Conception by Danika Montano

dan2353503_ — 2023-11-03 21:00:19 UTC

Conception

con·cep·tion

/kənˈsepSH(ə)n/:

is the union of a male sperm and female ovum that if fertilized marks the onset of pregnancy.

dan2353503_ — 2023-11-03 21:04:45 UTC

For this process to occur the following steps must transpire immediately or 5 days after sex^**

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^**_{However, note that this can also materialize emphatically through in vitro fertilization or IVF for those who struggle with infertility. In short an egg is removed from the woman's ovaries and fertilized with sperm in a laboratory. Then the fertilized egg becomes an embryo and is returned to the woman's womb to grow and develop.}

2023-11-03 23:53:04 UTC

To understand this concept, it is essential to recognize the male reproductive organs, including the testes--where sperm and testosterone are produced, and the associated structures--the epididymis, vas deferens, and penis, which play roles in sperm storage, transport, and delivery.

Within a network of microscopic tubes known as the seminiferous tubules, sperm–the male reproductive cell is developed in the testicles.
The epididymis primarily moves sperm from the testes to the vas deferens through the vesicle of seminal fluid.
Then, the vas deferens serves as a route way for the sperm to be carried to the urethra (in preparation for ejaculation).
The sperm exits the penis from the urethra in semen.
Sperm can swim up the cervix, and through the uterus and fallopian tubes in search of an egg using its flagellum or tail-like structure to propel itself through the female reproductive tract. Sperm can survive in the female body for up to 5-7 days after intercourse in search for a viable egg (Dunkin, 2022).

Most notably, men can produce around 100-200 million sperm cells from an average ejaculation.

However, only ONE sperm cell and one egg is necessary for the possibility of potential pregnancy.

2023-11-03 23:54:33 UTC

Equally important to this concept are the female reproductive organs, which comprise the ovaries—which house the female sex cells/eggs and produce hormones like estrogen and progesterone. The fallopian tubes facilitate eggs from the ovaries to the uterus, then the uterus, where a fertilized egg can implant and develop into a fetus, and the vagina, which connects the uterus to the outside of the body and serves as the birth canal.

Interestingly, every woman is born with all the eggs they will ever produce. Here is a rundown of what a lifespan with egg cells would be like:

During fetal development= 6 million eggs

At birth= approximately 1 million

Puberty= 300,000 remain

Then, the number and quality of eggs diminishes as time passes and fertility declines (Cleveland Clinic, 2022).

For the average female, the Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels increase every month causing estrogen and progesterone production. This stimulates the growth of eggs in the ovaries. However, FSH levels in women vary throughout their menstrual cycle and only peak when the egg is released by the ovary (ovulation) and begins transportation.

Specifically, once the female begins ovulation, the finger-like end of the fallopian tube sweeps over the ovary. Then adhesive sites deemed-- cilia, are responsible for forward movement of the egg into the fallopian tubes. Egg transport through the tubes takes about 30 hours.

dan2353503_ — 2023-11-05 06:17:47 UTC

Following fertilization of the male sperm with the female egg in the fallopian tubes, the woman is left with a single cell embryo deemed a zygote.
Then, the cell undergoes mitosis or rapid cell division. Eventually, becoming a blastocyst—a complex cluster of arranged duplicate cells 5-6 days later.
Here is a video by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital that illustrates this concept: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdQBe2Efl9w&t=7s
However, it is important to consider that in the scientific community today, it is widely accepted and proven that as women age, the quality of their eggs diminishes. Due to inevitable forces of everyday life: illness, toxins, free radicals, fever, and more—the DNA inside the eggs developed during early embryo development can be impaired. Specifically, the embryos of women over the age of 41 are likely to have 80% genetically abnormal eggs, resulting in no pregnancy, miscarriage, or genetic disorders for the baby (Franasiak JM et al., 2017).
Thereafter, the cell cluster moves towards the uterus where it remains until implantation.

dan2353503_ — 2023-11-05 07:50:59 UTC

At this point, the blastocyst begins to hatch out of its zona pellucida layer–or thick outer membrane as shown in the image and prepares for the possibility of implantation into the female uterus.

dan2353503_ — 2023-11-05 07:53:23 UTC

Option 1:
The egg does not implant and passes out of your body with the uterine lining during menstruation. That's why pregnant women do not get their periods^**

Interestingly, 50 percent of all naturally fertilized eggs do not implant. (Conception: How It Works, n.d.).

dan2353503_ — 2023-11-05 07:58:34 UTC

^**However, there are cases where pregnant women do experience bleeding and this can occur when the egg implants into another surrounding structure. This video by the Cleveland clinic encapsulated what this is like and why it is important for women to be aware of this phenomenon as it may become fatal:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeZ2YJ4ZYPs

dan2353503_ — 2023-11-05 08:01:54 UTC

Option 2:
The body sends the hormone–progesterone to keep the lining in place for nourishment reasons.

Then, the cells that will eventually become the fetus and the placenta begin the process of implantation into the thick spongy lining of the uterus.

Above is a picture of how the hatched blastocyst is able to penetrate the uterine lining and eventually encapsulate itself within the uterine wall for further development of the fetus.

...and 3-4 days later the pregnancy officially begins…

dan2353503_ — 2023-11-06 22:05:09 UTC

After ovulation--the process in which a mature egg is released from the ovary, there is only a 12-24 hour window for fertilization.

Fertilization is the process of combining the male gamete (sperm) with the female gamete (egg) and usually occurs in the area halfway between the ovary and the uterus.
It stays there for a ~30 hour period to ensure that the uterine lining is prepared for the egg and complete development of the fertilized egg.
Fertility is the natural capability to be able to conceive a child.
Its also important to recognize infertility as its a common fear for couple's looking to start a family. This is the inability to get pregnant an extended period (12+ months) of planned unprotected sex. Common causes are problems with ovulation, poor sperm quality, and age.
Notably, in the United states, 1/5 or 19% of women from ages 15-49 are infertile. In the same way, 10% of males have contributing factors that cause them to suffer from fertility (Cleveland Clinic, n.d.).

2023-11-06 23:12:23 UTC

2023-11-06 23:52:22 UTC

With the combination of Steps 1 and 2--sperm and egg transport, there becomes a chance of fertilization which is detailed in Step 3...

2023-11-07 00:06:09 UTC

dan2353503_ — 2023-11-07 00:08:29 UTC

dan2353503_ — 2023-11-07 00:49:07 UTC

Here is a better image of what a sperm cell looks like up close. The tail-like structure is one factor that helps to propel the cell and enable transport.

dan2353503_ — 2023-11-07 01:27:35 UTC