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The decision to have a baby is one of the biggest you will make in your lifetime. If you are planning ahead, there are a few things you can do to help ensure a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. As always, if the information you're looking for isn't here, suggest a new topic -- or create a new page!
Basics of Conception
Fertile couples have about a 25% chance of conceiving any given month. If you don't become pregnant during the first month of trying, you may wish to learn more about health essays on how conception works. Having a good understanding of your menstrual cycle can help you time intercourse to increase your chances of becoming pregnant.
The Female Reproductive System
Vagina: a muscular passage connecting the cervix with the external genitals
Cervix: the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina
Uterus: a hollow, muscular structure in which the fertilized egg implants and the fetus grows during pregnancy
Ovaries: the glands that produce eggs and the female hormones estrogen and progesterone
Fallopian tubes: tubes connecting the ovaries with the uterus
The Male Reproductive System
Testicles, or testes: oval-shaped organs that produce sperm cells and male hormones, including testosterone
Epididymis: coiled tubes connecting each testicle to the vas deferens, where sperm cells mature and are stored
Scrotum: a pouch of skin that hangs outside the pelvis to hold and regulate the temperature of the testes
Vas deferens: a muscular tube that transports sperm from the testes
Seminal gland and prostate gland: glands that produce seminal fluid
Urethra: the tube that passes urine and semen out of the body
Penis: the organ in which muscular contractions force sperm-containing semen out of the urethra
Your Menstrual Cycle
A womans menstrual cycle prepares her body for the possibility of a pregnancy. An average cyucle lasts 28 days, but all women are different and your cycle may be as few as 17 days or as many as 43.
Estrogen levels rise in the first half of the menstrual cycle, causing the lining of the uterus to thicken. At the same time, an egg begins to mature in one of the ovaries.
Around the midpoint of the menstrual cycle (day 14 of an average cycle), a surge of luteinizing hormone (LH), which is produced by the pituitary gland in the brain, causes ovulation, a process in which the mature egg leaves the ovary.
In the second half of the menstrual cycle, finger-like projections located at the opening of the fallopian tubes sweep the released egg into the tube toward the uterus. At the same time, rising levels of progesterone help prepare the lining of the uterus for pregnancy.
How Pregnancy Occurs
Pregnancy is most likely the day that you ovulate, but may happen at any time of the month.
If sperm cells are present, they are guided toward the egg by the cervical mucus and the egg may become fertilized.
If no sperm cells are present, no pregnancy occurs. The egg dissolves and is absorbed into the body, hormone levels drop, and the thickened lining of the uterus is shed during the menstrual period.
An egg that has been fertilized divides and grows in a womans uterus (womb) throughout pregnancy until childbirth. The resulting childs genetic makeup comes from the sperm and egg cells produced by the father and mother.
Basics of Conception
Fertile couples have about a 25% chance of conceiving any given month. If you don't become pregnant during the first month of trying, you may wish to learn more about health essays on how conception works. Having a good understanding of your menstrual cycle can help you time intercourse to increase your chances of becoming pregnant.
The Female Reproductive System
Vagina: a muscular passage connecting the cervix with the external genitals
Cervix: the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina
Uterus: a hollow, muscular structure in which the fertilized egg implants and the fetus grows during pregnancy
Ovaries: the glands that produce eggs and the female hormones estrogen and progesterone
Fallopian tubes: tubes connecting the ovaries with the uterus
The Male Reproductive System
Testicles, or testes: oval-shaped organs that produce sperm cells and male hormones, including testosterone
Epididymis: coiled tubes connecting each testicle to the vas deferens, where sperm cells mature and are stored
Scrotum: a pouch of skin that hangs outside the pelvis to hold and regulate the temperature of the testes
Vas deferens: a muscular tube that transports sperm from the testes
Seminal gland and prostate gland: glands that produce seminal fluid
Urethra: the tube that passes urine and semen out of the body
Penis: the organ in which muscular contractions force sperm-containing semen out of the urethra
Your Menstrual Cycle
A womans menstrual cycle prepares her body for the possibility of a pregnancy. An average cyucle lasts 28 days, but all women are different and your cycle may be as few as 17 days or as many as 43.
Estrogen levels rise in the first half of the menstrual cycle, causing the lining of the uterus to thicken. At the same time, an egg begins to mature in one of the ovaries.
Around the midpoint of the menstrual cycle (day 14 of an average cycle), a surge of luteinizing hormone (LH), which is produced by the pituitary gland in the brain, causes ovulation, a process in which the mature egg leaves the ovary.
In the second half of the menstrual cycle, finger-like projections located at the opening of the fallopian tubes sweep the released egg into the tube toward the uterus. At the same time, rising levels of progesterone help prepare the lining of the uterus for pregnancy.
How Pregnancy Occurs
Pregnancy is most likely the day that you ovulate, but may happen at any time of the month.
If sperm cells are present, they are guided toward the egg by the cervical mucus and the egg may become fertilized.
If no sperm cells are present, no pregnancy occurs. The egg dissolves and is absorbed into the body, hormone levels drop, and the thickened lining of the uterus is shed during the menstrual period.
An egg that has been fertilized divides and grows in a womans uterus (womb) throughout pregnancy until childbirth. The resulting childs genetic makeup comes from the sperm and egg cells produced by the father and mother.
