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How Do You Get Pregnant?

Team AckoFeb 8, 2024

Planning a pregnancy? In that case, the very first thing you and your partner need to do is know about the basic process of how to conceive a baby. Understanding how conception and pregnancy works helps you to have a clearer idea of what you need to do and when.

Contents

The man's role: Sperm
The woman's role: Eggs
What is ovulation?
When are you ready for conception?
How does fertilization occur?
How long does it take for fertilization to take place?
What happens after fertilization occurs?
What is implantation?
What happens if the released egg is not fertilized?

How does conception take place?

For conception to happen, a sperm cell needs to meet and unite with an egg. Pregnancy officially commences at the moment when a fertilized egg implants in the lining of the uterus. It can take up to 2-3 weeks after sexual intercourse for conception to occur.

The man's role: Sperm

Sperms are cells that are produced by the testicles. Sperm combines with other fluids to create semen, which is expelled through the penis during ejaculation. Millions of sperm come out every time ejaculation happens. However, only one sperm cell is required to meet with an egg for pregnancy to happen.

The woman's role: Eggs

Women have two ovaries inside their abdomen on either side of the uterus. All women are born with ovaries, which are filled with hundreds of thousands of eggs.

What is ovulation?

When a woman reaches puberty, the hormones that control her menstrual cycle cause a few eggs to mature every month. Once a month, the ovaries release one of the ripened eggs. This process is called ovulation.

When are you ready for conception?

Once your egg is mature, it is ready to be fertilized by a sperm cell and is released by one of the ovaries. Various hormones released at this time make the lining of your uterus thick and spongy, and this gets your body ready for pregnancy.

How does fertilization occur?

During ovulation, one mature egg leaves the ovary and moves through the fallopian tube towards your uterus. The egg remains here for about 12-24 hours, slowly moving through the fallopian tube, waiting for any sperm cells.

During sexual intercourse, semen gets in the vagina. The sperm cells swim up through the cervix and uterus and into the fallopian tubes, in search of an egg. When a sperm cell joins with an egg, it is called fertilization.

How long does it take for fertilization to take place?

Fertilization doesn’t necessarily happen immediately after intercourse. Sperm cells can live in the woman’s uterus and fallopian tube for up to 6 days before they die. So, there can be up to 6 days between sex and fertilization.

What happens after fertilization occurs?

If a sperm cell unites with the egg, the fertilized egg moves down the fallopian tube toward the uterus. It begins to divide into more and more cells, forming a ball as it grows. This ball of cells or blastocyst reaches the uterus approximately 3–4 days after fertilization. It then remains floating in the uterus for another 2–3 days.

What is implantation?

If the floating ball of cells attaches to the lining of the uterus, this is called implantation. Implantation is the moment when pregnancy officially begins. Implantation usually commences about 6 days after fertilization, and takes between 3-4 days to be completed. The embryo develops from cells on the inside of the ball. The placenta develops from the cells on the outside of the ball.

What happens if the released egg is not fertilized?

If the released egg does not meet up with a sperm cell, or a fertilized egg doesn’t implant in the uterus, the thickened lining of the uterus isn’t needed and it leaves the woman’s body during her menstrual period. Around 50% of all fertilized eggs naturally do not implant in the uterus, and pass out of the body during the monthly period.

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