Hesperian Health Guides
How A Woman Becomes Pregnant
Semen: a fluid that contains millions of sperm, travels through this tube and out the penis
Penis
Testicles: men make sperm inside their testicles
Clitoris: a sensitive part that can give pleasure when touched
Urethra: where urine (pee) comes out
Opening of the vagina
Vulva
Anus
Ovaries: about once a month, one of the woman’s ovaries releases a tiny egg into the tube
Tube: the egg moves down the tube and into the womb
Womb: where a baby grows if the woman becomes pregnant
Cervix
Vagina
When the man ejaculates (comes, climaxes) in or near the vagina, his sperm leave his penis and can get into the womb and tubes. During the woman’s fertile time, the sperm can join with the woman’s egg. If the sperm fertilizes the egg, it then plants itself in the lining of the woman’s womb. This is pregnancy. Family planning methods prevent pregnancy by keeping sperm out of the vagina, or by stopping a woman’s body from releasing eggs, or by stopping sperm from joining with an egg.
This page was updated:30 Jun 2020