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Conception & Fertilisation

1

When a man ejaculates or "comes" into a woman's vagina, the sperm begin their amazing journey. Some sperm leak out of the vagina but others will find their way through the cervix. The speed at which the sperm can swim partly depends on the mucus in the woman's cervix. At the time around ovulation, it is quite thin and plentiful and this allows the sperm to move easily through it.

2

The sperm swim along through the womb and into the fallopian tubes. Some do not survive the journey. Conception takes place when one sperm meets up and joins with a newly-released egg. If sex has taken place just before ovulation, the sperm will be waiting, while if sex takes place on or the day after ovulation, the sperm will catch up with the egg as it reaches the top of the fallopian tube. If sex takes place a few days after ovulation, the egg will have already deteriorated and so it is unlikely that fertilisation, which will result in a pregnancy, will not take place.

3

Following conception, the fertilised egg or embryo travels down the fallopian tube and into the womb. It is already beginning to grow and the womb is ready to receive it. The embryo attaches itself to the lining of the womb. Hormones are released which stop the shedding of the lining of the womb. This means that a woman misses her period.