Conceiving a child, fetal development week by week. The process of conceiving a child. Sex before ovulation. Mental and physical preparation

The process of the birth of a new life has long been no longer a mystery for scientists. Take, for example, the fact that modern schoolchildren are taught about how conception occurs already when studying the initial anatomy course, and every educated person has a schematic idea of ​​the mechanism of fertilization. In this material, this issue will be considered more broadly and deeply - from the transformation of sperm into pronucleus and to the formation of trophoblast.

What does the hormone progesterone affect during conception?

The story of how a child is conceived begins with a description of the ovulation process. Approximately on the 13-14th day of the menstrual cycle, the egg matures. Then the ovarian follicle in which it is located ruptures, and the egg, along with part of the surrounding follicle membrane, is thrown out. The release of an egg is called ovulation. During ovulation, women may feel short-term pain in the lower abdomen on the side of the ovary that released the egg. At the site of the burst follicle in the ovary, a corpus luteum is formed, sprouting blood vessels. Its service life is 10-12 days. If the egg is not fertilized, then 12-14 days after ovulation the corpus luteum undergoes reverse development, it shrinks, decreases in size and gradually turns into the corpus alba.

If the egg is fertilized, the corpus luteum continues to function until birth as the corpus luteum of pregnancy. This body will secrete the hormone progesterone in large quantities, its presence is necessary for conception.

Here is what progesterone affects during conception, and what effect it has on the entire woman’s body:

1. This hormone causes changes that contribute to the occurrence and development of pregnancy.

2. Under the influence of progesterone, processes occur in the endometrium (inner layer of the uterus), as a result of which the secretion phase begins. Secretory transformations of the endometrium are necessary for implantation (attachment) and development of the fertilized egg.

3. The hormone reduces the excitability and sensitivity of the uterus, which helps maintain and develop pregnancy. Prepares the mammary glands for feeding. Throughout pregnancy, progesterone will be produced in large quantities to prevent spontaneous abortion.

One of the common causes of infertility is anovulation (lack of ovulation), which most often occurs due to hormonal imbalance resulting from stress, brain injury, abortion, diseases of the endocrine glands, etc.

The onset of ovulation is carried out under the influence of gonadotropic hormones of the pituitary gland. The maturation of the follicle in the ovary is stimulated by follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and the corpus luteum by luteinizing hormone (LH), ovulation occurs under the influence of both of these hormones (FSH and LH).

What do sperm look like and how much is needed for conception?

What do sperm look like when mature? The length of a mature sperm is 50-60 microns, it consists of a head, neck and tail. The head is oval in shape, slightly flattened on the sides; inside there is a nucleus surrounded by a thin layer of protoplasm. The neck is formed by protoplasm and contains a modified centrosome (an organelle that takes part in cell division), facilitating the process of fragmentation of the fertilized egg. The tail consists of protoplasm and serves for active advancement (at a speed of 2-3 mm per minute) of the sperm in a liquid medium.

After sexual intercourse, approximately 20 million sperm in each ml rush to the egg. All this amount of sperm rushes to the cervix for conception. True, before sperm enter the uterus, they have to overcome the acidic environment of the vagina. Not everyone manages to cope with this “obstacle” - most of them will die. At this stage of conception, sperm do not yet lose their original appearance - they will lose their tail much later.

Scientists have found that sperm acquires the ability to fertilize only after a few hours spent in the female body. During this time, the properties of the surface of its head change.

How and how long does it take for sperm to enter the uterus?

How long does it take for sperm to enter the uterus after sperm is released into the vagina? This process takes three minutes. During sexual arousal, the muscles of the uterus contract, the cervix opens slightly, the mucous plug protrudes from it and is immediately enveloped in sperm. After sexual intercourse, the mucus plug is pulled back into the cervix. This mucus becomes most permeable to sperm a few days before and during ovulation.

During the process of conception, sperm have already overcome two obstacles. The first is the acidic environment of the vagina, in which a large number of the weakest sperm die, the second is cervical mucus (a certain substance that is produced in the cervical canal and maintains the viability of sperm in the female body, creating a liquid environment for them and partially retaining them). The remaining sperm enter the uterine cavity. Some of them remain there, some go into the right fallopian tube, and some into the left tube. “Lost” sperm move chaotically in the uterine cavity for five days, then die and are absorbed by the uterine mucosa. Others, who choose the wrong direction, enter the abdominal cavity through the fallopian tube, where they die. And only a small number of them reach the goal. Within 1.5-2 hours they move along the fallopian tube to its ampulla, where fertilization occurs.

Look at the photo of how conception occurs at the initial stage of sperm entering the cervix:

How does a sperm enter an egg?

The egg cell has practically no independent mobility. Its entry into the ampulla is facilitated by the suction wave-like movements of the fallopian tube and its fimbria, the flickering of the cilia of the internal epithelium of the fallopian tube, creating a flow of fluid from the open part to the uterine end of this organ. The ability of the egg to fertilize becomes highest at the moment of ovulation and persists for 12-24 hours.

The cell membrane and the outer shell of the acrosome (an organelle located at the anterior end of the head, due to which penetration into the egg occurs) gradually soften in the sperm, then disintegrate and disappear. On the surface of the egg, a receptive tubercle is formed towards the sperm; the penetration of a large number of sperm into the protoplasm of the egg at once is prevented by the cells of the corona radiata and the transparent membrane. Sperm located on the surface of the egg secrete various enzymes (hyaluronidase, acrosin, etc.), which increase the permeability of the corona radiata and the transparent membrane and the penetration of usually one sperm into the egg. After it penetrates the egg, its shell becomes impenetrable to the rest. On the vitelline membrane of the egg there are special receptors that respond to sperm. Sperm also have the same receptors; they react to the egg.

This is one of the most important processes among those that occur after conception: scientists suggest that it is at this moment that the question of the sex of the unborn child is decided.

How does the sperm enter the egg through the vitelline membrane? The cell membranes of the egg and sperm fuse and the sperm penetrates the egg. In the cytoplasm of the egg, a large number of small vesicles - cortical granules - rupture, releasing enzymes that destroy the receptors of the egg that respond to sperm. This is a cortical reaction, as a result of which the zona pellucida thickens and turns into an insurmountable barrier to other male gametes (sex cells) - the fertilization membrane. The sperm is released from the tail. From now on it is called the male pronucleus.

In the nucleus of the egg, the division process is completed, resulting in the formation of a mature egg and a second polar body, which quickly degrades. Now the egg is completely ready for fertilization. Its nucleus is called the female pronucleus. The last nuclear membranes are destroyed, the nuclei fuse and their chromosomes are united. Instead of two separate sex cells (gametes) with a single set of chromosomes, a zygote appears, the rudiment of a future person (from the Greek zygote - “joined in a pair”). As it passes through the fallopian tube, it begins to fragment. After the first division, two daughter cells are formed - blastomeres; with their subsequent division, a morula is formed (a spherical accumulation of blastomere cells), very similar in appearance to a mulberry.

Here you can see a photo of how a child is conceived at the stage of sperm entering the egg:

What happens in the first days after conception

And what happens in the first days of conception, when the morula begins to hollow? During the period of fragmentation of the morula, a blastocyst is formed, consisting of two types of blastomeres (dark and light cells), one of them is called an embryoblast (it is formed by dark cells). It is from this that the embryonic cells will emerge a little later. Light cells begin to surround the embryoblast. From them a trophoblast is formed, which will subsequently ensure the attachment of the embryo to the uterine wall and its nutrition. The movement of a fertilized egg through the fallopian tube takes 5-6 days and is carried out due to contractile movements, flickering of the cilia of the epithelium towards the uterus, the longitudinal arrangement of folds of the mucous membrane and secretions that moisturize the surface of the mucous membrane.

Trophoblast (from the Greek trophe - “food, nutrition” and blastos - “embryo, sprout”) is the outer layer of cells in the mammalian embryo, providing contact between it and the maternal body.

The trophoblast secretes enzymes that dissolve the uterine mucosa at the site of attachment (implantation) of the fertilized egg, which facilitates its immersion into the uterine wall. By the time the egg is implanted, the mucous membrane of the uterus begins to produce all the substances necessary to nourish the embryo (large amounts of lipids, phosphorus, calcium, microelements, etc.).

Implantation on average occurs on the seventh day after fertilization. After this, the trophoblast begins to grow and form a shell from it, forming villi. The appearance of these primary villi coincides with the first missing menstruation. In one segment of the blastocyst, a cluster of cells is formed with a cavity in the center. This vesicle is connected by a stalk to the trophoblast. From it the amnionic cavity is formed. The walls of this cavity turn into amnion - a water membrane. After the completion of the initial period of development, the fetus is surrounded by amniotic fluid and three membranes: decidua, villous and aqueous.

The video “How Conception Happens” will help you get a clearer picture of this complex process:

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The birth of a child is the result of thousands of incredible processes occurring inside a woman. A loving mother wants to know everything she can about her baby. For this reason, many future parents are interested in how fertilization occurs.

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Fertilization of the egg

Nature has decreed that a woman can usually become pregnant in the middle of the cycle, when the well-known ovulation occurs. Unlike sperm, an egg can survive in a woman’s natural environment for 12 to 36 hours. If she does not meet the male seed, she dies and leaves the female body through menstrual bleeding.

Hidden here is the answer to the question of how long after ovulation the egg is fertilized. If ovulation has just passed, the egg has escaped from its “nest”, and sperm are already waiting or on the way, fertilization can take place in a matter of hours.

What you've been waiting for for so long

It also happens that during one ovulation, not one egg matures, but two or even three. How does fertilization of the egg occur in this case? Everything happens as usual, only as a result two or three babies are born at once.

Let's look at how fertilization of an egg occurs point by point.

1. After ejaculation, sperm travel a long, winding path towards the egg. If we take the average speed of a male seed, it takes about 3-6 hours to reach its goal. Only one sperm will participate in the fertilization process, and the rest are destined to die.
2. Pushing hard, the sperm breaks through the coating of the female egg. At this moment, the entire body is informed that fertilization occurred a moment earlier. This very signal contributes to some restructuring of the female body, designed to preserve any valuable pregnancy.
3. Now that we have figured out how fertilization of an egg occurs in a person, we can see what happens next. Each of the two parent cells contains one half of the set of chromosomes. As a result, the parent cells unite and form a new, perfect cell, with all the genetic data, known as a zygote. The genetic code of the neoplasm is completely unique.
4. Over the course of seven days, the zygote develops inside the fallopian tube, and then begins its journey to the uterus, “looking for a cozy place” where it will develop over the next nine months.
5. Further, moving away from the place where fertilization occurs, the egg takes with it the corpus luteum as food. For this reason, in the first week, lifestyle does not affect the development process in any way.
6. Having found a cozy place, the embryo “buries itself” in the wall of the uterus. This period of development, which lasts no more than 40 hours, is called implantation.
7. The outer cells begin to divide and join with the lining of the uterus. At the site of the branches, microscopic vessels are formed, which later form the placenta - the environment within which the baby grows, feeding and developing, until birth.
8. The body of the future baby is formed from the embryonic nodule. But the above-mentioned placenta, amniotic sac and umbilical cord are formed from the surface cells necessary to ensure development and safe existence. To better understand how egg fertilization occurs, you can watch the video.

Basal temperature

Measuring basal temperature is perhaps the classic method of determining the day of ovulation. Charts of this temperature are usually made by women planning to give birth to a child. But how does basal temperature change after ovulation if long-awaited fertilization has occurred?

If a woman is pregnant, her basal temperature rises to 37 degrees. This allows you to identify the possible situation even before your period is missed. Of course, it is much more effective to get tested, but since hCG is produced only after implantation of an already fertilized egg, it must be done at least a week after sexual intercourse. Well, when you don’t want to wait, measuring your basal temperature will help.

After fertilization occurs, and the body has received a signal about the beginning of the process of fetal maturation, active production of progesterone begins. It is the beneficial effect of this hormone on the development of the embryo that increases the basal temperature to 37.0-37.1 degrees.

The long-awaited result

It should be noted that the remaining normal temperature after fertilization occurs in the female body indicates a lack of progesterone, and this problem, in turn, is a threat of miscarriage or spontaneous abortion. In this case, you need to consult a doctor for help.

Conceiving a child by day

First, let's figure out where a child is conceived.

1. When the ovulation process has taken place and the egg is released from the ovary, it ends up in the fallopian tube. If sexual intercourse has taken place, the sperm will wait for the egg ready for conception inside the fallopian tube.
2. Within a few days after fertilization, the embryo that is created moves down the fallopian tube to the uterus. If development does not proceed correctly or the movement of the embryo is too slow, the embryo can penetrate the lining of the tubes, and this can lead to an ectopic pregnancy.
3. After about 7 days, the embryo reaches the uterus and looks for a warm place where it plans to settle and continue its development.

It is no less interesting to find out how the long-awaited fertilization of an egg occurs day by day in a person.

Important process

We also invite you to watch a video about how human egg fertilization occurs day by day.

How quickly does the process happen?

Many people are interested in how long it takes for fertilization to occur after unprotected love.

There are several possible answers to this question. Firstly, conception of a child can occur exclusively during ovulation or within 12-36 hours after, no more. If during this time the egg does not meet the sperm, it dies and then leaves the female body.

The beginning of a new life is a great mystery of nature, and not all the mechanisms and nuances of this mystery have been studied by doctors and scientists. Conceiving a baby is an amazing and exciting process, which many people don’t even know about at the time of the miracle. We will talk in more detail about what actually happens at the moment of fusion of maternal and paternal germ cells. This information will help those planning a pregnancy, and will also be of interest to anyone who is already a parent or is expecting their baby.

What it is?

Conceiving a child is a very complex biological, chemical process, in which not everything can be explained only from the point of view of physiology. There is always something of the divine in conception that cannot be measured or counted. Thanks to him, conception sometimes miraculously occurs in those for whom, from a medical point of view, it should not occur.

In medicine, conception is the moment of fertilization of a female reproductive cell - an egg - by a male cell - a sperm. It is from this moment that the actual pregnancy begins; from this starting point, its embryonic gestational period begins. The obstetric period is counted from the first day of the last menstruation before pregnancy. Thus, by the time of conception, which usually becomes possible during the period of ovulation, a woman is already 2-3 obstetric weeks of pregnancy. The medical definition of the onset of pregnancy hardly reveals the full meaning of this amazing process.

In a woman’s body, changes begin from the very first tenths of a second, as soon as the fusion of germ cells occurs. The fertilization process triggers a whole cascade of changes aimed at creating the most comfortable conditions for maintaining and developing a new life.

Fertilization

A man can conceive a child any day if he is healthy. Spermatozoa - male reproductive cells - are always in “full combat readiness”. But in a woman, fertilization is possible only on certain days of the menstrual cycle. After the next menstruation ends, the stage of follicle maturation begins. Several follicles mature in a woman’s ovaries, but only one or at least two of them will become dominant. Around the middle of the cycle, the size of the dominant follicle approaches 20 mm, which means that the egg inside is mature and ready to be released. The moment the follicle ruptures is called ovulation. For women, this day occurs depending on the length of the menstrual cycle on different days. If 28 days usually pass from period to period, ovulation should be expected on the 14th day, if 30 days pass - on the 15th day.

Ovulation calculator

Cycle duration

Duration of menstruation

• Menstruation
• Ovulation
• High probability of conception

Enter the first day of your last menstrual period

Ovulation occurs 14 days before the start of the menstrual cycle (with a 28-day cycle - on the 14th day). Deviation from the average value occurs frequently, so the calculation is approximate.

Also, together with the calendar method, you can measure basal temperature, examine cervical mucus, use special tests or mini-microscopes, take tests for FSH, LH, estrogens and progesterone.

You can definitely determine the day of ovulation using folliculometry (ultrasound).

Sources:

1. Losos, Jonathan B.; Raven, Peter H.; Johnson, George B.; Singer, Susan R. Biology. New York: McGraw-Hill. pp. 1207-1209.
2. Campbell N. A., Reece J. B., Urry L. A. e. a. Biology. 9th ed. - Benjamin Cummings, 2011. - p. 1263
3. Tkachenko B. I., Brin V. B., Zakharov Yu. M., Nedospasov V. O., Pyatin V. F. Human physiology. Compendium / Ed. B. I. Tkachenko. - M.: GEOTAR-Media, 2009. - 496 p.
4. https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovulation

With an irregular menstrual cycle, it is quite difficult to determine the day of ovulation on your own, but this can be done using ultrasound - the process of maturation and growth of the follicle is clearly visible through the introduction of a vaginal ultrasound sensor.

The place of egg production is the ovaries. After the follicle ruptures, the female reproductive cell leaves the ovary and exits into the wide part of the fallopian tube. This is where fertilization must occur. The process of cell fusion itself can occur immediately after its release or a day later. The egg lives and retains the ability to fertilize for 24-36 hours.

During unprotected intercourse, sperm enter the vagina, where their journey to the location of the egg begins. The path of the sperm can be compared to natural survival, natural selection - only the strongest and strongest representatives from tens of millions of cells will survive and reach the goal. By the time sperm arrive, ovulation may not yet have occurred, but in this case, nature has endowed male reproductive cells with vitality - they can remain in the tube and retain their abilities for 3-4 days.

In this case, fertilization occurs immediately after the egg is released. If sexual intercourse took place directly on the day of ovulation, then fertilization occurs approximately 30-40 minutes after ejaculation. Thus, Favorable days for a woman to conceive are the day of ovulation, as well as 2-3 days before it and the day after it. Just 5 or 6 days during the month are ideal for intercourse in order to conceive a baby.

A woman can guess that ovulation is approaching by some characteristic signs. Usually her libido increases - this mechanism is provided by nature so that the fair sex does not accidentally miss the most favorable moment. The discharge becomes viscous, profuse, reminiscent of the consistency of raw egg white. The sensitivity of the nipples of the mammary glands increases, and the breasts themselves may increase slightly in size.

Many women are even able to feel the moment of ovulation. They feel the rupture of the follicle as a slight nagging pain in the left or right lower abdomen - the location of the pain depends on whether ovulation occurred in the right or left ovary.

Some women do not feel this moment, and this is also a variant of the norm: it all depends on the individual characteristics of the female body.

The egg is covered with a three-layer membrane. After a fairly large number of sperm reaches it, a massive “attack” of the membranes begins. Special structures in the head of the sperm secrete substances that can dissolve the membranes of the egg. However, only one sperm is destined to fertilize it. After the most stubborn, persistent and strong person penetrates the membrane of the female cell, the body immediately receives a signal that fertilization has occurred. The membranes of the egg sharply change permeability, and no more sperm will be able to penetrate inside.

The male reproductive cells left empty-handed swarm around the egg for a few more days and then die. If fertilization does not occur, the egg itself dies a day after ovulation and begins its journey into the uterine cavity. Two weeks after this, menstruation begins - with menstrual blood, the woman’s body is cleansed of biomaterial that has become unnecessary. If conception has occurred, a new stage of development begins.

The egg must also travel to the uterine cavity, but for a different purpose - to attach and create a cozy “house” for the embryo. In the very first minutes after the fusion of germ cells, the future baby’s own genetic makeup is formed. He takes exactly 23 pairs of chromosomes from mom and dad.

From the very first minutes, everything is determined - the gender of the child, the color of his eyes and hair, skin color, physique, hereditary diseases and even talents and abilities. All this information is contained in the genetic code. A fertilized egg is called a zygote, it is constantly fragmented and modified, processes proceed at cosmic speed.

Changes in the body after fertilization

Immediately after the egg is fertilized, a large-scale operation unfolds in the body to create new conditions that are most optimal for the development of a new life. The hormone progesterone begins to be produced in large quantities. Its task is to make the walls of the uterus looser so that the embryo can easily attach to one of them and “grow” into the tissue. This place will then become the basis for the placenta.

Under the influence of progesterone, from the first minutes after conception, metabolic processes begin to proceed somewhat faster. Of course, a woman will not be able to feel these changes, at least in the first couple of weeks after fertilization.

Progesterone provides everything for the development of the baby - it suppresses the mother's immunity so that he does not “mistakenly” mistake the embryo for something foreign and destroy it. Under the influence of this hormone, the uterine muscles relax, reducing its tone, which ensures pregnancy.

The cervix also reacts to innovations from the first minutes after conception and begins to fulfill its role. The cervical canal inside it, which is slightly open on the day of ovulation and ensures the transfer of sperm from the vagina, immediately closes, filling with thick mucus.

This mucus plug will protect the uterine cavity from viruses, pathogenic bacteria and other unwanted penetrations throughout pregnancy. Only before childbirth will the mucous plug leave its place. Its departure belongs to the category of harbingers of an imminent birth.

A lot of interesting things happen at the cellular level. The zygote, which is the egg that unites with the sperm, begins to form nuclei within the first 30 hours after conception. It is constantly fragmented, which means that the number of cells increases, but the size of the cell does not, it’s just that the new cells are smaller. The crushing period lasts about three days. All this time, after sexual intercourse and fertilization, the zygote is in constant motion - it strives to reach the uterine cavity.

On day 4, the embryo consists of approximately 16 cells. The blastomeres begin to divide into inner and outer layers. On the 5th day after conception, the zygote changes its status and becomes a blastocyst. It has about 30 cells at the very beginning and already about 200 cells by the end of the stage. The blastocyst has a round, spherical shape. This is what the former egg looks like at the time of embryo implantation.

Embryo implantation

Implantation is the process of implantation of a blastocyst into the tissue of the uterine wall. The embryo is usually attached a week after conception, often exactly 7-8 days after fertilization. From this moment, the woman’s body begins to produce chorionic gonadotropic hormone, which is also called the pregnancy hormone and the determination of the concentration of which underlies all currently existing pregnancy tests.

In order for the contact with the endometrium to be more dense and the “docking” to be successful, the blastocyst gets rid of the zona pellucida immediately after the fertilized egg descends into the uterus. Attachment of the fertilized egg is a signal for the start of active work of the corpus luteum of the ovary. Now progesterone is produced even more, because the main task of the entire female body is to maintain pregnancy.

A necessary condition for implantation is the level of progesterone in the blood that supports pregnancy, as well as the viability of the embryo itself. If a baby is conceived with genetic errors, then with a high degree of probability the implantation will be unsuccessful and the fertilized egg will be rejected.

The sensations during implantation are also highly individual. Some women are not even aware of what important processes are happening in their body, others may notice that about a week after ovulation they begin to get tired faster, and their mood changes like the weather in a seaside town. On the day of implantation, a small amount of spotting discharge may appear due to a violation of the integrity of the endometrium. Implantation bleeding does not last long - no more than a day. This is the first obvious sign of pregnancy before delay.

Not everyone can feel implantation; implantation bleeding may not occur. In any case, a week after implantation in the blood and urine of pregnancy, the concentration of human chorionic gonadotropin reaches a sufficient level so that the fact of a new life can be determined by a laboratory blood test for hCG or a test strip, which can be easily purchased at any pharmacy or even in a supermarket.

On women's forums you can find descriptions of the sensations after conception. Usually they are left by women who dream of becoming pregnant and have been trying to conceive a baby for quite some time. Such women often describe that their breasts began to hurt almost the next day after intercourse, or that their lower abdomen hurts after the alleged conception. Doctors tend to call such sensations psychogenic, since there are no objective reasons for such pain and symptoms.

There is still not enough progesterone, even if conception is successful, for the breasts to hurt and grow at a rapid pace, and nagging pain in the lower abdomen is unlikely to be associated with cellular processes that so far occur only in the fallopian tube.

Violations

In theory, everything sounds quite optimistic, but in practice, conception and subsequent transportation of the fertilized egg into the uterine cavity can occur with disturbances. In most cases, these disorders lead to termination of pregnancy in the earliest stages. Some women may even remain unaware that they were pregnant. It’s just that the next period comes with a delay of two or three days, and women, as a rule, do not pay much attention to the fact that they are a little more abundant than usual.

Difficulties can arise at the very initial stage - low quality of the egg or impaired sperm properties can prevent conception, even if sexual intercourse was carried out immediately at the time of ovulation.

The female body can be affected by chronic gynecological diseases, sexually transmitted infections, ovarian dysfunction, addiction to alcohol or nicotine. Also, any woman has anovulatory cycles - months in which ovulation does not occur at all.

On the part of men, the causes of infertility can be hormonal disorders, exposure to radiation, harmful substances, alcohol and drugs, prostatitis, varicocele, sexually transmitted infections, sexually transmitted diseases. Even with a common cold, which one of the partners suffers at the time of intercourse, the likelihood of conception decreases.

Problems can arise at the stage of fertilization itself. If more than one sperm penetrates the egg, a triploid embryo is formed, which is not capable of development and growth, since its genetic set will differ from the normal set of 46 chromosomes. Genetic pathologies can also develop if fertilization is performed by a sperm with altered morphology - a deformed or forked head, with a damaged acrosome, with mutations and deformities of the tail.

Such an embryo will develop as much as the specific genomic abnormality allows. Most often, such a pregnancy ends in miscarriage, spontaneous abortion in the very early stages, less often - during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Unforeseen difficulties may also arise at the stage of transporting the zygote. The movement of the egg into the uterine cavity is ensured by special villi inside the tube; the egg itself is the largest and most immobile cell in the human body.

If the mobility of the villi is impaired due to inflammatory diseases of the female reproductive system, if the patency of the lumen of the fallopian tube is impaired, the zygote can remain in the fallopian tube and become fixed in it for lack of an alternative for 7-8 days after conception. Then an ectopic pregnancy develops. After its discovery, the embryo is removed surgically, since it poses a serious danger to the life of the mother - rupture of the fallopian tube leads to severe internal bleeding, which quite often leads to the death of the woman even before the ambulance arrives.

It happens that, without sufficient full contact after descent into the uterus with the endometrium, the fertilized egg can migrate to the isthmus or cervix. Such an ectopic pregnancy has a more dangerous prognosis; in most cases of cervical pregnancy, the situation can only be corrected by removing the entire uterus, which leads to subsequent post-traumatic infertility.

However, such a frightening scenario for the development of the situation is quite rare. Most often, if implantation processes are disrupted, the egg simply dies before attachment and leaves along with menstrual blood after some delay.

Sometimes the fertilized egg dies after implantation. The cause may also be chromosomal abnormalities, non-viability of the embryo, as well as hormonal deficiency. With a low amount of progesterone and hCG, the fertilized egg can be rejected by the woman’s own immunity. The endometrium of the uterus will not thicken and cover the fertilized egg from all sides with progesterone deficiency.

Harmful effects - contact with varnishes, paints, chemicals, pesticides and toxins, drinking alcohol and drugs, smoking, viral diseases of a woman at this stage can also cause early rejection of the fertilized egg from the uterine wall and its death.

If death occurs even before the missed period, they often talk about biochemical pregnancy. With it, there will be a delay, tests will show a second weak line, identifying traces of human chorionic gonadotropin in the urine, but menstruation will still occur after several days of delay.

After a biochemical pregnancy, there are no contraindications to planning a pregnancy. However, it is still advisable to take a spermogram and donate blood for hormones in order to exclude the causes of biochemical pregnancy, which may happen again.

How to increase the likelihood of conception?

Those planning a pregnancy are always interested in knowing whether they themselves can do at least something that can affect the likelihood of successful conception. The answer to this question is generally positive; yes, a lot depends on the spouses themselves and their attitude towards their health, including reproductive health.

To maximize your chances of conceiving, it is advisable to first visit a doctor and undergo at least basic tests - for sexually transmitted infections, sexually transmitted diseases, and a spermogram. Men don't like to admit this fact, but About 40% of unsuccessful attempts to get pregnant are associated with male factor infertility.

Planning a pregnancy is not only a decision to have children together, it is also targeted actions. 3 months before conception, a man should start taking vitamins A, C, E, D, preparations containing zinc and selenium, and folic acid. Such substances are contained both in special men's vitamin complexes and in dietary supplements, for example Selenzinc, Spermaktiv and others. Three months is the period required to complete one cycle of spermatogenesis, during which time the composition of the seminal fluid is completely renewed.

It is advisable for a woman to take vitamins and folic acid at least two months before the expected conception. Folic acid accumulates in the body and has a beneficial effect on the formation of the fetal neural tube, its future brain and spinal cord. With a large number of anovulatory cycles during the year, a woman can undergo stimulation of ovulation and subsequent conception.

Hormonal therapy after menstruation will help the follicle to mature, and as soon as its diameter is determined to be sufficient according to ultrasound results, stimulating hormones are used to provoke its rupture and the release of the egg. Stimulation should be carried out exclusively under the supervision of an experienced doctor, because errors in choosing a drug and determining the dosage can lead to premature depletion of the ovaries and their complete dysfunction.

In preparation for conception, men and women should avoid drinking alcohol and nicotine, since these substances have a destructive effect on the reproductive cells, both male and female. As a result, not only can conception itself become a difficult task, but the likelihood of conceiving a baby with chromosomal abnormalities also increases.

Also, those planning to conceive a baby should not eat fast food, canned food, pickled foods, and factory-made sweets, since they contain a large amount of preservatives and dyes that cause mutations of germ cells. Only a complete healthy diet, balanced and enriched with vitamins, will help a couple prepare for conception correctly.

Don't forget about weight. It is much more difficult for overweight women to get pregnant, and for women suffering from thinness or anorexia, conception is sometimes not possible at all.

Weight should be brought into order, as this contributes to changes in hormonal levels. Reducing body weight by just 5% already increases the likelihood of conception by 30%.

A woman needs to know well the features of her menstrual cycle so as not to be mistaken in determining ovulation and the period most favorable for conceiving a baby. Sex should be unprotected. The couple can choose any position, as long as it ensures deeper penetration of seminal fluid into the vagina. Ejaculating close to the cervix shortens the distance sperm need to travel and increases the likelihood of conception.

Intimate gels and lubricants, douching before and after sex can disrupt sperm motility and cause their mass death - the chances of fertilization will decrease tenfold. After sex, a woman should not get up immediately, it is advisable to lie down for about half an hour (we remember that this is the time it takes for sperm to reach the wide part of the fallopian tube where the egg is located. You can make their task easier by raising your legs. Such a half-hour rest after sex increases the likelihood of successful conception rate by 20 percent.

If one of the partners has recently suffered from a viral infection or the flu, it is worth postponing the important moment to a later date. In the same way, you should take a break if a man or woman, shortly before the time planned for conception, took antibiotics, hormonal drugs, anticonvulsants or psychotropic substances.

A woman who dreams of motherhood will benefit from yoga, swimming, and daily walks in the fresh air. Excessive psychological fixation on conception as the ultimate goal usually causes the opposite effect - pregnancy does not occur even with good test results and the absence of objective reasons for infertility.

The fact is that stress hormones, released in considerable quantities, if a woman cannot think about anything other than conception, suppress the production of sex hormones, and pregnancy becomes almost impossible at the biochemical level.

The intensity of sexual intercourse in the month determined for conception should be slightly reduced. Too frequent sexual intercourse makes sperm more scarce in volume, and the concentration of sperm in the ejaculate volume decreases. Doctors recommend the frequency of sexual intercourse - once every 2 days, while after menstruation you should refrain from active sexual activity for 4-5 days.

Women have known for a long time other ways to increase the likelihood of conception - uterine massage, folk remedies, special Kegel exercises. Massage of the uterus is carried out through the vagina and abdominal wall. Its goal is to improve blood circulation in the pelvic organs. Internal manual massage is not performed at home; it should only be performed in a medical facility with the participation of an experienced obstetrician-gynecologist.

Massage does not cause pain to a woman if it is performed correctly. Several such sessions can solve problems with menstrual irregularities, adhesions, and minor inflammatory processes, increasing the chances of conception.

Among folk remedies, a decoction of boron uterus, which is taken in small portions throughout the entire menstrual cycle preceding the month of planning, is especially popular among women. The grass with the interesting name “red brush” has also proven itself well. A water decoction is prepared from it and drunk in courses. Sage works real miracles for female reproductive health.

Kegel exercises are a very popular set of exercises for the pelvic muscles. At the pregnancy planning stage, it will help a woman get more pleasure from sex, and will also bring many pleasant moments to her partner. Then such exercises will help strengthen the pelvic muscles and prepare them for labor. After childbirth, the Kegel complex will promote a speedy recovery.

Conception - in facts and figures

The probability of conception in each menstrual cycle, which is accompanied by full ovulation, in young men and women is 11%. As partners age, the quality of their reproductive cells and genetic material deteriorate. So, the chances of conceiving a baby in one menstrual cycle for a 30-year-old woman are 7%, for a 35-36-year-old woman - only 4%, for a woman 40 years old - no more than 2%.

If you cannot conceive a baby within one or two cycles, you should not despair. According to statistics, approximately 60% of married couples of reproductive age become pregnant after having regular unprotected sex for six months. Another 30% of families manage to conceive a child within a year of planning. If, after 12 months of trying, pregnancy does not occur, you should definitely consult a doctor and undergo an examination.

If a woman who dreams of motherhood is over 35 years old, then the likelihood of conceiving not just one child, but twins or triplets, increases by 25%. Unfortunately, after 35 years of age, the likelihood of conceiving and giving birth to a child with chromosomal abnormalities increases; this is due to the natural aging of eggs.

Sometimes it happens that it is not possible to conceive a child right away, but after several unsuccessful sexual intercourses you should not sound the alarm and diagnose yourself with “infertility.” Perhaps your “stork” who will bring you the baby just needs active help.

1 rule

Everyone knows that the male reproductive cell is the basis of conception, therefore a certain energy is required from the sperm to ensure its mobility, because an energetic sperm is able to go further, and one should not expect conception from a weak one. That is why, two weeks before the decisive sexual intercourse, you need to start preparing the man. To do this, you need to start feeding him correctly: include more meat, nuts, and vitamin E in the diet. Such nutrition will help increase sperm motility. It is worth noting that excessive activity of partners for conception is not only useless, but also harmful. Therefore, before the decisive sexual intercourse, a man should abstain for 2-3 days in order to accumulate energy. One couple went to the doctor because they were unable to conceive a child. During the conversation, it turned out that the couple wants a child so much that they have sex 2-3 times a day. After this, the doctor advised me to abstain from sex for several days. Having followed the doctor’s recommendation, the couple managed to conceive a child.

Rule 2

The first intercourse is decisive for conception. All further acts during the evening or night are just for pleasure. The fact is that after the first sexual intercourse, the concentration of sperm decreases almost by half, so subsequent ejaculations, as experts joke, are nothing but water.

Rule 3

Immediately after ejaculation, a man should remove his penis from the vagina to help the sperm penetrate further unhindered, which significantly increases the likelihood of conception.

Rule 4

Female orgasm can prevent conception. This happens for the reason that during orgasm, the cervix rises a little, so the sperm have to climb to this top, which significantly reduces the chance of one of them reaching the egg.

Rule 5

The correct timing for conception plays a significant role in conception. A woman is more fertile in the middle of her cycle, when the egg matures (ovulation period). Also considered favorable are 5-6 days before ovulation: that’s how long a sperm can live, waiting for an egg and remaining capable. The period within 6 days after ovulation is also considered favorable, since the female egg remains viable during this period of time.

Rule 6

The procedure of douching with a soda solution before intercourse can significantly increase the chances of getting pregnant. It is known that a woman may have hidden inflammation, which she is not even aware of. As a result of inflammation, an acidic environment arises, which is extremely harmful to sperm and can not only significantly reduce their activity, but even completely destroy it. If there is no inflammation, then douching still won’t hurt.

Rule 7

A woman’s actions after sexual intercourse are of great importance. Little depends on the man and he can safely go into the shower, but the woman should lie down for a while. If the uterus and cervix are in a normal position, it is best to lie on your back, with your knees pressed to your chest. If a woman has a bent uterus, it is better to lie on her stomach. These positions allow the cervix to sink freely into the pool of sperm, which increases the chance of sperm penetration. There are also specific cases, for example, when there is inflammation of the appendages. In this situation, the uterus can turn to the side, but which one can only be determined. Then the doctor can tell you exactly which side is best to lie on.

Rule 8

Choosing the right position can significantly increase your chances of conceiving a child. Unfortunately, the choice of correct positions is not large - this is the classic missionary position. But if you try to get pregnant, for example while standing, the liquid will simply pour out. There is indeed an exception. If a woman has a curved uterus, then the rear pose is suitable.

Rule 9

After sexual intercourse, you need to relax and preferably be in an excellent state of mind over the next few days. Meditation, walks in nature, active recreation, etc. can help with this. Waiting and worrying are not the best conditions for this period. In a state of stress, the contractile activity of the fallopian tubes, which propel sperm to the egg, is disrupted.

Girls, hello!!!
Read this information, maybe it will be useful to someone:
9 rules for successful conception
RULE ONE.
The most important thing that is required of a man is that his sperm be mobile. The fact is that the male reproductive cell carries all its “fuel” on itself. And it absolutely needs energy: if there is energy, the sperm will run far, if there is no energy, it will stop in place. And then there can be no talk of any conception. Therefore, a man needs to be properly prepared in advance, at least for the last two weeks before the decisive sexual intercourse. To do this, he must be fed correctly: The preparatory diet includes: meat, any nuts, vitamin E, succinic acid (it improves overall metabolism). This diet increases sperm motility. In addition, before a man goes to bed to conceive, he must abstain from sexual intercourse for 2 to 3 days. Abstinence is necessary so that the required volume of sperm accumulates and so that the sperm has time to mature. To prove to their patients the need for abstinence, specialists usually cite a case well known in sexological practice. An American couple suffered from infertility for a long time. It turned out that the desire to have a child was so great that they worked on it two or three times a day. After the doctor forbade them to engage in excess, hypersexual Americans managed to conceive a child.

RULE TWO.
Sexual intercourse for the purpose of conception should be one-time! The first intercourse is the most decisive. All other moments are actually just pleasure. There is a scientific explanation for this. During the first sexual intercourse there is the highest concentration of sperm. After it, the concentration decreases by 2 times. And then, as experts joke, there will be only water.

RULE THREE.
As soon as ejaculation occurs, the penis must be immediately removed from the vagina so as not to splash a puddle of sperm. Then the probability of conception will be much higher. (By the way, the same rule must be followed for another reason - if a man has some kind of inflammation, then spending extra time in the vagina will increase the woman’s risk of infection.)

RULE FOUR. If you really want to have a child, it is advisable not to bring a woman to orgasm during intercourse. The fact is that during orgasm, the cervix rises, and sperm, like climbers, will have to conquer this peak. And, as you know, even men do not like to go the extra distance. If sexual intercourse is carried out without orgasm, the cervix remains in place, a puddle of sperm easily covers the entrance to it, and sperm freely penetrates inside. However, some women assure sexologists that they became pregnant at the peak of mutual ecstasy with their sexual partner. But these are just their personal fantasies. In such cases, specialists, laughing, simply shrug their shoulders: they say, they were lucky, and thank God.

RULE FIFTH. It is very important to choose the right time to conceive. Typically, in the middle of the cycle, a woman is more fertile. At this time, the egg matures. Days can be calculated by basal temperature, which is measured, as you know, in the anus. In addition to the two days of ovulation (the maturation of the female egg), 5-6 days before it are considered favorable for conception - this is how many days the sperm lives, waiting for the “bride,” and all this time it is capable. It is also possible to become pregnant within 6 days after ovulation, since the female egg remains viable throughout this time. Previously, many religions specified times when sexual activity was strictly prohibited. Usually 7 days after menstruation were prohibited. The custom was strictly observed: the woman was required to present a clean sheet, which meant the end of her period. And this was the starting point of the forbidden time. Therefore, the peak of sexual activity occurred precisely in the middle of the cycle, when the probability of conception was highest. Thus, religion strictly and categorically instructed women to become pregnant. However, there are cases where a woman became pregnant during menstruation. Experts consider this a failure in the cycle.

RULE SIX. Before intercourse, it would be a good idea for a woman to douche with a soda solution. The fact is that she often has inflammation, which she doesn’t even know about. Because of it, an acidic environment is formed, which is very harmful to the health of sperm - they simply die in it. Baking soda neutralizes the acidic environment.

RULE SEVEN. After ejaculation has occurred, little depends on the man. Then everything depends on the woman. She should definitely lie down and not jump right out of bed, even if she really wants to take a shower. By the way, you also need to be able to lie down. In the normal position of the uterus and cervix, the woman should lie on her back with her knees pressed to her chest. If she has a bent uterus, she needs to lie on her stomach. In this position, the cervix will be able to sink into the puddle of sperm. There are times when advice from a gynecologist is required. For example, if a woman has inflammation of the appendages, the cervix may turn to one side, and only the doctor will determine which direction. Then after intercourse you need to lie on the side where the cervix faces.

RULE EIGHT. It is very important to choose the right position for conception. Among them there are those that promote pregnancy, and vice versa. True, the choice in favor of pregnancy is small: - it should be a classic position, that is, in a lying position. It is extremely difficult to get pregnant while standing: all the liquid will simply pour out. In general, all non-classical positions are of little use for pregnancy. Well, for fun, you can choose whatever you want. There are exceptions to this rule. If a woman has a bent uterus, then sexual intercourse should be carried out in the “behind” position. Lying on your stomach or leaning on your knees does not matter.

RULE NINE. After sexual intercourse, you need to completely relax, let go of everything. And maintain such a detached, elevated state for the next two or three days. If this does not work out and the woman remains waiting, in a restless, nervous state, it is better to take valerian. Experts advise staying in a state of euphoria for a reason. This is necessary so that there is no disruption of the contractile activity of the fallopian tubes. They are the ones who are known to propel the sperm to its destination. If the potential mother worries too much, the tubes contract incorrectly and do not move the sperm. The consequences can be unpleasant: either the long-awaited fertilization will not occur, or there will be an ectopic pregnancy.
And finally, the most important thing: stop exhausting yourself and your body by waiting for a miracle... A miracle does not happen according to “orders” - you need to trust it and that’s it!