Ms. Kehoe 9 th grade Health

o The external female reproductive system organs are called vulva. o Vulva - Consists of - mons pubis, clitoris, labia major/minora and vaginal opening o Mons Pubis – fatty tissue covered by pubic hair, located directly on top of the pubic bone. o Labia Majora – two outer folds of skin on either side of the vaginal opening. Provides protection for the internal reproductive organs and has a sexual arousal function. o Labia Minora –two inner folds of skin that surround the clitoris and the openings to the urethra & vagina. o Function of both Labia Majora and Labia Minora, is for protection and sexual arousal.

 Clitoris - small, sensitive bean-shaped organ located in front of the vaginal opening. Its function is sexual arousal.  Urethra, Bladder, Rectum and Anus - no reproductive role in the female.  Hymen – thin membrane that partially covers the opening to the vagina. It may be broken or stretched by sexual intercourse, strenuous sports, accidents, etc. Some females are born without a hymen. - Can the girl get pregnant if the hymen is still intact?  Vagina – elastic, muscular, passageway (4 – 5 inches). When the female becomes sexually aroused the vagina becomes longer, wider and glands produce fluid to lubricate it.

 Cervix – or neck of the uterus where the vagina and uterus meet. Functions:  hold the fetus inside the womb.  Produces musin which is a fluid released during ovulation by the cervix to help channel sperm cells into the uterus.  The cervix during child birth will dialate, or opens to allow the passage of the baby.  Uterus - the hollow muscular organ, about the size of a fist that nourishes and protects the unborn child.  What is the uterus called when the woman is pregnant? Womb  Endometrium (Uterine Wall) – is heavily lined with blood vessels that periodically builds up with blood each month to prepare for pregnancy.  What is the discharge of fluids called? menstruation What is this cycle called? Menstrual period  Fallopian Tubes- 2 tubes coming from each side of the uterus. They are 2 to 4 inches in length. The tubes are lined with cilia along with tubular contractions that help to move the egg through the fallopian tubes. This could take 1 to 3 days. Fertilization occurs here.

 Ovaries- the female sex glands on both sides of the uterus, at the end of the Fallopian tubes. They produce estrogen and progesterone. They have around ,000 immature ova in her ovaries. What does an ova mean? Multiple eggs. What is the name for a single egg? Ovum. When a girl reaches puberty, hormones, cause the ovaries to begin producing the female sex hormones.  Ovulation- The process of releasing one mature ovum each month.  Menstruation- Each month, the uterus begins to prepare for a possible pregnancy by building up a rich, thick layer of blood and other tissue. The process of shedding the lining of the uterus is called menstruation.  During menstruation she releases 2 to 6 tablespoons of blood.

 Menstruation- 1 st to 5 th day the endometrium breaks down releasing blood, nutrients, etc.  Pre-Ovulatory stage – 5 th to 13 th day the endometrium repairs itself.  Ovulation- 13 th to 15 th day ( roughly half way through the menstrual cycle) the ovaries release a ripened ovum that then travels through the fallopian tubes.  Post-Ovulatory stage – 13 th to the 26 th day the uterine lining remains enriched with blood.  Break Down- (oxygen deprivation) 26 th to 28 th day the blood vessels in the uterine wall shrink & receive less oxygen causing the endometrium to break down.

 PregnantAccident or physical trauma  Strenuous sportsTo young or to old  IllnessMedicine/birth control  Poor nutritionsurgical operation  Body chemistryPhysical or emotional stress  Menopause -when the woman eggs die during her mid 40’s to 50’s Can the woman still have sexual intercourse?

 PMS-Premenstrual syndrome refers to a variety of symptoms 2 days to 2 weeks before they get their menstrual period. She may experience tension, anxiety, irritability, bloating, weight gain, mood swings and depression. Does every female experience PMS? NO! See your physician: could be hormonal, nutritional deficiency, chemicals in the brain. Reduce PMS: stress, sugar, salt, caffeine, tobacco use, alcohol, Do: eat healthy, exercise, take vitamin – B, medication – antidepressant  Dysmenorrhea-menstrual cramps, consists of painful contractions in the uterus during menstruation. A warm heating pad, or bath might help relax the muscles

 Amenorrhea- the lack of menstruating by age 16 or the stopping of menstrual cycle in a female who had previously menstruated. Can be caused by physical defects in the female sex organs, disease, tumors infections, excessive athletic activities, emotional stress, eating disorders or starvation.  Toxic Shock Syndrome- bacterial infection found in the mouth, skin and vagina release toxins that affects the immune system and liver. It can be fatal. Symptoms fever, vomiting, rashes, muscle aches, diarrhea, low blood pressure, fainting and rash.  Can children and men get TSS?  Sterility- Causes blockage of one or two fallopian tubes. Another cause female does not ovulate. The third cause of sterility is endometriosis, a condition in which endometrial tissue grows outside the uterus in other areas of the pelvic cavity.

 Cervical Cancer- another common cancer in women is cervical cancer. Pap smear is a test used for detect this. Cells are taken from cervix and examined. A women should get a pap smear done every year from the time she is 18 or earlier if she is sexually active.  Risk Factors: never having a PAP smear, ages 20 to 30, early sexual intercourse, multiple partners.  Ovarian Cancer - about 25,000 females in the US are diagnosed. Two types, one in the lining of the ovary, the other occurs in the egg-making cells in the ovary.  Signs: pelvic pressure or pain, deepened voice, unusual hair growth, tender mass in the lower abdomen, painful intercourse anemia.  Risk factors for this disease: is a family history. Two or more members have it should be counseled by doctor  Infections found in the vaginal area :  Yeast Infection – fungus infection  Trichomoniasis – protozoan organism  Treatment- visit a your doctor for proper diagnosis