Fertilization is defined as the union of two (2) gametes, which occurs when a haploid sperm and a haploid egg join to produce a diploid zygote, containing 46 chromosomes. Simply put, it is the penetration of an egg by a sperm.
the term "fertilization" is not typically used in the context of psychology. However, in biology and reproductive medicine, fertilization refers to the process in which a sperm cell fuses with an egg cell, resulting in the formation of a zygote that has the potential to develop into an embryo and eventually a fetus.
Here are a few examples of how fertilization is used in the context of biology and reproductive medicine:
- Fertilization occurs when a sperm cell penetrates the outer membrane of an egg cell and releases its genetic material, which then combines with the genetic material of the egg cell to form a zygote.
- In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a medical procedure in which eggs are removed from a woman's ovaries and fertilized with sperm in a laboratory dish before being transferred to the woman's uterus.
- Fertilization can be prevented through the use of various forms of contraception, such as condoms, birth control pills, and intrauterine devices (IUDs).