Conception

Conception is the time when sperm travel through the vagina to the uterus and fertilize an egg found in the fallopian tube.

Where does conception take place?

Sperm normally fertilize the egg in the fallopian tube. This is a pathway from the ovary to the uterus of a woman.

According to the University of California San Francisco, it takes an egg about 30 hours to travel from the ovary to the fallopian tube.

As the egg travels down the fallopian tube, it stays in a specific section called the ampullar-isthmic junction. This is where sperm normally fertilize the egg.

Normally, when the egg is fertilized, it quickly travels to the uterus and implants. Doctors call the fertilized egg cell an embryo.

When and how does conception occur?

Conception can occur just before or after ovulation. This is the point in the menstrual cycle when the ovaries release an egg.

In a regular cycle, ovulation usually occurs about 10–16 days before a person’s next period. However, many have irregular cycles that change in length each month, so the exact day of ovulation often varies.

Fertilization can then occur in several ways:

Sexual intercourse: Sperm can enter the vagina during sex. From here it can swim up to the uterus and find its way to the egg. This can take several days, with healthy sperm surviving in the body for up to 5 days.

Intrauterine insemination (IUI): This is when a doctor inserts sperm into the uterus through a thin tube. A doctor can do this for people trying to conceive through sperm donation or for those who choose surrogacy. Surrogacy occurs when someone other than the birth parents carries the pregnancy to term.

IVF: This is where a doctor takes sperm and eggs from two people and combines them in a laboratory setting. IVF cannot guarantee fertilization, but creates the best possible circumstances for it.