Trying to Conceive

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 ...

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...

Your baby todayThe ball of cells, known as the blastocyst, that will form the embryo has now completely embedded within the lining of the uterus and the lining has regenerated over it.Unfortunately, in the complex process of conception, only abou...

What's happening insideThis is an embryo at the 16-cell stage, when it has changed from a zygote into a morula. It is in the process of dividing into a hollow ball of cells-the blastocyst-which will eventually implant in the lining of the uterus....

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 insideAs ovulation approaches, more cervical mucus is produced. Here it has crystallized to form a "fern leaf" pattern. Around the time of ovulation the mucus becomes clear, slippery, and stretchy, which makes it easier for sperm...

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...

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...

When you're trying to get pregnant, it helps to be aware of lifestyle and medical factors that can affect your menstrual cycle. ...

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...

1. Is it just instinct? We are preprogrammed to want children. It's nature at work. Having a family can make you feel you are doing what is natural. Try listing the pros and cons and balance instinct with the practical points you need to cons...

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. ...

Assisted Reproductive Techniques and Pregnancy The American Society for Reproductive Medicine estimates that about 6.1 million American women and their partners are infertile—that's 10 percent of the reproductive age population! If you or yo...

Although the process of sperm-meets-egg is natural and easy for most couples, some couples who want to conceive a child struggle with infertility. According to the National Institutes of Health, 9 percent of men and 11 percent of women of reprodu...

Conceiving a Baby: Timing Is Everything There is a fairly narrow window of time each month during which the sperm can fertilize the egg. After the egg is released by the ovary and begins its journey down the fallopian tube toward the uterus, it ...