurately determine the moment of ovulation and guarantee it to be documented? Strictly speaking, there are only two such methods.

The first is ultrasound monitoring of the growth and development of the follicle - the vesicle in which the egg matures, and determining the moment of its rupture - ovulation itself. Often, with the use of modern devices, it is possible to see even the moment of release of the egg, if the study is carried out at the right time.

The second method is the dynamic determination of luteinizing hormone in urine (this is also an ovarian hormone, the amount of which increases during ovulation). This method is much simpler and can be used at home, for which special tests are used. Tests begin to be carried out 2 times a day (every 12 hours) 5 - 6 days before expected ovulation, strictly following the instructions attached to them. The determination is stopped after receiving the first positive result. Ovulation occurs approximately 16-28 hours after the first positive test result. To control, you can immediately conduct another test. The most convenient and informative use of tests for luteinizing hormone in conjunction with measuring basal temperature. Dynamic determination of luteinizing hormone was previously used only in specialized medical institutions, but now there are test strips, the same as for determining early pregnancy. Such tests are sold in pharmacies. Thus, the problem of determining the moment of ovulation should be considered practically solved.

It must be said that if there are no alleged problems with conception, then you can start with a simpler method - calculating your ovulation based on the duration of the menstrual cycle. To do this, as we have already said, the duration of the menstrual cycle must be divided in half. You can start “working” on conception, taking into account the fact that some sperm live up to 7 days, a week before the expected ovulation, the favorable period will end 3 days after ovulation.

Keep in mind that pregnancy may not occur immediately during the first “dangerous” period, because... Even healthy young women have 1-2 cycles a year in which ovulation (the release of an egg) does not occur.

In addition, ovulation is affected by stress, climate changes, etc.

Conception position

After you have calculated the most favorable days for conception, you must avoid douching, any soap and similar products after sexual intercourse. Firstly, the very fact of washing contributes to the mechanical removal of sperm, and secondly, hygiene products create an environment in the vagina that is unfavorable for sperm. And before sexual intercourse, you should take a shower in advance (30-60 minutes) so that a normal, natural environment can be restored in the vagina.

Couples who want to conceive often wonder: is there a special position they should use? It's safe to say that any position acceptable to both partners will do. After sex, it is better to lie on your side or with your pelvis elevated for 15-20 minutes to prevent sperm from leaking out.

We hope that our tips will help you move into the category of future parents as soon as possible.

Every woman is concerned with the question of how the birth of a new life occurs - this process worries all of humanity, because it is not without reason that the birth of a child is the most unprecedented miracle. A woman who dreams of becoming a mother is especially interested in when conception occurs after sexual intercourse. And even in the event of an unwanted pregnancy, if unprotected sex occurs, she is concerned about when it can be determined whether conception has occurred.

The question of how long it takes from sexual intercourse until the fertilization of the egg is not without interest is a minute, an hour or a whole day. What sensations can you experience? How is the process of conception carried out? The presented questions are asked by ladies not only when they want to get pregnant, but also vice versa - not to miss the moment of an unwanted pregnancy. It would seem that by sensing the moment of fertilization, you can consult a doctor in time for an abortion. Here it is important not only to feel, but also to know how fertilization occurs.

The process of conception and fertilization of an egg occurs day by day in the following sequence, that is, in stages:

• Ovulation (the release of a mature egg) may be accompanied by a slight pain syndrome.
• Fertilization (penetration of sperm into the egg) is not felt at all.
• The process of division of a fertilized egg (the fertilized egg divides into cells, creating conditions for the development of the embryo) is not felt by the expectant mother, but the body is already undergoing stress.
• Implantation (fixation of the fertilized egg in the uterus, on its wall) is the first process fully felt by a woman.

For the fusion of male and female cells to occur, it is necessary to go through a period of normal ovulation and the release of a mature egg from a previously formed follicle. Only in this case is the egg ready for intercourse with the sperm, and therefore for the further development of the embryo.

The life of the egg is limited to one and a half days. If fertilization does not occur during this time, it dies and is released during menstruation.

This is important: Provided that a woman has a regular cycle, ovulation occurs strictly in the middle of the period. Compared to the short lifespan of an egg, sperm live for about a week, so for pregnancy to occur, there must be sexual intercourse on the day of ovulation.

How long does it take for fertilization to occur after intercourse?

On what day does a child become conceived after intercourse - this question can be interpreted differently - when does pregnancy occur? To conceive, sperm must travel a considerable distance and enter the fallopian tubes - this takes no more than 4 hours. It is in this place that the egg is located, and male cells fight for the right to penetrate it.

Only the healthiest and fastest of them can break through the shell of the egg and penetrate inside - this is how conception occurs. For this process, the sperm treats the egg wall with a special enzyme. After conception - its penetration - it will already be a zygote, into which access to other sperm is denied.

After 36 hours, cell division begins - this happens while still in the tube, and the first stage completely ends two days after fusion. The third day from fusion passes in the formation of the embryo and by the fourth day the zygote already consists of 16 cells. At this time, it begins to move towards the prepared womb of the uterus. If for some reason it cannot descend into the uterus, then implantation takes place directly in the tube and an ectopic pregnancy occurs.

Please note: Fertilization of the egg occurs in the fallopian tubes, through which the zygote moves to the uterus - this process can last up to 7 days. In this case, the woman has no signs of conception.

The resulting zygote after fertilization should enter the uterine cavity approximately 20 days from the start of the menstrual cycle. Then it is implanted to the wall of the uterus. The embryo is attached to the wall with the help of the placenta rudiment, where it will remain for the next 9 months of gestation.

Symptoms of egg fertilization by day

A woman can feel implantation to the wall of the uterus - she begins to have nagging pain in the lower abdomen, and brown discharge or blood clots from the vagina may appear. The woman feels unwell and weak. These symptoms during the period of conceiving a child are considered natural and should not cause concern in a woman. The implantation process lasts about 40 hours, after it is completed, the woman will feel normal.

The first signs of fertilization occurring

Whether conception has occurred can be determined by the sensations that a woman experiences already in the first days after fertilization. In her first week, the expectant mother’s body begins to change, preparing for the long process of bearing a baby. When the delay in menstruation has not yet occurred, and the corresponding test is completely useless, there are signs by which a woman can determine whether conception has occurred or not.

The following points stand out here:

• Increased salivation. Saliva secretion occurs regardless of whether the expectant mother is hungry or sees delicious food on the table.
• Calf cramps. As a rule, they occur during night sleep.
• Metallic taste in the mouth. It appears immediately after conception and cannot be eliminated. This sign is hard to miss.
• Pigmentation. On a woman’s stomach, the white line running from the navel and down the abdomen becomes darker. Pigment spots appear on the face and along the hairline.
• Bloating. A woman has a feeling of a bloated abdomen. Constipation may occur no matter what you eat.

These signs, which appear in almost every woman, are the first heralds of a joyful event, which are impossible not to notice. Even if the symptoms of conception are not so obvious, every woman can guess her interesting situation based on her internal feelings and mood. 10 days after fertilization, you can obtain confirmation of conception using a special test. The time of bearing a child is a responsible and wonderful time in the life of an expectant mother. Wanting to quickly ensure that the desired conception has occurred, it seems to her that the fertilization process takes a long time. In fact, the process of conception occurs within a week. The sensations afterwards are often not significant. But still, at the time of implantation, you can feel discomfort in the lower abdomen - this will become the starting point.

When you think about the process of conception, you never cease to be amazed at the wisdom and perfection of nature! The complex mechanism of connecting two cells, giving birth to a new person in the world, is truly a miracle. And for many couples who have difficulty conceiving, this is a doubly miracle. Let's talk about this process today and look at how it happens and what to do for those who have problems conceiving.

Preparing for conception

The truisms that you first need to prepare mentally and physically cannot be ignored under any circumstances. Therefore, first, future parents need to check their health status and eliminate, if any, “problems” in the body’s functioning. It will be especially useful to go to a geneticist to rule out various diseases that can be inherited by the baby.

Some couples also go to a psychologist for counseling.

Last but not least, you need to take care of your physical health: go in for sports, quit smoking and drinking (even drink a little!), walk a lot, relax and get positive emotions.

A woman needs to monitor her ovulation, because it is in... There are many ways to determine its presence, but, unfortunately, none of them is 100% accurate. One of the simplest (in terms of availability, since you don’t need to run to the pharmacy or doctor) is keeping a calendar and monitoring cervical mucus. Typically, the increase in mucus is the most noticeable.

How does conception occur?

Have you heard the word fertility? This term refers to the ability to reproduce offspring. In other words, the ability to conceive. In order for this to become a reality, a follicle must mature in the ovary, after the rupture of which an egg must be released, which will be fertilized by Dad’s fastest sperm. Sperm travel a long way, penetrating first into the uterus and then into the fallopian tubes. When male and female reproductive cells fuse, a zygote is formed. But the zygote, the fertilized egg, enters the uterine cavity only on the 7th-8th day, and until then it is “free floating”. Already in the uterus, the embryo “hatches” from the membrane and penetrates the wall of the uterus to gain a foothold and begin to develop. During this period, its size is no more than 1.5 mm.

Medical literature describes that the process of conception includes:

• fertilization (that is, the fusion of a male sperm and a female egg);
• development of the embryo until the moment of implantation (fragmentation of cells from one to two, and then in geometric progression);
• the process itself (that is, implementation and attachment to the uterine mucosa).

On average, the conception process takes two weeks. It is after this period of time that a woman begins to feel the first signs of pregnancy. But many (due to the fact that the signs are still insignificant) simply do not attach any importance to them, and realize that they are pregnant after 4-6 weeks, when the symptoms become very obvious.

When does conception occur?

Scientists have found that sperm move in a woman’s body at a speed of 3 millimeters per minute. And the distance they have to overcome to their goal is on average 15 centimeters. If a woman has already ovulated, and the egg is just waiting for the right moment, then sexual intercourse will most likely end in conception. And this will take no more than an hour.

But two or three days is a completely acceptable period for performing a miracle, since small sperm are very tenacious. They remain viable for a long time and can wait until the egg is ready to receive one of them. There is also information that conception, no matter how strange it may sound, is possible even a week after unprotected intercourse. These are, of course, rare cases, but anything can happen in life.

Sage for conception

If you are used to resorting to so-called grandma’s recipes, then you can use the following. In order for conception to occur as soon as possible, it is recommended to drink an infusion of sage. It contains substances similar to estrogens - female sex hormones. But they are the ones who take an active part in conceiving a child and in the formation of an egg. Moreover, the substances contained in it help to increase the cervical reflex, which also promotes conception.

Yoga for Conception

Some couples who have problems conceiving resort to various methods that can increase the chances of a miracle. One of these is yoga. It is good because it has no contraindications and benefits not only the physical, but also the mental health of the expectant mother and father. During exercise, muscle tone increases, the body becomes more flexible, breathing improves and, consequently, blood circulation. All these are important conditions for pregnancy. Moreover, the body’s endurance is trained, and the nervous system becomes more resistant to stress, mood improves, and a positive attitude towards a successful outcome appears. What can we say, sex becomes better and more interesting, and the chances of conceiving soon increase significantly.

How much sex does it take to conceive?

Believe me, you don't need to have sex every day if you want to conceive a baby. Doctors say that in this case, both partners become very tired from such a “marathon”. In most cases, this method, if the couple is happy with everything, will work. But, believe me, one sexual intercourse every two to three days is enough. But it’s better not to work too hard. Moreover, if the man’s sperm count is not sufficient.

If you monitor ovulation, you can “distribute” sexual intercourse so that a large number of them coincide with the days when it should occur.

There is another method when a couple does not have sex for a long period (once every two to three weeks), but performs the act at the time of expected ovulation. Then the chances of getting pregnant increase significantly.

Especially for Olga Rizak

How does a child become conceived? This question worries many young couples who are planning to have children. Everyone knows that fertilization is most likely during periods of fertility, when the egg is mature enough for this. These processes, unique in nature, give rise to a new life, the development of which in the mother’s body adheres to the program set for everyone for 9 months. However, in order to keep them under control, it is necessary to understand when and how the process of conceiving a child occurs.

The mechanism of the conception process

To put it simply, the whole mechanism consists of several steps, the first of which is fertilization, which is essentially the penetration of the most active sperm into the egg. They then fuse to form a zygote and the zygote is placed in the uterus to transform into a fetus.

The most favorable period for pregnancy occurs precisely in the middle of the menstrual cycle, when an egg ready for fertilization is released from the ovaries, that is, ovulation occurs. It is this moment that can provide an opportunity for the birth of a new organism and it will last no more than a day and a half. In the case when fertilization does not occur, the egg, without waiting for the sperm, dies and is released with menstruation. Sometimes it happens that a woman produces not 1 fertilized egg, but 2 or even several, then when they are fertilized by sperm, two or more children are obtained - twins, triplets, etc. If an egg that has already undergone fertilization divides, then twins are born.

How do the processes of conceiving a child occur?

During ovulation, millions of sperm rush to the cervix, located at the back of the vagina. In order for the fertilization of the egg to take place and the process of conception to occur, the sperm has to do the following:

• pass through the cervix (about 2 cm);
• overcome 5 cm of the uterine cavity;
• pass through the fallopian tube, the length of which is on average 12 cm.

The entire progression takes at least two to three hours, after which the sperm unites with the egg in the ampulla.

Difficulties of the way

The vaginal environment is not very conducive to the vital activity of sperm, so most of them are not able to reach the uterus and die in the vagina after 2 hours. The process of fertilization in the egg is possible only if a sufficient number of sperm enter the uterus and are activated in it. Subsequently, the sperm move along the fallopian tube, in which fertilization itself occurs. When the egg is not fully prepared for the processes of further development, sperm are able to wait for it while maintaining their abilities for several days. In order for the entire conception process to be successful, the temperature during this period is maintained within 37.

Detailed description by day

How does the process of conceiving a child take place with the most significant changes that are characteristic of this period? Briefly this picture looks like this:

Help from modern advances

What is important is how modern advances in the field of gynecology make it possible to solve many problems for those who cannot achieve pregnancy on their own. The problem is not that one or both spouses are defective; they produce both full-fledged eggs and viable sperm, but there are some barriers to success. This can happen in cases where sperm cannot meet the egg due to obstruction of the tubes, or their mobility at this moment is insufficient and the sperm does not have time to reach the egg.

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Insufficient sperm count can also be a significant cause of infertility. Even reasons such as incompatibility at the immunological level and unknown causes can disrupt reproductive functions. In such a case, medicine is capable of conceiving a child in a test tube, that is, performing IVF. To carry out this procedure, an egg is taken, which is fertilized with a sperm, after which the fertilized egg is transplanted into the woman’s uterine cavity. This procedure is completely natural and the fetus subsequently develops as usual.