Fertilization is the epic story of a single sperm facing incredible odds to

unite with an egg and form a new human life. It is the story of all of us.

During sexual intercourse, about 300 million sperm enter the vagina.

Soon afterward millions of them will either flow out of the vagina.

or die in its acidic environment.

However, many survive because of the protective elements provided in
the fluid surrounding them.

Next, the sperm must pass through the cervix and opening into the
uterus, usually it remains tightly closed, but here the cervix is open for a
few days while the woman ovulates.
The sperm swim through the Cervical Mucus which is thinned to a more
watery consistency for easier passage.
Once inside the cervix, the sperm continue swimming toward the uterus
through millions will die trying to make it through the mucus.

Some sperm remain behind, caught in the folds of the cervix, but they
may later continue the journey as a backup to the first group.
Inside the uterus muscular uterine contractions assist the sperm on their
journey toward the egg.

However, resident cells from the women’s immune system mistaking the
sperm for foreign invaders, destroy thousands more.
Next, half the sperm head for the empty Fallopian Tube, while the other
half swim toward the tube containing the unfertilized egg. Now, only a
few thousand remain.
Inside the Fallopian Tube tiny Cilia pushed the egg toward the Uterus.

to continue, the sperm must surge against this motion to reach the egg.

Some sperm get trapped in the cilia and die.

During this part of the journey, chemicals in the reproductive tract cause
the membranes covering the heads of the sperm to change, as a result,
the sperm become hyperactive, swimming harder and faster toward their
destination.
at long last, the sperm reached the egg.

Only a few dozen of the original 300 million sperm remain. The egg is
covered with a layer of cells called “Corona Radiata”.

The sperm must be pushed through this layer to reach the outer layer of
the egg, the Zona Pellucida.
When sperm reaches the Zona Pellucida, they attach to specialized
sperm receptors on the surface.
which triggers their acrosomes to release digestive enzymes enabling
the sperm to burrow into the layer.

Inside the Zona Pellucida is a narrow fluid filled space just outside the
egg cell membrane.
The first sperm to make contact will fertilize the egg.

After a perilous journey and against incredible odds;

a single sperm attaches to the egg cell membrane.

within a few minutes, their outer membranes fuse and the egg pulls the
sperm inside.
This event causes changes in the egg membrane that prevent other
sperm from attaching to it.

Next, the egg releases chemicals that push other sperm away from the
egg, and create an impenetrable fertilization membrane.

As the reaction spreads outward, the Zona Pellucida hardens, trapping

any sperm unlucky enough to be caught inside.
Outside the egg, sperm are no longer able to attach to the Zona
Pellucida.

Meanwhile, inside the egg, the tightly packed male genetic material
spreads out.
 A new membrane forms around the genetic material creating the male
pronucleus.
Inside, the genetic material reforms into 23 chromosomes.

The female genetic material awakened by the fusion of the sperm with
the egg finishes dividing, resulting in the female pronucleus, which also
contains 23 chromosomes.
As the male and female pronuclei form, spider web-like threads called
“Microtubules” pull them toward each other.
The two sets of chromosomes joined together, completing the process of
fertilization, at this moment, a unique genetic code arises; instantly
determining the gender, hair color, eye color, and hundreds of other
characteristics. This new single cell, the Zygote is the beginning of a new
human being.
And now, the Cilia and the Fallopian Tube gently sweep the Zygote
toward the Uterus where he or she will implant in the richer uterine lining,
growing and maturing for the next nine months until ready for birth.