Prior to conception your body will have a high level of a hormone called estrogen, this will cause your uterus to gain a lining which can accommodate your fertilized egg. During this period of increased estrogen levels an egg in your ovaries is getting ready in which are called follicles. When you ovulate the egg is released and starts the trip into the Fallopian tube.

Now, for 12-24 hours, your egg can be fertilized if one of the 250 million sperm that are swimming around reach the egg, this is called conception and then you will be pregnant. Out of the 250 million sperm, only 400 actually survive the journey but only one will power through and succeed. After a 20 minute struggle, the battle is over. And you'll start a beautiful journey called pregnancy.

After the sperm has made its way through, it will combine its nucleus with the eggs. If the sperm is Y chromosome, it will be a baby boy. A sperm that has an X chromosome, will give you a girl. This also proves that men are the determining factor when it comes to the sex of the baby (Y or X chromosome sperm), the egg is neutral when it comes to gender.

Over the next three days, the egg will travel and then divide into 6 different sections. The egg is now called a zygote until it reaches the uterus. The name of the egg then turns into a morula. After a couple of days, the morula will be making its way to the lush lining that your uterus has created and will continue to grow at a fast pace. Your baby at this time is only a little ball of cells that scientists call a blastocyst. At this time the amniotic sac and a port for the baby's waste to travel is being created.

When is the best time to have intercourse?

Every woman is different on the ways the ovulation process goes. To have a higher chance of conception, it is best to have intercourse at least 72 hours before you ovulate and 24 hours after. The reason for the hours is that you are calculating the life span of the sperm that will be swimming around. If you want to get pregnant, you cannot procrastinate on these times. Save the date so that you and your partner will have enough time to do this very important job.

Are some sexual positions better than others for conception?

Although there is no scientific proof of any positions that will guarantee conception, there are many who claim that positions that place the sperm close to the cervix (missionary position) is perfect for conception. This has been said to work for many people.

Should I stay lying down after intercourse?

15 minutes should do the trick as many have confirmed. Remember that everyone is different and it is impossible to tell whether or not this will work. If you remain lying down, the semen stays in your vagina, so it wouldn’t be a bad idea. Remember that there are millions of sperm that were released, so a few less probably won’t hurt your chances if you get up.

Will having an orgasm improve the chance of getting pregnant?

There is no actual evidence behind this just as the others, but there are many people who feel that this does increase the  chances of conception. Having an orgasm is not needed if you want to conceive a child. However, the contractions that are caused by a female orgasm help the sperm move (suck them in) through the maze to the fallopian tubes. During times of ovulation, your body will naturally have contractions. This is perfectly normal. The most important factor of getting pregnant is timing. Having sex a day or two before ovulation and again on the day after ovulation will increase your chances of pregnancy greatly.

Most importantly, if you are trying to get pregnant, you need to stop drinking, smoking, taking drugs, this includes over-the-counter medicines. You better stop this behavior if you want your body to be in good shape for the baby. Contact your primary care physician if you are taking any prescription medications. You need to make sure that they are ok to take. Finally, remember to take pre-natal vitamins like folic acid, calcium and iron to reduce the chance of having birth defects in your child.

Knowing the signs of ovulation will also greatly improve the chances of getting pregnant, most couples have to try a couple of times before they actually fall pregnant. So don't despair if you're not pregnant straight away. For more information about your pregnancy, check out or pregnancy week by week section, which is one of the best to be found on the web, and girls don't forget to sign up for our newsletter. Have a wonderful pregnancy!