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Natural conception occurs when a woman’s egg is fertilized by her
partner’s sperm. In a normal female cycle each month, a woman produces
a single egg, which grows and matures inside a sac of fluid within the
ovary called a follicle. Various hormones control the growth and
release of the egg. Once mature, the egg is released from the ovary
(ovulation) and picked up by the ends of the fallopian tubes. It then
travels down the tube towards the uterus (womb). During intercourse,
sperm is deposited at the cervix (neck of the womb). For pregnancy to
occur, the sperm has to pass through the cervix and swim into the
uterus and down the fallopian tubes. Fertilization occurs in the
fallopian tube when a single healthy sperm penetrates the egg. The egg
then divides into 2 cells, then 4 cells and forms an embryo which
continues to grow and divide until it reaches the uterus, usually about
5 days after fertilization. At this stage it is called a blastocyst and
it starts to implant in the womb lining. The empty follicle left behind
after ovulation becomes a corpus luteum and produces a hormone called
progesterone, which helps to support the growth of the pregnancy for
the first 3 months. If there is no pregnancy, the corpus luteum
eventually stops producing progesterone and the womb lining breakaway
resulting in a period or menstruation. This happens two weeks after
ovulation.
The chance of pregnancy following
unprotected intercourse is about 25% per month. At the end of the first
year of trying, 85% of couples will have conceived and by the end of 2
years, this figure is 95%. It is estimated that up to 15% of couples
experience difficulty in conceiving either their first child (primary
infertility) or a subsequent child (secondary infertility). In order to
help couples conceive successfully, the first step is to try and
understand where the problem lies by carrying put appropriate
investigations and the second step is to use this information to decide
when, and what sort of treatment, will best help that individual couple
achieve a pregnancy. The information provided on this page will help
you find out more about the investigations we recommend and treatments
we offer.
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