What Is The Process And Duration Of Conception?

Conception refers to the sperm cells of a male moving through the vagina and into the uterus of a female. This phase occurs after a female’s menstrual cycle called ovulation. Ovulation takes place anywhere between day 14 in a 28 day cycle however, this may vary depending on your menstrual cycle. An egg has about 12 to 24 hours to be fertilised by sperm cells. This means that the sperm can survive for several days in a woman’s body. Ultimately, conception is all dependent on timing, the health of a female’s reproductive area and the quality of the males sperm cells.

How does conception take place?

The sperm cells connect with the eggs which pass down into the fallopian tubes from the female’s ovary into her uterus. When the fertilised egg continues to move down into the fallopian tubes, it starts breaking down from two cells to four cells and starts rapidly dividing.

After a week, the sperm fertilises the egg and moves into the uterus, it becomes a growing cluster of cells which is known as blastocyst. This means that the embryo has reached fertilisation after about 5-6 days. Once the embryo has gone through the blastocyst stage, it then attaches itself to the endometrium and the implantation process begins. With the releasing of estrogen and progesterone, it allows the endometrium lining to solidify and provide the healthy nutrients that the blastocyst needs to develop and grow into a fetus. From the ovulation phase to the implantation phase, this process typically takes 1-2 weeks. Women can then start taking a pregnancy test to see whether the process has been successful.

Upon taking a pregnancy test at home, women need to bear the following in mind:

1. Tests may vary depending on the the amount of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels.

2. Women produce hCG at various rates during pregnancy thus resulting in a positive result one day after a missed period while another test may take a week to show a positive result after a missed period occurred.

Conception requires several steps before it can come together. It is important that a female ensures the following:

  • Women must release a healthy egg before fertilisation takes place
  • High-quality sperm cells are required
  • A woman’s uterus must be receptive for the sperm to survive
  • Discontinue any form of birth control that you are currently using
  • Take the necessary multi vitamins that your body needs. For example; folic acid is a B vitamin
  • Visit your doctor regarding preconception health care / identify any underlying health conditions
  • Limit toxin exposure
  • Learn the do’s and the don’ts of pregnancy

If you have any questions relating to the process of conception or ability to fall pregnant, it is highly advisable to visit your doctor and put all your concerns at ease.

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