“I think that providing teens with crucial info is a major effort in fighting teenage pregnancy and STDs.”
—Sara, 17, PA
How does pregnancy happen?
It’s basic biology. During vaginal intercourse, a man ejaculates semen into a woman’s vagina. Semen is a white, sticky fluid that contains sperm, which can fertilize a female’s egg. The sperm swim through the female’s cervix and uterus, into her fallopian tubes, where eggs are released from her ovaries. If she has recently ovulated, or released an egg, then the sperm and egg can join. This is called fertilization. Ovulation happens once a month.
An egg can live and be fertilized for about 24 to 36 hours. Sperm can live for up to five days. That means a couple can have intercourse on Saturday. The girl could ovulate on Wednesday, and the sperm could find an egg on Thursday.
Once the sperm and egg connect, its called a blastocyst. The blastocyst travels along the fallopian tube, dividing and changing as it goes, and eventually lands in the uterus.
The lining of the uterus is full of blood and tissue. This nutrient-rich lining gives the blastocyst something to attach to. Once that happens, the pregnancy has taken root. The blastocyst becomes a mass of cells that divide and develop into an embryo. The embryo, in turn, becomes a fetus over the next nine months.
If egg and sperm fail to connect, the egg dies. With no pregnancy, the lining of the uterus disintegrates. This lining becomes a female’s period or menstruation.
An egg can live and be fertilized for about 24 to 36 hours. Sperm can live for up to five days. That means a couple can have intercourse on Saturday. The girl could ovulate on Wednesday, and the sperm could find an egg on Thursday.
Once the sperm and egg connect, its called a blastocyst. The blastocyst travels along the fallopian tube, dividing and changing as it goes, and eventually lands in the uterus.
The lining of the uterus is full of blood and tissue. This nutrient-rich lining gives the blastocyst something to attach to. Once that happens, the pregnancy has taken root. The blastocyst becomes a mass of cells that divide and develop into an embryo. The embryo, in turn, becomes a fetus over the next nine months.
If egg and sperm fail to connect, the egg dies. With no pregnancy, the lining of the uterus disintegrates. This lining becomes a female’s period or menstruation.
 |
 |
 |
 |
Your Comments
When is it safe to have sex?
Posted by: sam03 on Aug 15th, 2008 2:08am
Can you have sex before you get your monthly period or do
you have to wait untill after you get it to be safe?
WELL.....
Posted by: BABYGURL_2 on Jul 24th, 2008 8:19pm
THAT MAKE ME NOT WANT 2 EVEN HAV SEX OR A BABY ANYMORE.
Re: well....
Posted by: LucindaH on Jun 2nd, 2008 12:41pm
"If a guy cums right outside the opening to the girl's
vagina, then those swift and strong sperm can swim in, find
an egg and start a pregnancy. And some infections, such as
herpes, can spread through skin-to-skin contact, even if
there's no body fluids swapped." Check out the full FAQ
here: http://www.sexetc.org/faq/pregnancy/774.
well....
Posted by: lil_elmo on May 28th, 2008 10:27pm
Does the man's penis have to go in in order for the girl to
get pregnant??
You Must Be Logged In to Comment
Answer, Rutgers University © 2008. All Rights Reserved.
Developed by MSSG, Office of Information Technology
RE: When is it safe to have sex?
Posted by: DanR on Aug 18th, 2008 10:16am
I am glad that you asked this. The truth is, NEITHER of
these is a "safe" time. In fact, there is no time of the
month that is 100% safe from getting pregnant. A woman's
menstruation cycle is exactly that, a cycle. There are
certain times of the month when she is more fertile, but, if
your cycle is not regular, that time may vary. It is always
best to use some kind of birth control to prevent unwanted
pregnancy (condoms will also help protect you and your
partner against STDs).