fertilization

Examples of fertilization in the following topics:

• Fertilization

  • Fertilization occurs when a sperm and an egg have fused together to form a zygote, which begins to divide as it moves towards the uterus.
  • In medicine, this process is referred to as fertilization; in lay terms, it is more commonly known as conception.
  • After the point of fertilization the fused product of the female and male gamete is referred to as a zygote or fertilized egg.
  • The process of fertilization occurs in several steps and the interruption of any of them can lead to failure.
  • At the beginning of the process, the sperm undergoes a series of changes, as freshly ejaculated sperm is unable or poorly able to fertilize.

• Infertility

  • Possible problems could be that the egg is not released at the optimum time for fertilization, that it may not enter the fallopian tube, sperm may not be able to reach the egg, fertilization may fail to occur, transport of the zygote may be disturbed, or implantation fails.
  • Also, polymorphisms in folate pathway genes could be one reason for fertility complications in some women with unexplained infertility.
  • Medical treatment of infertility generally involves the use of fertility medication, medical device, surgery, or a combination of the following.
  • In these methods, fertilization occurs inside the body.
  • Fertilization takes place outside the body, and the fertilized egg is reinserted into the woman's reproductive tract, in a procedure called embryo transfer.

• Sperm

  • After fusion with egg cells during fertilization, a new organism forms, beginning as a totipotent zygote.
  • During fertilization, the sperm provides the following three essential parts to the oocyte:
  • Sperm quantity and quality are the main parameters in semen quality, a measure of the ability of semen to accomplish fertilization.

• Periodic Abstinence

  • Periodic abstinence refers to abstaining from sexual intercourse during the fertile days of a menstrual cycle.
  • Calendar-based methods are various methods of estimating a woman's likelihood of fertility, based on a record of the length of previous menstrual cycles.
  • This system was a main form of birth control available to Catholic couples for several decades, until the popularization of symptoms-based fertility awareness methods.
  • Days 8 to 19 are considered fertile, so they are considered unsafe for unprotected intercourse.
  • For these women, the rhythm method formula incorrectly identifies a few fertile days as being in the infertile period.

• Anatomy of the Female Reproductive System

  • If, in this transit, it meets with sperm, the sperm penetrates and merges with the egg, fertilizing it.
  • The fertilization usually occurs in the oviducts, but can happen in the uterus itself.
  • Approximately every month, a process of oogenesis matures one ovum to be sent down the fallopian tube attached to its ovary in anticipation of fertilization.
  • If not fertilized, this egg is flushed out of the system through menstruation.

• Overview of the Male and Female Reproductive Systems

  • Human reproduction takes place as internal fertilization by sexual intercourse.
  • The sperm travels through the vagina and cervix into the uterus for potential fertilization of an ovum.
  • Upon successful fertilization and implantation, gestation of the fetus occurs within the female's uterus for approximately nine months (pregnancy).
  • The primary direct function of the male reproductive system is to provide the male gamete or spermatozoa for fertilization of the ovum.
  • If the ova is fertilized by sperm, it attaches to the endometrium and the fetus develops.

• Early Pregnancy Tests

  • The first of these markers to be discovered, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), is produced by the trophoblast cells of the fertilized ovum (blastocyst).
  • Most chemical tests for pregnancy look for the presence of the beta subunit of hCG or human chorionic gonadotropin in the blood or urine. hCG can be detected in urine or blood after implantation, which occurs six to 12 days after fertilization.
  • The test for pregnancy that can give the quickest result after fertilization is a rosette inhibition assay for early pregnancy factor (EPF).
  • EPF can be detected in blood within 48 hours of fertilization.

• Introduction to Pregnancy and Human Development

  • Pregnancy is the period of gestation from the fertilization of an egg, through development of a fetus, and ending at birth.
  • Pregnancy is the state of fertilization and development for one or more offspring within a woman's uterus.
  • The term embryo is used primarily for developing humans up to eight weeks after fertilization (to the 10th week of gestation).

• Ovarian Cycle

  • The menstrual cycle is the physiological process that fertile women undergo for the purposes of reproduction and fertilization.
  • The menstrual cycle is the scientific term for the physiological changes that occur in fertile women for the purpose of sexual reproduction.The menstrual cycle is controlled by the endocrine system and commonly divided into three phases: the follicular phase, ovulation, and the luteal phase.
  • Crypts in the cervix are also stimulated to produce fertile cervical mucus that reduces the acidity of the vagina, creating a more hospitable environment for sperm.

• Semen

  • It is secreted by the gonads (sexual glands) and can fertilize female ova.
  • Semen quality is a measure of the ability of semen to accomplish fertilization and thus a measure of a man's fertility.