Trying to Conceive

Through the generationsThrough each generation, genes are shuffled and re-shuffled. Half of a baby's genes come from its father and half from its mother. The baby's parents in turn inherited half each of their genes from each of their own parents...

Each woman is born with her full quota of follicles that contain immature eggs, some of which will mature and be released in her lifetime. Every month, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), released from the pituitary gland, encourages a number of ...

*/ 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...

Some couples find that conception takes longer than anticipated. If you haven't become pregnant after two years of trying, your doctor may suggest fertility testing to identify if your fertility or that of your partner is suboptimal. If this is t...

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 is half...

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...

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...

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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 size of your uterus may have reduced slightly as your baby's head becomes more deeply engaged within your pelvis, allowing her body to move down. This can take some of the pressure away from your ribs, which is a welcome relief...

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. ...

Your baby todayExternal appearances are deceptive: although your baby seems very well developed, it's still early in the pregnancy-the state of the cervix and progesterone produced by the placenta both play a part in ensuring that labor does not ...

Your baby todayThe first stage of placental development-your baby's life support system-is shown here. The image shows nuclei (blue) within a continuous network of cells that will become the placental villi. At first the tiny villi are solid; lat...

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 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. ...

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What's happening insideWhen the two nuclei have pooled their genetic material to create a cell containing its full complement of 46 chromosomes-23 each from the mother and father-the cell can start dividing, shown here at the first division creat...