All of a woman’s eggs are stored in her two ovaries. Girls are born with their total number of eggs in their ovaries and no more are made after that.
the menstrual cycle
Once a month, from puberty (the age periods start) to menopause (when periods stop), one of the ovaries releases an egg. This process is controlled by hormones produced by the pituitary gland and the ovaries. It is known as the menstrual cycle.
When the egg is released from the ovary, it moves along the fallopian tube. Here, it may be fertilised if sexual intercourse has happened and sperm are present. The egg then moves into the womb. If it has been fertilised, pregnancy occurs. The fertilised egg embeds itself into the wall of the womb to develop into an embryo, then a foetus and then a baby.
If the egg is not fertilised, it will be released about 14 days later through the neck of the womb, together with the lining of the womb, as a period.
the menopause
Eventually, as women get older, the hormone levels in the body change, eggs are no longer released from the ovaries each month and periods stop. This is known as the menopause (also known as 'the change').
early menopause
Some cancer treatments can stop the ovaries from producing the hormones that control the menstrual cycle, and so may cause an early menopause for some women. This means that they can’t have children. This is also known as premature egg failure or premature menopause.
Diagram of the female reproductive system
This diagram shows the female reproductive system. It is in the lower half of the abdomen and shows the two ovaries on either side of the abdomen. These are connected to the womb, or uterus, by fallopian tubes. At the base of the womb is the cervical canal, cervix and vagina. Behind the womb is the bladder.
