Get to know Spermatogenesis and Oogenesis

Pregnancy can occur when a woman's eggs meet a man's sperm, which are both mature or mature. Before both are released and ready for fertilization, the cells of the reproductive system must go through the process of formation and maturation. This process is called spermatogenesis and oogenesis. In medical terms, spermatogenesis is the process of production and development of sperm cells in the testes in men. Meanwhile, the process of producing and developing a woman's egg cell is called oogenesis. These two processes are called gametogenesis.

Spermatogenesis

Sperm consists of three parts, namely the oval-shaped head, body, and long tail. The head contains genetic material (genes), while the tail is used to move. The average length of sperm from head to tail is 0.05 millimeters. Spermatogenesis begins in the testes. In a small tubular system called the seminiferous tubule, the circular sperm's initial cells develop to look like tadpoles. After that, sperm move to the epididymis. From the seminiferous tubules to the epididymis takes 4-6 weeks. From the epididymis, sperm moves again to the vas deferens to mix with semen. When ejaculating, sperm released by men amount to nearly 100 million. But only one sperm is needed to fertilize an egg until it develops into a fetus and child. One hour after ejaculation, at least 32 percent of sperm will die. But if it's inside a woman's body, sperm can live up to 5 days.

Oogenesis

While still in the womb, a woman's ovaries contain about 6-7 million eggs. When a newborn is born, the number of eggs decreases to only about 1 million. These eggs "fall asleep" and will only "wake up" when they reach puberty. After puberty is oogenesis or the process of egg formation occurs once a month, following the menstrual cycle. Towards the end of puberty, the mature eggs will be released by the ovaries into the fallopian tubes (fallopian tubes) about once a month. If successfully fertilized by sperm, the egg will settle in the fallopian tube and stick to the uterine wall. If not, the egg will be removed from the body about two weeks later, along with blood and the lining of the uterus. At puberty, from around one million eggs there will only be around 300,000 left. Of these, only 300-400 mature eggs will be released during the female reproductive period. As a woman ages, the number and quality of the remaining eggs will decrease. Spermatogenesis and oogenesis are biological processes related to reproductive function. It is from these two processes that human beginnings can be created. If there are problems in the process of spermatogenesis and oogenesis, then a person's fertility can be disrupted. You can consult a doctor to undergo a fertility check.