Conception

An Incredible Confluence of Events

The Woman
Must release a healthy, mature ovum, which must be picked up by a healthy, functional fallopian tube

The Man
Must produce healthy sperm and deposit it in the vagina, near the cervical opening. (once deposited, only about 10% of the sperm survive to penetrate the cervical mucous)

The Couple
Must have intercourse every other day around the time of ovulation, because sperm live for only about 48 hours.

Fertilization
Sperm must make it through the cervix and through the uterus into the fallopian tube. One healthy sperm must breach the egg's protective layers, including the cumulus layer and the zona pellucida.

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