The Female Reproductive System In female the reproductive cells are called eggs or ova (singular, ovum). The functions of the female reproductive system are to produce sex hormones, to produce eggs, and to provide a nourishing environment in which a fertilized egg can develop into a baby.

Ovaries The reproductive glands in which eggs are produced are called ovaries. The ovaries have two important functions: they produce the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone, and they release mature egg cells. The sex hormone estrogen activates certain physical changes at puberty, i.e. breast development.

Progesterone activates changes to a women’s reproductive system before and during pregnancy. When a girl is born, each ovary contains hundreds of thousands of immature eggs. The eggs begin to mature when the girl reaches puberty. Once puberty begins, one of the ovaries releases a mature egg every month in a process called ovulation.

Fallopian Tubes The passageways that carry eggs away from the ovaries are the fallopian tubes. When the ovary releases an egg during ovulation, the fingerlike ends of the fallopian tube draw the egg into the tube. Tiny hairlike extensions called cilia line the fallopian tube and sweep the egg toward the uterus.

If sperm are present around the egg, it may be fertilized. The fallopian tubes are usually where fertilization occurs.

Uterus The uterus is a hollow, muscular, pear-shaped organ. In the uterus, a fertilized egg can develop and grow. The narrow base of the uterus is called the cervix. The cervix softens and expands to allow a baby to pass through the vagina.

Vagina The vagina, or birth canal, is a hollow, muscular passage leading from the uterus to the outside of the body. Sperm enter a female’s body through the vagina. During childbirth, the baby passes out of the mother’s body through the vagina.

External Organs At the base of the abdomen on top of the pubic bone is a soft, fatty tissue known as the mons pubis. At puberty, the mons pubis becomes covered with pubic hair. Below the mons pubis and surrounding the vaginal opening are two fold of soft skin.

The outer folds are known as the outer labia, or labia majora. The inner folds are known as the inner labia or labia minora. The clitoris is located within the inner labia. The vaginal opening may be partly covered with a thin membrane called the hymen.

The hymen usually has several openings in it, which allow for the passage of menstrual flow. Some girls are born without a hymen.

The Menstrual Cycle During the menstrual cycle, an ovary releases a mature egg. The egg travels the uterus. If the egg is not fertilized, the uterine lining is shed and a new cycle begins. On average, a menstrual cycle lasts 28 days. However, cycles as long 21 days or as long as 35 days can be normal for some individuals.

Except during pregnancy, menstrual cycles occur each month from puberty until the age of 45 to 55. During menopause, the ovaries slow down their hormone production and no longer release mature eggs. Gradually, the menstrual cycle stops, and a women is no longer able to become pregnant.

Stages of the Menstrual Cycle During the first half of the cycle, an egg matures inside one of the ovaries. At about the middle of the cycle, typically on day 14, ovulation occurs. A female is most fertile, or able to become pregnant around the time of ovulation. It takes about 7 days for an egg to travel through the fallopian tube to the uterus.

During this time the uterine lining continues to thicken, and the blood supply increases. If the egg is not fertilized by the time the egg reaches the uterus, the uterine lining breaks down. The blood and tissue of the thickened lining pass out of the body through the vagina in a process called menstruation or the menstrual period. As menstruation is taking place, another egg begins to mature in one of the ovaries.

This marks the end of one cycle and the beginning of a new one. In general a menstrual period lasts about 3 to 5 days. Most women wear either a sanitary pad or tampon to absorb menstrual flow. During the menstrual period some women may experience abdominal pain or discomfort. Cramps are caused by contractions of the uterus.

Toxic Shock Syndrome A rare but serious medical condition associated with tampon use is toxic shock syndrome. This syndrome is caused by a bacterial infection. Symptoms include a sudden high fever, a rash, vomiting diarrhea and dizziness. Because TSS can lead to death a women with these symptoms during her period should seek medical attention.

Keeping Healthy Caring for the female reproductive system involves, cleanliness, sexual abstinence, prompt treatment for infections, self-exams, and regular medical check-ups. The only way to eliminate your risk of sexually transmitted infections is to abstain from sexual activity. Many women experience vaginitis, a vaginal infection caused by yeast, bacteria, or other microorganisms.

Symptoms include an unusual discharge or odors, itching, and a burning sensation during urination. Another common problem among females is cystitis, an infection of the bladder. Cystitis is caused by bacteria that travel up the urethra into the bladder. Symptoms include the urge to urinate frequently and a burning during urination. If left untreated, cystitis can lead to a kidney infection or permanent kidney damage.

Self-Exams Teen girls should examine their breasts on a monthly basis for signs of breast cancer. Breast cancer is rare in teens, but it becomes more common with age. The teen years are a good time to establish a lifetime habit of regular breast examines. The best time to do a breast self-exam is the week after a menstrual period, or the same day each month.

Medical Checkups A yearly checkup of the reproductive system is recommended for all females who have reached puberty. The doctor may also perform a Pap smear, a test for cervical cancer. During this procedure the doctor gently scrapes some cells from the cervix. These cells are examined under a microscope for signs of cancer.

Starting at about 40, women may get a mammogram, an x-ray of the breast that can help detect breast cancer. A doctor can also detect or treat other reproductive problems. Ovarian Cysts- growths on the ovary. Large ones may be painful a need to be surgically removed. Endometriosis- a condition in which tissue from the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus.

This condition can be very painful and is usually treated with hormones or surgery. Infertility- causes of infertility may include blocked fallopian tubes, problems with ovulation, or just be unknown.