engravidar

Engravidar is a verb used in Portuguese to denote causing pregnancy, i.e., to impregnate someone. It is normally transitive: for example, “O homem engravidou a mulher.” In some dialects or contexts a reflexive form such as “engravidar-se” appears, but it is less standard; to express that a person becomes pregnant, most speakers use phrases like “ficar grávida” or “conseguir engravidar,” rather than a reflexive form of engravidar. The related noun is gravidez, referring to the state of being pregnant.

Etymology: the term derives from the Latin gravis or gravidus, meaning heavy or pregnant, with the prefix en- forming a verb sense in Portuguese.

In clinical terms, conception occurs when a sperm fertilizes an ovum, typically in the fallopian tube, leading to pregnancy. A human gestation lasts about 40 weeks from the last menstrual period, divided into three trimesters. Prenatal care includes regular medical checkups, screening tests, nutrition, and avoidance of harmful substances. Early signs of pregnancy can include a missed period, nausea, breast tenderness, and fatigue; confirmation is usually via a pregnancy test detecting hCG and by ultrasound.

Fertility and reproduction: factors affecting the ability to conceive include age, ovulatory health, tubal status, male factor fertility, and lifestyle. When natural fertility is limited, medical options range from timing and ovulation induction to inseminação intrauterina (intrauterine insemination) and fertilização in vitro (in vitro fertilization).