Female gametes, also known as ova or egg cells, are the reproductive cells produced by females in many organisms, including humans. Each female typically produces a limited number of ova during her lifetime, which are larger than male gametes, or sperm. The primary function of female gametes is to combine with male gametes during fertilization to form a zygote, which can develop into a new organism. In humans, female gametes are produced in the ovaries through a process called oogenesis. Each month, during the menstrual cycle, one ovum is released in a process known as ovulation. If the ovum encounters a sperm cell, fertilization may occur, leading to the potential development of an embryo.