CONCEPTION

The process of conception begins with ovulation, during which the eggs are released and fertilized by the sperm. Implantation then follows.

Ovulation and fertilization process

OVULATION

This happens every month between days 12 and 16 of your menstrual cycle, or around two weeks following the start day of your menstruation. The ovum (egg) is released and travels through the fallopian tube while waiting to be fertilized by the sperm.

FERTILISATION

During sexual contact, a man releases roughly 300 million sperm into the female's posterior fornice, where they can live for up to 48–72 hours before expiring. To fertilize the ovum, the liberated sperm swim up into the fallopian tube. Only one sperm will successfully fertilize the egg at that time, and it will take roughly 24 hours. Cell division occurs during the 3–4 days movement of the fertilized egg from the fallopian tube to the uterus.

IMPLANTATION

Once the fertilized egg enters the uterus, it forms an embryonic attachment to the uterine lining and begins to produce hormones like chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG), which both delay menstruation (the cause of missing periods or menses) and support pregnancy.

HORMONES

Hormones are compared to chemical messengers that transmit information from one area of your body to another in order to effect change. Estrogen and progesterone, which are constantly present during the menstrual cycle every month, are the two main hormones in a woman's body. By enhancing the production of protein and uterine muscles (myometrium), they facilitate the growth of the uterine lining, additionally improving the blood flow to your breasts. By the time you get pregnant, a different hormone called human chorionic gonadotrophin hormone is discharged into the bloodstream to prompt the corpus luteum to create progesterone, which aids in preventing the abortion of your pregnancy by suppressing the immune system. Once the placenta is fully developed and functioning, it ceases after 8 weeks.

SEX DETERMINATION

There are 46 chromosomes in the body, which are grouped in pairs, and are present in every single cell. The 44 other chromosomes are known as autosomes (somatic), while a pair is referred to as the sex chromosome. A chromosome is made up of genes that inherit traits from both the mother and father, such as blood type, height, eye color, hair and skin color. The XX chromosome is found in females, whereas the XY chromosome is found in males. A male kid is created when the Y chromosome is released during fertilization and the X chromosome is released from the female, whereas the reverse is true when the X chromosome is released from the male and the X from the female.

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