Ovulation and Conception

  Today in the US, one in every 31 births is a twin birth. Twins are conceived in two ways that result in either identical or nonidentical twins. Identical twins occur when one fertilized egg splits into two separate cells. This type of twin ...

Genes are located on rodlike structures called chromosomes that are found in the nucleus of every cell in the body. Each gene occupies a specific position on a chromosome. Because genes provide instructions for making proteins, and proteins deter...

Toward the end of this week, one of the eggs in your ovaries is likely to have reached full maturity. Ovulation occurs as the egg, under the influence of hormones, bursts out of its follicle. If it meets a sperm, you may become pregnant. Now is t...

It's business as usual for your body this week. You're having a period, so you know you're not pregnant. But if you conceive during this menstrual cycle, the first day of your period will count as the first day of pregnancy. It's a good idea to r...

Your baby todayThe embryo is implanted and is 10 days old. The entry point at which the embryo buried into the lining of the uterus is now covered by a clot, and this prevents blood loss and protects the embryo. ...

What's happening insideThe ovary can be seen here at the end of the fallopian tube. At around this time of the menstrual cycle, a follicle at the surface of the ovary releases an egg, which is swept down the tube by clearly visible fingerlike pro...

What's happening insideHere the egg is shown surrounded by sperm. Although only one sperm will fertilize the egg, several hundred are thought to be necessary to break down its defensive layers and enable fertilization to take place. ...

What's happening insideHere is a diagram of a human egg cell 24 hours after fertilization. Around the egg is a thick layer (yellow) that has now become impenetrable. The circles inside, or pro-nuclei, contain genetic material from the mother and ...

What's happening insideThe sperm cell can be seen here inside the fallopian tube. Since sperm can stay active and alive inside you for up to 72 hours, it's possible to get pregnant even if you don't ovulate for two to three days from now. ...

What's happening insideHere, three developing ovarian follicles can be seen in white. The inner circle of each is the egg. Of the follicles shown, it is likely that only one will fully mature at ovulation and release an egg. ...

What's happening insideIn this color 3-D scan of the human brain, the green central structure is the hypothalamus. This controls emotions and body temperature, and releases chemicals that regulate the release of hormones from the pituitary gland ...

What's happening insideYour eggs are already developing, as can be seen in this color-enhanced ovary. The small white structures are the immature follicles that contain the eggs at different stages of development. Once one of the follicles mature...

So you've decided to have a baby. Congratulations! Now comes the hard work of actively trying to conceive. Although there is no "magic" pill to get pregnant, some simple methods have been shown to increase your odds. Whether they are scientifical...

*/ The two-week wait to find out if you have conceived can feel like years if you are trying to have a baby. Some pregnancy symptoms can begin a just few days after conception, even before a positive pregnancy test would register. So how can you...