Abstract: Early pregnancy success in cattle involves tightly orchestrated sequential interactions between the developing embryo/conceptus and the uterine environment to which it is exposed. In cattle, as in other mono-ovulatory species such as human, the majority of embryo loss occurs in the pre- and peri-implantation period of pregnancy. While some of this can be attributed to oocyte/ early embryo dysfunction, a considerable proportion is associated with inadequate interactions between the conceptus (embryo proper and extra-embryonic membranes) and the maternal environment. Moreover, manipulation of or stresses to the maternal environment e.g. by altering systemic concentrations of the hormone progesterone, can have an impact on the ability of the uterus to support conceptus elongation and successful pregnancy recognition. Data will be presented on how the hormone progesterone effects the capacity of the uterus to support early pregnancy establishment and maintenance as well as what interactions occur during the maternal recognition of early pregnancy period. New data on the role that extracellular vesicles play in mediating this process will also be discussed. More recent data on the effect of metabolic stress caused via lactation on different points on the reproductive axis will be presented.