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Conception is intimately linked to a person's menstrual cycle. Every month, your body prepares for the potential of pregnancy through a series of events known as a menstrual cycle. Women, often known as women assigned female at birth (AFAB), ovulate during their menstrual cycles. Ovulation occurs when your ovary releases an egg for fertilisation. Fimbriae are tiny finger-like structures that help guide the egg through the fallopian tubes and into the uterus. Sperm can fertilise an egg while it travels via your fallopian tubes.
Sperm production originates in the testicles of males or those assigned male at birth (AMAB). During ejaculation, millions of sperm cells are released with the sole goal of locating an egg to fertilise. When you have unprotected sex, sperm cells go up your vagina and into your fallopian tube. Millions of sperm compete to reach and penetrate the egg, but only one passes through the egg's outer shell to fertilise it. If sperm does not fertilise an egg, the egg will disintegrate.
If a sperm is successful in fertilising an egg, the fertilised egg (known as a zygote) proceeds to migrate down your fallopian tube, dividing into two cells, four cells, and more cells. The zygote arrives in your uterus about a week after the sperm fertilises the egg. It is now a developing cluster of roughly 100 cells known as a blastocyst.
The blastocyst then connects to the uterine lining (endometrium). This attaching process is known as implantation. However, conception does not guarantee implantation. Sometimes implantation fails, and you pass the fertilised egg during your next menstrual cycle.
If implantation occurs, the cells continue to divide; some develop into your baby, while others form the placenta. You start to produce hormones that signal your body that a baby is developing inside your uterus. These hormones also signal the uterus to keep its lining instead of shedding it. This implies you won't have your menstrual cycle, which could be the first sign you're pregnant.
Timeline For Getting Pregnant
You calculate your menstrual cycle from the first day of menstrual bleeding to the next first day of menstrual bleeding. Most menstrual periods last roughly 28 days. The exact moment you ovulate varies according to the length of your menstrual cycle.The process of becoming pregnant in a 28-day menstrual cycle is:
- The first day of your period
- Around day 14, ovulation occurs
- Within 24 hours of ovulation, sperm fertilises an egg (conception)
- About six days after fertilisation, the fertilised egg implants in your uterine lining
- Around day 21, if fertilisation and implantation took place during this menstrual cycle, you are pregnant. However, receiving a positive pregnancy test could take another five to seven days.
Conception with a positive pregnancy test
Following fertilisation, a fertilised egg passes via your fallopian tubes and into your uterus. The fertilised egg (known as an embryo) inserts into the uterine wall. This causes the placenta to develop. Your placenta begins to produce and release human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) into your bloodstream and urine. hCG can be detected in a person's blood approximately 11 days after pregnancy. HCG takes slightly longer to appear on at-home pregnancy tests (which detect hCG in urine).How Does IVF-Assisted Conception Work?
Conception still happens in the same way: sperm must fertilise an egg. In contrast, uses sperm to fertilise an egg in a laboratory. An egg, either from the intended parent or a donor, is combined with sperm from the parent or donor. Conception occurs when sperm fertilises an egg.Once conception occurs, your provider inserts the formed embryo into the uterus, which will carry the pregnancy, for implantation.
When Does Conception Occur?
Conception happens 12 to 24 hours following ovulation. Ovulation can be difficult to detect at times, so utilising ovulation prediction kits or keeping track of your menstrual cycle on a calendar might be beneficial. The two main variables in conception are:
- The timing of sexual intercourse and ovulation
- Sperm and egg health
When To Have Sex To Conceive?
Conception following unprotected sex can occur as early as five days before ovulation. This is because some sperm can survive so long inside female reproductive organs.If you're trying to get pregnant, the optimum times to have intercourse are:
- In the three days preceding ovulation, sperm will be "waiting" for the egg to pass down the fallopian tube.
- At or within 24 hours of ovulation: Your egg only lives for 24 hours, therefore if you engage in unprotected intercourse during this time, your egg may end up "waiting" for sperm to reach it, or they may cross paths in your fallopian tubes.
Where Does Conception Occur?
Conception normally occurs in the fallopian tubes. This is where an egg goes when it exits your ovary, and where sperm waits for an egg. Fertilisation may occur in your uterus after your egg has exited your fallopian tubes.What Things Prevent Conception From Occurring?
Certain medical disorders may impair your ability to conceive. Fertilisation does not happen simply because the sperm and egg come into contact. Some of the most prevalent factors include:- Anovulation is when you do not ovulate
- Low sperm count or problems with sperm motility
- An obstruction in the fallopian tubes, testicles, or ovaries
- The number of high-quality eggs and sperm is decreasing (typically due to age)
Can You Feel The Conception?
Not generally. You may detect indicators of ovulation, such as changes in your cervical mucus or basal body temperature. However, most people do not feel fertilisation. You may have a dull pain or mild spotting many days after fertilisation. This could be due to the fertilised egg implanting in your uterus.When Do You Start To Feel Pregnant?
The time it takes to "feel" pregnant varies. Some people become pregnant soon after conception, while others do not experience any pregnancy symptoms for weeks after receiving a positive test.Common indicators of pregnancy include:
- A missed menstruation
- Urinating frequently
- Feeling exhausted
- Nausea
- Sore or swollen breasts
- Spotting (slight vaginal bleeding)
- Headaches
- Mood swings
How Long After Conception Will My Pregnancy Test Be Positive?
A positive pregnancy test can be obtained anywhere from 11 to 14 days following fertilisation. At-home pregnancy tests detect human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone produced by the placenta. Your urine must contain enough hCG to provide a positive pregnancy test. However, your healthcare professional can detect hCG in your blood earlier, around 10 days after conception.Conception occurs when sperm fertilises an egg. It's one of the many important processes in becoming pregnant. Conceiving a child is a difficult process that depends on a variety of circumstances. Being unable to conceive is a common condition, and there are numerous services available to help. If you are having trouble conceiving, contact your healthcare practitioner. They can explain the procedure and identify any barriers to conception and pregnancy.
FAQs on All You Need To Know About Conception
- How do You know when you conceived a baby?
Using your last menstrual period date. As a result, if you know the first day of your menstruation, you can calculate when conception occurred by adding 11 to 21 days to that day. For example, if you're pregnant and your last period began on March 5, you probably conceived between March 16 and March 26. - When do the earliest indications of conception appear?
Pregnancy officially begins two weeks after the last menstrual cycle. Implantation may take 1 to 2 weeks and result in mild spotting, discharge, and discomfort. Pregnancy hormones peak at 1 to 2 weeks and can cause early symptoms like bloating, headaches, and exhaustion.
