A man is fertile all year round, a woman a few days a month. If they want to have a baby, they must come to terms with this very favorable moment - ovulation (that is, ovulation). But, contrary to appearances, conception is a more complicated process. For fertilization to take place, several conditions must be met.
If a woman has normal periods, her body prepares for pregnancy every month. Around the 5th day of the cycle (counting from the start of bleeding), one of the ovaries - alternately left and right - begins to develop an egg (female reproductive cell). It is surrounded by the so-called Graaf's bubble.Ovulation( ovulation ) occurs when a mature egg leaves the follicle. This happens around the middle of the cycle. If it lasts 28 days, ovulation occurs around day 14, while women who have a 30-day cycle around the 16th day.
Fertilization: egg-sperm meeting
The released egg (then it has a diameter of about 0.2 mm) from the ovary goes to the fallopian tube and waits for … sperm. If he's lucky, she meets him. Even a whole shoal! When a man ejaculates, about 200 million sperm, or male reproductive cells, enter a woman's vagina. They have one goal - to get to the egg. It is a long and difficult journey - only the strongest and fastest individuals will survive it. And the first one to reach the goal will give rise to a new life. A ripe egg lives for about 24 hours. It's not much time, even for super-fast sperm. They themselves can survive up to three days (according to the latest research, even twice as long). So for the race to be successful, intercourse should take place on the day of ovulation or a few days before (no more than three).
The victorious sperm has yet to open the gates of the fortress. At the top of its head is a sac (acrosome), which breaks when it comes into contact with the surface of the egg. It releases enzymes that dissolve the protective shell of the ovum. A "hole" is formed and the sperm enters.
When to make love to get pregnant
Fertilization: an embryo is formed
Egg and sperm have 23 chromosomes each containing the entire human genetic code. When they combine, a zygote is formed - a cell with two nuclei and 46 chromosomes linked in pairs (each pair has a record of the features given bymother and father). As a result of the further division of the zygote, a human embryo is formed. A child who comes into the world after 9 months will have a bit of a dad and a bit of a mum. The so-called dominant genes. Gender, on the other hand, depends on whether the female chromosome X or the male Y was found in the genetic code brought by the winning sperm.
Fertilization: implantation of the embryo in the uterus
The new cell, created duringfertilization, , begins to divide and at the same time travels (it takes about 5-7 days) through the fallopian tube to the uterus, to nest there. The embryo in the uterus begins to send signals to the ovary that transform the corpus luteum after ovulation into a gestational body. It produces hormones that are responsible for the maintenance of pregnancy. Thanks to them, menstruation is also stopped. That's when the woman begins to suspect that she will be a mom!
Worth knowing- The ovum is the largest cell in a woman's body.
- Sperm can survive in a woman's body for up to 5 days.
- The child's sex is determined by the sperm which fertilizes the egg.
- More boys are born after intercourse on or the day before ovation. After intercourse 2-3 days earlier - more girls.
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