Final answer:
Females are born with all the eggs they will ever have, about 1-2 million, stored in their ovaries. These eggs begin to mature during puberty, with one egg typically released each month until menopause. The process of an egg maturing and being released is known as ovulation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Egg Production in Females
It's true that females have the most eggs when they are born. These eggs are located in the ovaries, which are small, oval organs on either side of the uterus. Females have about 1-2 million immature eggs at birth. However, a significant number of these eggs die off naturally, and by the time of puberty, approximately 40,000 immature eggs remain.
These eggs do not start to mature until a female reaches puberty, marking the onset of her reproductive years. Starting at puberty, typically around ages 12 or 13, one egg develops each month in a process known as ovulation. This monthly egg release continues until a woman reaches menopause, usually by her 40s or sometimes earlier. The ovaries also play a role in secreting estrogen, the primary female sex hormone.
Interestingly, during the reproductive years, ovulation occurs in a rather random fashion regarding which ovary releases an egg. Occasionally, both ovaries may release an egg at the same time, which, if both eggs are fertilized, can result in the birth of fraternal twins.