Pregnancy begins when a sperm fertilizes an egg during a woman's ovulation, the phase when a mature egg is released from the ovary and travels down the fallopian tube. If sperm is present, fertilization occurs, forming a zygote, which then moves to the uterus. Within about 6-10 days, the zygote becomes a blastocyst and implants itself into the uterine lining, leading to pregnancy. Hormones, particularly hCG, are produced to maintain the pregnancy, allowing the embryo to develop into a fetus over