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Hello and Welcome to HealthiNation, I'm Pat Murphy.
The human reproductive process is delicate and nuanced. And it can seem like an absolute
miracle when a new life is born.
Whether you're trying to conceive or not the key to family planning is knowledge and
preparation.
In this segment we'll shed some light on how reproduction works, and we'll give you
some tips on how you can help guide the process.
Let's go to Dr. Isabel Blumberg with an overview of how reproduction works.
[PHYSICIAN] Each month a woman's body goes through a
cycle to prepare itself for a potential pregnancy. This cycle is called *** and it lasts
on average 28 days. But it can vary, lasting from 21 to 35 days.
The menstrual cycle actually begins when the uterus sheds its lining through the ***,
resulting in what is commonly called your "period". So the day bleeding begins is
the beginning of the cycle.
At this point, hormones from the brain trigger the growth of eggs in the ovaries, which in
turn produce estrogen.
Only one egg fully matures within a protective sac known as the follicle and continues to
produce estrogen. This estrogen causes the lining of the uterus to thicken and to prepare
for oregnancy.
The mature egg is expelled from the ovary about 14 days after the cycle begins, and
it begins its journey down the fallopian tubes.
Throughout the month a woman's *** produces mucus. At about the same time the egg is released
the *** produces additional mucus. If a woman were to have sex at this point this
mucus would help nourish the man's *** and move it towards the egg for fertilization.
If fertilization occurs this newly formed embryo will travel down the fallopian tube
to implant in the uterus, and pregnancy begins.
If fertilization does not occur, or if implantation is not successful, then the cycle begins again
and the egg is flushed out when the uterus sheds its lining at the beginning of a new
menstrual cycle.
Each step of this process needs to fall into place just right for pregnancy to occur.
Women hoping to conceive can increase their likelihood of getting pregnant by learning
about their individual cycle and knowing which days of the month they are most fertile.
You should consult your doctor if you are trying to become pregnant. They can help determine
your ovulation time and address any specific health concerns you may have.
If on the other hand you are sexually active and don't want to become pregnancy, there
are many birth control options available that inhibit the reproductive process in different
ways. These include the barrier methods, Hormonal contraceptives,IUD's -- or inter-uterine
devices, natural family planning techniques, as well as permanent surgical procedures.
You'll want to talk to your doctor about which might be right for you and consider
the risks, effectiveness and your lifestyle. By knowing how pregnancy works, and by learning
about your individual cycle you can better plan and prepare for your future.
[HOST] It's important to learn about your body
and know your options when it comes to family planning. For more information on pregnancy,
birth control, or *** health, watch our other segments in this area.
And thank you for being a part of HealthiNation.