Ovulation to Implantation

Ovulation to Implantation

Ovulation

The act of ovulation is the release of a mature egg from an ovary, and it’s a dramatic event, like a small volcano erupting! The “dominant follicle” that contains the mature egg fills rapidly with fluid, and a blister forms on its surface. The egg is expelled through the blister in about 15ml of fluid, as the pictures below show perfectly:

Once the egg is released from the follicle it needs to enter the Fallopian tube. The tentacle-like ends of the tube then literally “sweeping”over the surface of the ovary to “catch” the egg. Once the egg is in the tube it’s fertilized close to the end in the first few hours.

Eggs

Eggs are extremely large cells, encased in a tough membrane called the “zona pellucida” (Latin for ‘membrane derived from the egg’). The “zona” acts to protect and nourish the egg for the first 12-24 hours after ovulation. While the “zona” is a protective shell, it also needs to let a sperm through to fertilize the egg. Fertilization requires the team-work of at least 40 sperm to break through the “zona”, but it’s absolutely essential only one sperm fuses with the egg. Once a sperm fuses and it’s genetic material enters the egg, the zona transforms into an impenetrable barrier. This prevent any more DNA entering it as it will cause an unviable pregnancy.

Embryo stages

• The fertilized egg becomes an embryo when it divides into two cells.
• The embryo cells continue to divide inside the zona until there are 70 to 100 cells.
• The shell of the zona pellucida then degenerates, allowing the embryo to expand and enter the blastocyst stage.
• In the blastocyst stage a central, fluid-filled cavity forms in the embryo, and without the zona shell implantation is possible.
• It takes an embryo about a week to reach the uterus, where it must implant within a day to start a pregnancy.

Fallopian tubes

• Cells with little ‘hair-like’ structures called “cilia” line the walls of the tubes.
• These beat in sequence to push the embryo towards the uterus.
• The embryo should arrive in the womb in the “window of implantation” when the womb’s at its most receptive.
• Because there’s no direct blood supply in the Fallopian tube, the embryo needs nourishment to survive and grow.
• Secretions from “peg” cells that line the tubes provide the embryo the nourishment it needs.

Potential tubal problems

1. The secretions from peg cells can be too thick and sticky (particularly an issue for Heavy types), which can slow or block the embryo’s progress.
2. Scars or infections can obstruct or slow the embryo’s way. These tend to be seen most often with Stuck types.
3. Hormonal issues or stress can disrupt the normal beating of the cilia cells, and embryo’s arrives in the womb outside the ‘window of implantation’. This reduces the chance of a successful pregnancy (usually Cold and Stuck type issues).
4. The “peg” cells don’t provide enough nourishment to the embryo to flourish. This can affect Hot, Cold, Tired or Pale types…

Implantation

When the placenta implants it releases ‘human chorionic growth hormone’ (hCG) which  stimulates the corpus luteum in the ovary to increase its progesterone production. The high progesterone levels:

• Prevent new menstrual cycles.
• Promotes an increasingly blood-rich womb lining.
• Increases the blood supply to the uterus.
• Triggers huge changes to the immune system that are needed for a successful pregnancy

The more you know, the more each baby becomes a miracle!