The male reproductive system has two testes (singular: testis). These are contained in a bag of skin called the scrotum. The testes have two functions: Knudtson J, McLaughlin JE. 2019. Female reproductive endocrinology. MSD Manual, Professional Version. www.msdmanuals.com Opens a new window [Accessed May 2020] Ovulation is usually about 10 to 16 days before your next period starts. The exact time of ovulation depends on the length of your cycle. Several different hormones work together to control the length of your cycle, when your eggs ripen and the timing of ovulation. You can read more about these hormones in our article on the menstrual cycle.

You are not actually pregnant until the blastocyst embryo has attached itself to the wall of your womb, where it will develop into a fetus and placenta. Occasionally, the blastocyst will implant somewhere other than the womb (usually in the fallopian tube). This is called an ectopic pregnancy, and it needs urgent medical attention. The pregnancy will not survive outside the womb and needs to be completely treated or removed. Levin RJ. 2011. Can the controversy about the putative role of the human female orgasm in sperm transport be settled with our current physiological knowledge of coitus? J Sex Med 8(6): 1566-78. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Opens a new window [Accessed May 2020] During fertilisation, the genetic material in the sperm and egg combine to create a new cell that will rapidly start dividing. This bundle of new cells is known as the blastocyst. It continues travelling down the fallopian tube towards the womb, a journey that can take another three days or so.Many couples wonder if a particular sex position is best for conceiving. No one knows for sure. The most important thing about sex is that you’re both having a good time and you’re doing it often enough. NHS. 2020. How can I improve my chances of becoming a dad? NHS, Common health questions. www.nhs.uk Opens a new window [Accessed October 2022] Before you start trying, you may want to understand more about your fertility and learn exactly how you get pregnant. Conception is the moment when egg and sperm meet. It can take anything from 45 minutes to 12 hours for a sperm to reach your fallopian tubes, which is where conception usually happens. However, sperm can survive inside your body for up to seven days, so conception can happen at any point in the week after unprotected sex, if you’re ovulating. Inside the woman’s body: how an egg is hatched Deanna also writes a series of books for middle grade readers, including JINNIE WISHMAKER, MARCUS MENDER, and ELEKTRA CHAOS.

NICE. 2017. Fertility problems: assessment and treatment. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. CG156. London: NICE. www.nice.org.uk Opens a new window [Accessed May 2020] FPA. 2018. Bodyworks. Your guide to understanding reproduction. Family Planning Association. Derby: McCorquodale. www.sexwise.fpa.org.uk Opens a new window [Accessed May 2020]Cox E, Takov V. 2019. Embryology, ovarian follicle development. StatPearls. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Opens a new window [Accessed May 2020] To make female sex hormones, which affect the way bodies develop and also regulates the menstrual cycle. Lodé T. 2020. A brief natural history of the orgasm. All Life 13: 34-44. www.tandfonline.com Opens a new window [Accessed May 2020]