OverviewThe thing that seems to go so smoothly with many couples is an extremely fine and highly complex process.Conception and pregnancy; what exactly happens here in the female body? A short summary for you:
. The pituitary gland (hypophysis) of a sexually mature woman produces two sex hormones: on the one hand, the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), on the other hand, the luteinising hormone (LH).
. FHS effects the growth of an ovarian follicle, LH effects the ovulation und supports the second cycle phase. The ovulation occurs about 14 days after the beginning of the last menstruation; the follicle ruptures, the fertilisable egg cell is caught by the fimbria of the fallopian tube, the remaining follicle turns into the so-called corpus luteum. The egg cell can now be fertilised in the fallopian tube. Fertilisable sperm cells are a prerequisite for this. After the sexual intercourse took place, these have already made a long way for that: first through the mucus barrier of the cervix, then through the cavity of the uterus and finally through the part of the fallopian tube.
. The independent movements of the fallopian tube transport this early embryo into the cavity of the uterus. It takes from 4 to 5 days. There it settles into the prepared mucosa (implantation), and the pregnancy begins. From this time on, the signalling substances, especially hCG, are delivered to the mother’s organism; during the next 8 weeks they maintain the corpus luteum in the ovary. This corpus luteum, which looks like a cyst in the ultrasound, produces the hormone progesterone. With advancing duration of the pregnancy the placenta takes over the hormone production in order to maintain the pregnancy.
. If no embryo is implanted into the endometrium, the signals to the mother’s organism discontinue. No permanent corpus luteum is built; the production of progesterone stops. The consequences of that are well known to you: the endometrium, which is no longer needed sheds, the menstruation occurs.
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