Conception refers to the process of becoming pregnant involving fertilization or implantation or both. It is the successful joining of an egg and sperm, which can occur in the hours to days after having sexual intercourse. The process of conception involves several steps, including sperm transport, egg transport, fertilization and embryo development, and implantation.

In humans, conception happens when sperm swims up through the vagina and fertilizes an egg in the fallopian tube. After conception, the fertilized egg implants into the uterus and a pregnancy begins. The fertilized egg is called a zygote, and over the course of the next seven days, it undergoes multiple cell divisions in a process called mitosis. At the end of this transition period, the embryo becomes a mass of very organized cells, called a blastocyst.

Conception is closely related to a person’s menstrual cycle, which describes the sequence of events that occur within the body as it prepares for the possibility of pregnancy each month. Women ovulate during their menstrual cycle, which is when the ovary releases an egg for fertilization.

In summary, conception is the process of becoming pregnant involving fertilization or implantation or both. It involves several steps, including sperm transport, egg transport, fertilization and embryo development, and implantation. Conception happens when sperm swims up through the vagina and fertilizes an egg in the fallopian tube, and it is closely related to a person’s menstrual cycle.