If you are a mother and are looking to start a family, it is very important to know exactly what this 'conception' or the arrival of a child in the womb is. You may have heard many things about this, and perhaps you have some questions or curiosity in your mind. Don't worry, today we will talk about all this very simply, in a way that you can understand very well.

What is conception? Simply put...

Simply put, conception or fertilization is the union of a woman's egg and a man's sperm . This is a very important, first step in the process of creating a baby. Just imagine, a new life begins with the union of these two tiny cells!

This conception process is very closely related to your menstrual cycle . Let's see how that works.

What is the menstrual cycle and ovulation?

You know, every month your body prepares for pregnancy. This preparation process is called the menstrual cycle . During this cycle, a mature egg is released from one of your ovaries. This is called ovulation .

Imagine, your ovary is like a little egg store. Every month, the best egg is selected and released, like in a competition!

The egg released in this way is captured by the delicate finger-like parts (which we also call ``Fimbriae'' in medical science) and travels along the Fallopian tubes , that is, along the tube where the egg travels, towards the uterus . It is during this journey that if a sperm meets it, this so-called conception occurs.

What is the role of sperm?

Men produce sperm in their testicles . During ejaculation, millions of sperm cells are released. Their sole purpose is to find and fertilize an egg. When you have unprotected sex, these sperm cells swim through the vagina and enter the fallopian tubes.

Imagine, it's like a great race! Millions of sperm are trying to reach the egg, but in the end, only one sperm is able to pierce the outer layer of the egg.It can enter the uterus. That's how conception is completed when a single sperm unites with an egg. If, for some reason, a sperm doesn't meet an egg, the egg dissolves.

What happens after conception?

Okay, let's say a sperm successfully fertilizes an egg. We call this fertilized cell a zygote . As it travels down the fallopian tube toward the uterus, it begins to divide. One cell divides into two, two into four, and so on, the number of cells increases. About a week after the sperm fertilizes the egg, this zygote has reached the uterus. It is now a cluster of about 100 cells. We call this a blastocyst .

What happens next is very important. This embryo implants itself in the inner wall of the uterus, the endometrium , just like a plant is planted in the ground. This process is called implantation . However, this implantation does not always happen when conception has occurred. Sometimes, instead of implantation, the fertilized egg may be shed during the next menstrual period.

Important: Even if conception occurs, pregnancy will not occur if the embryo does not implant properly in the uterus.

If this implantation somehow succeeds, those cells continue to divide. Some of the cells become your baby, and some of the cells become the placenta . Your body starts releasing hormones . These hormones tell your body, "There's a baby growing inside of you." They also signal your uterus to continue to maintain its lining (the endometrium) and not shed it as a period. That's why you stop having periods. This is often the first sign that you're pregnant.

What is the pregnancy timeline like?

We calculate a menstrual cycle from the first day of your period to the first day of your next period. Most people have a menstrual cycle that is about 28 days long. However, this can vary from person to person. When you ovulate also varies depending on the length of your cycle.

The process of getting pregnant for someone with a 28-day menstrual cycle usually goes like this:

• Day one: The day your period starts.
• After about 14 days: Ovulation occurs.
• Within 24 hours of ovulation: A sperm unites with an egg (fertilization occurs).
• About six days after conception: The fertilized egg (now an embryo) implants itself in the uterine wall.
• After about 21 days:If conception and implantation occurred during this menstrual cycle, you are now pregnant. However, it can take another five to seven days for a home urine pregnancy test to show a positive result.

Conception and Pregnancy Test

After conception, the fertilized egg (now called an embryo ) travels down the fallopian tube and implants itself in the wall of the uterus. This is where the placenta begins to form. Your placenta begins to produce a hormone called Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) and release it into your blood and urine.

The hCG hormone can usually be detected in a person's blood about 11 days after conception. At-home urine tests (which also measure hCG levels in urine) take a little longer to show this.

What is the probability of conception?

Pregnancy doesn't always happen when an egg and sperm meet. On average, conception only happens between 25% and 30% of the time. This percentage can drop even further after you're 35. So, if you're hoping for a baby, there are times when you might need to be a little more patient and try.

How does conception occur with IVF?

The principle of conception in In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is the same – that is, a sperm must join an egg. However, in IVF, this joining takes place in a laboratory. An egg, either from the intended mother or a donor, is combined with sperm from the intended father or a donor. When the sperm joins the egg, conception occurs.

After conception, the doctor implants the created embryo into the uterus, where the pregnancy will take place.

When does conception occur?

Conception usually occurs within 12 to 24 hours of ovulation. It can sometimes be difficult to know exactly when you are ovulating. Therefore, it can be helpful to use ovulation predictor kits or to keep a diary of your menstrual cycle.

The two main factors that affect conception are:

• Timing sexual intercourse with ovulation.
• Egg and sperm health.

What is the best time to have sex to get pregnant?

It is possible to conceive through unprotected sex as early as five days before ovulation. This is because some sperm can survive inside the female reproductive system for up to five days.

If you're trying to have a baby, the best times to have sex are:

• Three days before ovulation: At this time, sperm arrive in the fallopian tube and "wait" for the egg to arrive.
• Right at the time of ovulation, or within 24 hours of ovulation: Your egg is only alive for 24 hours. So if you have unprotected sex during this time, the egg can "wait" for sperm to arrive, or the two can meet in the fallopian tube.

Where does conception occur?

Most often, conception occurs in your fallopian tubes . This is where the egg travels after it leaves the ovary, and where sperm waits for an egg to arrive. Very rarely, fertilization can also occur inside the uterus after the egg leaves the fallopian tubes.

What things can interfere with conception?

Some health conditions can affect your ability to conceive. Fertilization doesn't always happen when the sperm and egg meet. Some of the most common factors include:

• Anovulation: This means that your ovaries are not releasing eggs.
• Low sperm count or problems with sperm motility: This means that the sperm cannot swim properly.
• Having any obstruction or blockage in the testicles, ovaries, or fallopian tubes.
• The number of good quality eggs and sperm decreases with age.

If you have any doubts about something like this, it's best to see a doctor and get advice.

Do you feel it when you conceive?

Usually not. You may feel some signs that you have ovulated. For example, you may notice a change in your cervical mucus or a change in your basal body temperature. But many people don't feel ovulation. You may experience some mild cramping or spotting a few days after conception. This may be when the fertilized egg implants in the uterus.

When do you start to feel pregnant?

How long it takes to feel "pregnant" varies from person to person. Some people may start experiencing pregnancy symptoms almost immediately after conception. Others may not experience any symptoms for weeks after a positive test.

Common symptoms of pregnancy are:

• Cessation of menstruation.
• Frequent urination.
• Feeling tired.
• Nausea (feeling sick).
• Breast pain or swelling.
• Slight vaginal bleeding (spotting).
• Headache.
• Mood swings.

If you have these symptoms and think you may be pregnant, consider taking a home pregnancy test. Your doctor can do a blood test to confirm pregnancy.

How long after conception does a pregnancy test become positive?

A positive pregnancy test can be done between 11 and 14 days after conception. Home tests look for a hormone called hCG , which is produced by the placenta. There must be enough hCG in your urine to get a positive result. However, your doctor can check your blood for hCG earlier, about 10 days after conception.

Finally, things to remember (Take-Home Message)

So, now you know that fertilization is the union of a sperm and an egg. This is a very important step in the process of conceiving a child. Conceiving a child is a very complex process, and many factors affect it.

Sometimes, it's normal to try but not get pregnant. In times like these, there are many ways to talk about your concerns and get help without worrying.

If you're having trouble conceiving, or just want to know more about it, be sure to see your doctor. He or she can explain the process to you, check for any problems that might be preventing you from conceiving and getting pregnant, and give you the help you need. Remember, you're not alone!

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