Where does fertilization occur?

The fertilization process usually takes place in the fallopian tubes, which are the two thin tubes that connect the ovaries to the uterus. When an egg is released from one of the ovaries during ovulation, it travels down the fallopian tube towards the uterus. If sperm are present in the fallopian tube, they can swim towards the egg and one sperm cell may penetrate the egg, leading to fertilization. The fertilized egg, now called a zygote, continues its journey down the fallopian tube and eventually implants in the lining of the uterus, where it begins to develop into an embryo and later a fetus.