Human reproduction is any form of
sexual reproduction resulting in
human fertilization, typically involving
sexual intercourse between a man and a woman. During sexual intercourse, the interaction between the
male and
female reproductive systems results in
fertilization of the woman's
ovum by the man's
sperm. These are specialized reproductive
cells called
gametes, created in a process called
meiosis. While normal cells contains 46
chromosomes, 23 pairs, gamete cells only contain 23 chromosomes, and it is when these two cells merge into one
zygote cell that
genetic recombination occurs and the new zygote contains 23 chromosomes from each parent, giving them 23 pairs. After a
gestation period, typically for nine months, is followed by
childbirth. The fertilization of the ovum may be achieved by
artificial insemination methods, which do not involve sexual intercourse.