Female eggs are called ova (singular: ovum) or eggs. These terms are used interchangeably in both medical and non-medical contexts.
Understanding Female Gametes
The female gamete, the cell that contributes to reproduction, is scientifically known as an ovum. The plural form is ova. In everyday language, it's commonly referred to as an "egg". Women are born with a large number of these eggs, stored in their ovaries. During puberty, the pituitary gland stimulates the release of eggs as part of the menstrual cycle. These eggs are crucial for conception; when fertilized by sperm, they initiate the development of a fetus.
Several sources corroborate this information:
- The female gamete is called an ovum or egg. The plural is ova. (Reference 1)
- The ovaries contain the female gamete cell, called the oocyte. In non-medical terms, the oocyte is called the “egg”. (Reference 2)
- Females are born with ovaries that have hundreds of thousands of eggs. (Reference 3)
- The egg cell, or ovum (plural ova), is the female reproductive cell, or gamete. (Reference 7)
- ...female egg (ovum) within the female reproductive system... (Reference 10)
Medical and Non-Medical Terminology
It's important to note the distinction between scientific and everyday terminology. While ovum is the precise scientific term, "egg" is widely understood and used in common conversation. Both terms accurately describe the female reproductive cell. Medical professionals might use oocyte to refer to the egg cell before it fully matures.
Applications in Fertility Treatments
The terms "egg" and "ovum" are frequently used in the context of fertility treatments. Procedures like In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) involve retrieving eggs from a woman's ovaries to be fertilized in a laboratory setting. Fertility medications aim to boost egg production. Egg donation also relies on the use of donor ova. (References 4, 5, 7, 9)
