9 Crazy Facts About The Female Ova

7. They Protect The Chosen Sperm

Just like the ladies they come from, eggs know how to protect the things that are important, like sperm. When eggs are being fertilised, millions of sperm can be attempting to reach the same egg at the same time. Eggs are happy to allow this, but once one sperm has gotten inside, that’s it. The egg puts out a special “organelle”, releasing enzymes and proteins to make sure none of the other sperm get in.

8. Eggs Are The Big Baby Makers

While sperm stole the spotlight in terms of baby-making prowess in the early days of humanity, we now know that eggs are the ones that do many of the hard yards. As well as providing half of the genes that babies need to become, well babies, eggs can also power up the sperm-egg union and jumpstart the baby-making process. Just in case you were wondering, the DNA in an egg hangs in the centre, and is held there by spindles, like on acobweb.

9. Donating Eggs Is�Complex

When compared to donating sperm, donating eggs is pretty complicated. Sperm donors only need to masturbate into a cup, but for egg donors, there are a few medical procedures associated. First, the donor gets hormone injections to stimulate the ovaries into producing more eggs. Then doctors insert a catheter inside the birth canal to take fluid from the follicle, as well as a few eggs.

So, did you learn something about the female ova today?

Clare Whitfield Chief Editor

Clare Whitfield is the Editor of Stay at Home Mum and a recognised voice in practical home management for Australian families. Based in the northern suburbs of Sydney, she balances editorial leadership with life as a stay at home mum to two school age children. Her background in home economics and more than a decade of experience in recipe development, family budgeting, and household systems inform her work.

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