The image shows the interior of the vagina leading up to the cervix. During sexual intercourse, the penis enters the vagina and semen is released. Semen contains millions of sperm cells that begin traveling through the reproductive system in an attempt to fertilize an egg.
After ejaculation, sperm are deposited inside the vagina. They then swim upward toward the cervix, which is the narrow passage connecting the vagina to the uterus. The cervix serves an important function by controlling sperm entry. Around the time of ovulation, cervical mucus becomes thinner and more fluid, allowing sperm to pass through more easily.
Once sperm pass through the cervix, they enter the uterus and continue into the fallopian tubes. Pregnancy can only occur if a sperm cell meets and fertilizes an egg that has been released from the ovary. If fertilization does not take place, pregnancy cannot occur.
This process demonstrates that pregnancy does not happen immediately. It depends on proper timing, healthy sperm, ovulation, and favorable conditions within the cervix. Understanding this pathway helps explain how conception occurs and highlights the importance of protection when pregnancy is not intended.
