How reproduction works?

The time is right, the moon is bright, and it’s time to get pregnant. Here’s what needs to happen:

1. It’s near ovulation; an egg is about to release from its follicle.
2. You and your partner become aroused. Your vagina produces secretions that make it easier for the now erect penis to enter the vagina.
3. During the man’s orgasm, several million sperm are forcefully ejaculated into the vagina. As they pass through the cervix into the uterus, the cervical mucus “filters” the sperm so that they’re ready to penetrate an egg.
4. Your egg releases from the follicle and enters one of your fallopian tubes.
5. The sperm swim through the uterus up to the fallopian tubes; half choose the wrong tube to enter.
6. The next day your egg meets up with several hundred sperm in the fallopian tube, and the sperm all attach themselves to the egg, trying to beat down the door.
7. One sperm breaks through the outer layer of the egg, and the egg immediately becomes impenetrable to the rest of the sperm.
8. The genetic material of the egg and sperm combine, and the newly created embryo drifts down the fallopian tube to the uterus.
9. The embryo implants in the uterine wall and grows, and you miss your period.
10. You’re pregnant! Congratulations.

After sex, just lie there for a while. Don’t jump up and go to the bathroom right away. Let gravity help those little swimmers get to where they need to be. Some doctors advocate placing a pillow under the hips during sex to give gravity a little edge in directing the sperm where they need to be. Doing so probably isn’t necessary. You can also choose whatever position is best for you and your partner. There is no “best” position for making babies.