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Sperm’s Influence on a Pregnancy
Researchers are learning the many ways paternal contribution influences pregnancies
We all know it takes two to make a baby, but even though males contribute half of the genetics, they’re often left out of the pregnancy picture. Instead, the focus is typically on the females who experience pregnancy first-hand, and if anything goes wrong, they’re usually the ones blamed.
Our highly patriarchal society and lack of research into women’s health have encouraged such beliefs. But now, thanks to cultural shifts along with scientific and technological advancements, researchers are learning some pretty astounding things about the role sperm play during pregnancy.
Placenta
I once dedicated an entire article to the placenta because it’s a miraculous organ that deserves attention. The placenta is roughly 10 inches (20 cm) wide and looks a bit like a blobby mushroom, yet it has many vital functions.
Forming about ten days after conception, the placenta single-handedly fulfills all our organs’ tasks in the womb by providing us with nutrients, oxygen, protection, and removing waste. It also oversees the complete remodeling of almost 150 coiled blood vessels in the uterus, called spiral arteries, that provide the placenta with blood.
