Life exists through conception; a fascinating process indeed. Conception occurs through the process of fertilisation, usually from a romantic relationship between a male and a female but in times like these, sometimes manufactured.
While many engage in romantic activities during the holidays, only few will give thought to the complexity behind fertilisation. According to the American College of Obstetrician and Gynaecologist (ACOG) 2015, “fertilisation can be defined as the union of an egg and a sperm into a single cell, the first step in a complex series of events that leads to pregnancy.” In general, 90 % of couples will conceive after regular unprotected intercourse for 3 years.
The process of ejaculation to conception can be pleasurable for some and frustrating for others as one thinks about building a family of his or her dreams.
For conception to occur there must first be a normal healthy sperm which is ejaculated from the male counterpart into the vagina of the female counterpart. This may occur by sexual intercourse or by an assisted method. The World Health Organisation states that for natural fertilisation to occur there needs to be a male, who ejaculated on average 3.7 ml of sperm, of normal morphology and motility.
Dr. Gordon, an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Cornwall Regional Hospital, confirms that the male must be able to have an erection, have normal gonads (testes) and a patent duct through which the sperm will travel and be released into the vagina.
There are however certain factors that can prevent this from happening: majority are idiopathic but may also be congenital or acquired. The problem could arise at the level at the hypothalamus, pituitary, or at the level of the peripheral organs. It may also be due to testicular problems or disruptions in the transport of sperm through the duct system.
A male who has a history of mumps, persons with certain occupations (such as a truck driver whose sperms are exposed daily to high temperature) and those with undeveloped testes are at risk of infertility. In a study done by Poongothai. J et al, 2009, approximately 15% of couples are infertile; among these male factor infertility accounts for 50% of the cases and female factors, 50%.
According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 2015, providing there is a mature egg and sperm and no interruption by the transport medium of the male’s duct system and the female’s fallopian tube, fertilisation can occur up to 24 hours after ovulation (release of an egg from the ovary). However, sperms can live 5 – 7 days in the woman’s body.
When a couple is trying to get pregnant it is essential they have sex 2- 3 times per week instead of every day to ensure appropriate sperm count, morphology and motility. For the female counterpart, love making is best on fertile days to increase the chance of getting pregnant. There are 5-6 fertile days per cycle (4-5 days before and inclusive of the day of ovulation).
Once a couple ‘hits jackpot’, magic happens instantly. The fertilized egg undergoes rapid cell divisions while move slowly through the fallopian tube in order to attach to the lining of the uterus in what is called implantation. Soon enough, a positive pregnancy test can be achieved based on human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone levels.
Failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months of regular unprotected sexual intercourse is considered as infertility by the World Health Organization. There may also be secondary infertility where a couple who previously had a pregnancy is unable to get pregnant despite frequent unprotected sex for at least one year in women under the age of 35 and at least 6 months in a woman over the age of 35 years.
To continue reading, purchase Vol.8 #9, 2016 Issue.
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Life exists through conception; a fascinating process indeed. Conception occurs through the process of fertilisation, usually from a romantic relationship between a male and a female but in times like these, sometimes manufactured.
While many engage in romantic activities during the holidays, only few will give thought to the complexity behind fertilisation. According to the American College of Obstetrician and Gynaecologist (ACOG) 2015, “fertilisation can be defined as the union of an egg and a sperm into a single cell, the first step in a complex series of events that leads to pregnancy.” In general, 90 % of couples will conceive after regular unprotected intercourse for 3 years.
The process of ejaculation to conception can be pleasurable for some and frustrating for others as one thinks about building a family of his or her dreams.
For conception to occur there must first be a normal healthy sperm which is ejaculated from the male counterpart into the vagina of the female counterpart. This may occur by sexual intercourse or by an assisted method. The World Health Organisation states that for natural fertilisation to occur there needs to be a male, who ejaculated on average 3.7 ml of sperm, of normal morphology and motility.
Dr. Gordon, an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Cornwall Regional Hospital, confirms that the male must be able to have an erection, have normal gonads (testes) and a patent duct through which the sperm will travel and be released into the vagina.
There are however certain factors that can prevent this from happening: majority are idiopathic but may also be congenital or acquired. The problem could arise at the level at the hypothalamus, pituitary, or at the level of the peripheral organs. It may also be due to testicular problems or disruptions in the transport of sperm through the duct system.
A male who has a history of mumps, persons with certain occupations (such as a truck driver whose sperms are exposed daily to high temperature) and those with undeveloped testes are at risk of infertility. In a study done by Poongothai. J et al, 2009, approximately 15% of couples are infertile; among these male factor infertility accounts for 50% of the cases and female factors, 50%.
According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 2015, providing there is a mature egg and sperm and no interruption by the transport medium of the male’s duct system and the female’s fallopian tube, fertilisation can occur up to 24 hours after ovulation (release of an egg from the ovary). However, sperms can live 5 – 7 days in the woman’s body.
When a couple is trying to get pregnant it is essential they have sex 2- 3 times per week instead of every day to ensure appropriate sperm count, morphology and motility. For the female counterpart, love making is best on fertile days to increase the chance of getting pregnant. There are 5-6 fertile days per cycle (4-5 days before and inclusive of the day of ovulation).
Once a couple ‘hits jackpot’, magic happens instantly. The fertilized egg undergoes rapid cell divisions while move slowly through the fallopian tube in order to attach to the lining of the uterus in what is called implantation. Soon enough, a positive pregnancy test can be achieved based on human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone levels.
Failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months of regular unprotected sexual intercourse is considered as infertility by the World Health Organization. There may also be secondary infertility where a couple who previously had a pregnancy is unable to get pregnant despite frequent unprotected sex for at least one year in women under the age of 35 and at least 6 months in a woman over the age of 35 years.
To continue reading, purchase Vol.8 #9, 2016 Issue.
Share this post: