What is a period?
Each month, an egg cell is released from a female’s ovaries. When this happens, the lining of the womb changes so that it is ready to receive the egg if it is fertilized.
If the egg is not fertilized, the womb lining breaks down, and blood and tissue pass out through the vagina. This process is called a period, and it happens about every 28 days. The time from one period to the next is known as the menstrual cycle. Hormones from the pituitary gland and the ovaries control the menstrual cycle, which may he irregular. However, it usually settles into a regular cycle.
How does fertilization take place?
It takes two days for an egg cell to travel along the Fallopian tube. During this time it may be fertilized. The male’s penis places sperms in the vagina, and about 300 million sperms are released. Some sperms pass through the neck of the womb and swim up into the uterus. They enter the Fallopian tube where some will meet the egg. Only one sperm may wriggle inside and fuse its own nucleus with the nucleus of the egg.
What is contraception?
Contraception prevents fertilization from taking place. There are several different contraceptive methods. One method involves a contraceptive device called a condom. It is a rubber covering, or sheath, that is worn over the penis to stop the escape of sperms. The contraceptive ‘pill’ is a drug taken regularly by a female. It prevents the ovaries from producing ripe eggs, or stops the eggs from developing.
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