Ovaries, fallopian tubes and eggs
A woman has ovaries and fallopian tubes on either side of her uterus. Eggs (ova) are produced in the ovaries. Each month one of these eggs travels along a fallopian tube to your uterus.
Ovaries
The ovaries are located on either side of the uterus. They produce eggs and hormones (oestrogen and progesterone).
Egg
An egg is about the size of a pinhead. The ovaries hold around 250,000 eggs between them, and once a month they release an egg. That is called ovulation.
Fallopian tubes
The fallopian tubes are the tubes on either side of the uterus. These two fine tubes, also called oviducts, connect the ovaries to the uterus.
Fertilisation
Every month the ovary releases a mature egg into the fallopian tube. If there is a sperm in it, fertilisation may take place and you become pregnant. The fertilised egg then moves along the fallopian tube to the uterus. If fertilisation doesn’t occur within 48 hours, the egg dies.