Friday, March 12, 2010

Myths Behind Conception Part 1

Here's some scientific facts about fertilization, implantation and the 1st week of life. When sperm are deposited into a woman's vagina, they swim through the cervix, through the uterus and out into the fallopian tubes. This journey can take a short time of 30 mins.  At the end of the fallopian tube is the ovary. If an egg awaits, a sperm can penetrate, resulting in fertilization. In other words, fertilization occurs in the fallopian tube. Sperm, can survive as long as a week, within the female genital tract, but are probably only capable of fertilizing 48 hours after intercourse.
 
If and when a sperm penetrates the egg, it sheds it's tail, and will proceed slowly into the center of the egg. It's 23 chromosomes will line up next to the ovum's 23 chromosomes. Thus begins a new cell and a fertilized ovum of 46 chromosomes. So, what does this mean? It means, that at fertilization, an entire new human body, even though a single cell, has been created. This is a miracle. These 46 chromosomes are the sum total of our genetic makeup, throughout our entire life.
 
The embryo then floats freely through the mother's tube. When this new human being is 1 week old, he or she, plants within the lining of the mother's uterus, burrowing into the nutritive wall of her womb, contacts the mother's blood stream and sends a chemical hormonal message. This message goes to a gland at the base of the mother's brain, and tells his or her mother there is a new occupant on board.
 
However, there is a new definition of the word "pregnancy". We know that life begins when the sperm penetrates the egg, not when it implants in the mother's uterus. However, the latest redefinition tells us, that "pregnancy" does not begin until 1 week after fertilization, the time of implantation. This has fooled numbers of people, including physicians.
 
The redefinition of "pregnancy" has led to the redefinition of "conception", as the time of implantation, rather than the time of union between the sperm and the egg. This has resulted in the claim, that contraception prevents pregnancy, any time during the 1st week of this tiny new human life.
 
The baby is fully human with it's 46 chromosomes when the sperm penetrates the egg.  As an astronaut in space is fully human, even though he depends on his umbilical attachment (carrying his oxygen) to stay alive, so is the fertilized embryo fully human, even though it will take a week to attach itself to it's life sustaining supply from the mother.  to be cont.  

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