Now it is the fertilization of the ovum in the female (and from now on, it is only of the male and female in the human family that mention will be made) by the male, in the woman, by the man, that is of supreme interest and importance to both the parties concerned in producing this result.  How this is brought about is substantially as follows: 

As already stated, the infertile ovum, or egg, is produced by the woman.  Such production begins at what is known as the age of puberty, or when the hair begins to grow upon the pubic parts of the female body.  The time of the appearance of this phenomenon in feminine life varies from the age of nine or ten years to fifteen or sixteen.  The average, for most girls, is fourteen years of age.  At this time the formation of ova, or eggs, in the female body begins, and it continues, in most women, at regular intervals of once in twenty-eight days, except during pregnancy and lactation, for a period of about thirty years.  During all this time, under favorable conditions, it is possible for the ovum produced by the woman to become fertilized, if it can meet the sperm of the male.

In a general way, this meeting of the infertile ovum of the woman with the sperm of the man can be brought about, as follows: 

The ova are produced by the ovaries (the word ovaries means egg producers) where they slowly develop from cells which originate in these glands.  When they have reached maturity, or are ready for fertilization, they pass out of the ovaries and down into the womb, by way of the fallopian tubes.  As already stated, such passage of the ova from the ovaries into the womb occurs every twenty-eight days, and it is accomplished by a more or less copious flow of blood, a sort of hemorrhage, which carries the ova down through the fallopian tubes, and deposits them in the womb.  This blood, after performing its mission of carrying the ova down into the womb, escapes from the body through the vaginal passage and is cared for by the wearing of a bandage between the thighs.  This flow of blood continues for about five days, and is known as a menstrual flow; and this time in a woman’s life is known as the menstrual period.  It is so named because of the regularity of its recurrence, the word mensa meaning a month.  In common parlance, these periods are often spoke of as the “monthlies.”

After the ovum has reached the womb it remains there for a period of about ten days, after which, if it is not fertilized during that time, it passes out of the womb into the vaginal passage, and so out of the body.  But if, at any time after it is ripe for fertilization, that is, from the time it begins its journey from the ovaries to the womb, and while it is in the womb, the ovum is met by the male sperm, it is liable to become fertilized—­conception is possible.  These are facts of the utmost importance, to be thoroughly understood and kept well in mind by all married people who would live happily together, as will be hereafter shown.