Female Reproductive System
- Consists of organs in the female body that are involved in producing offspring
- Vulva: External female reproductive organs (Consists of
Mons veneris, labia majora, labia minora, clitoris, and the hymen.
- Mons Veneris: fatty tissue that covers the front of the pubic bone
- Labia Majora: heavy folds of skin that surround the opening of the vagina
- Labia Minora: two smaller folds of skin located within the Labia Majora, the clitoris and the openings of the urethra and the vagina are located within the labia minora
- Clitoris: a small highly sensitive structure located above the opening of the urethra
- Hymen: a thin membrane that stretches across the opening of the vagina
- Ovaries: female reproductive glands that produce ova and estrogen ( 200,000 to 400,000 are present at birth, only around 375 will mature and be released in a woman’s lifetime. Each month during the menstrual cycle, an ovum matures and is released from the follicle.
- Ovulation: the release of a mature ovum from on of the two ovaries
- Fallopian Tube: a four inch long tube that connects an ovary to the uterus( a mature ovum moves through the fallopian tube, fertilization usually occurs here, if not the it either disintegrates or it is released in the menstrual flow
- Uterus: is a muscular organ that receives and supports the fertilized egg during pregnancy
- Cervix: is the lowest part of the uterus that connects to the vagina
- Vagina: is a muscular tube that connects the uterus to the outside of the body. It also serves as the female organ for sexual intercourse, as the birth canal, and the passageway for menstrual flow.
- Menstrual Cycle: is a monthly series of changes that involve ovulation, changes in the uterine lining, and menstruation.
- Menstruation: is the period in the menstrual cycle in which the unfertilized egg and the lining of the uterus leave the body in the menstrual flow
- Occurs over 28 days on average
- Average of five days
What Happens During the Menstrual Cycle?
Females of reproductive age experience cycles of hormonal activity that repeat at about one-month intervals. With every cycle, a woman's body prepares for a potential pregnancy, whether or not that is the woman's intention. The term menstruation refers to the periodic shedding of the uterine lining. (Menstru means "monthly"; hence the term menstrual cycle.)
The average menstrual cycle takes about 28 days and occurs in phases: the follicular phase, the ovulatory phase (ovulation), and the luteal phase.
There are four major hormones (chemicals that stimulate or regulate the activity of cells or organs) involved in the menstrual cycle: follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estrogen, and progesterone.
Follicular Phase of the Menstrual Cycle
This phase starts on the first day of your period. During the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, the following events occur:
- Two hormones, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) are released from the brain and travel in the blood to the ovaries.
- The hormones stimulate the growth of about 15 to 20 eggs in the ovaries each in its own "shell," called a follicle.
- These hormones (FSH and LH) also trigger an increase in the production of the female hormone estrogen.
- As estrogen levels rise, like a switch, it turns off the production of follicle-stimulating hormone. This careful balance of hormones allows the body to limit the number of follicles that mature.
- As the follicular phase progresses, one follicle in one ovary becomes dominant and continues to mature. This dominant follicle suppresses all of the other follicles in the group. As a result, they stop growing and die. The dominant follicle continues to produce estrogen.
Ovulatory Phase of the Menstrual Cycle
The ovulatory phase, or ovulation, starts about 14 days after the follicular phase started. The ovulatory phase is the midpoint of the menstrual cycle, with the next menstrual period starting about two weeks later. During this phase, the following events occur:
- The rise in estrogen from the dominant follicle triggers a surge in the amount of luteinizing hormone that is produced by the brain.
- This causes the dominant follicle to release its egg from the ovary.
- As the egg is released (a process called ovulation) it is captured by finger-like projections on the end of the fallopian tubes (fimbriae). The fimbriae sweep the egg into the tube.
- Also during this phase, there is an increase in the amount and thickness of mucous produced by the cervix (lower part of the uterus). If a woman were to have intercourse during this time, the thick mucus captures the man's sperm, nourishes it, and helps it to move towards the egg for fertilization.
Luteal Phase of the Menstrual Cycle
The luteal phase of the menstrual cycle begins right after ovulation and involves the following processes:
- Once it releases its egg, the empty follicle develops into a new structure called the corpus luteum.
- The corpus luteum secretes the hormone progesterone. Progesterone prepares the uterus for a fertilized egg to implant.
- If intercourse has taken place and a man's sperm has fertilized the egg (a process called conception), the fertilized egg (embryo) will travel through the fallopian tube to implant in the uterus. The woman is now considered pregnant.
- If the egg is not fertilized, it passes through the uterus. Not needed to support a pregnancy, the lining of the uterus breaks down and sheds, and the next menstrual period begins
Things That Can Go Wrong With the Female Reproductive System
Girls and women may sometimes experience reproductive system problems. Below are some examples of disorders that affect the female reproductive system.
Things That Can Go Wrong With the Vulva and Vagina
- vulvovaginitis (pronounced: vul-vo-vah-juh-ni-tus), an inflammation of the vulva and vagina. It may be caused by irritating substances (such as laundry soaps or bubble baths). Poor personal hygiene (such as wiping from back to front after a bowel movement) may also cause this problem. Symptoms include redness and itching in the vaginal and vulvar areas and sometimes vaginal discharge. Vulvovaginitis can also be caused by an overgrowth of candida, a fungus normally present in the vagina.
- nonmenstrual vaginal bleeding, most commonly due to the presence of a vaginal foreign body, often wadded-up toilet paper. It may also be due to urethral prolapse, a condition in which the mucous membranes of the urethra protrude into the vagina and form a tiny, donut-shaped mass of tissue that bleeds easily. It can also be due to a straddle injury (such as when falling onto a beam or bicycle frame) or vaginal trauma from sexual abuse.
Things That Can Go Wrong With the Ovaries and Fallopian Tubes
- ectopic (pronounced: ek-tah-pik) pregnancy, when a fertilized egg, or zygote, doesn't travel into the uterus, but instead grows rapidly in the fallopian tube. Girls with this condition can develop severe abdominal pain and should see a doctor because surgery may be necessary.
- endometriosis (pronounced: en-doh-mee-tree-o-sus), when tissue normally found only in the uterus starts to grow outside the uterus — in the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or other parts of the pelvic cavity. It can cause abnormal bleeding, painful periods, and general pelvic pain.
- ovarian tumors, although rare, can occur. Girls with ovarian tumors may have abdominal pain and masses that can be felt in the abdomen. Surgery may be needed to remove the tumor.
- ovarian cysts, noncancerous sacs filled with fluid or semi-solid material. Although they are common and generally harmless, they can become a problem if they grow very large. Large cysts may push on surrounding organs, causing abdominal pain. In most cases, cysts will disappear on their own and treatment is unnecessary. If the cysts are painful, a doctor may prescribe birth control pills to alter their growth, or they may be removed by a surgeon.
- polycystic ovary syndrome, a hormone disorder in which too many male hormones (androgens) are produced by the ovaries. This condition causes the ovaries to become enlarged and develop many fluid-filled sacs, or cysts. It often first appears during the teen years. Depending on the type and severity of the condition, it may be treated with drugs to regulate hormone balance and menstruation.
Menstrual Problems
A variety of menstrual problems can affect girls. Some of the more common conditions are:
- dysmenorrhea (pronounced: dis-meh-nuh-ree-uh), when a girl has painful periods.
- menorrhagia (pronounced: meh-nuh-rah-zhuh), when a girl has a very heavy periods with excess bleeding.
- oligomenorrhea (pronounced: o-lih-go-meh-nuh-ree-uh), when a girl misses or has infrequent periods, even though she's been menstruating for a while and isn't pregnant.
- amenorrhea (pronounced: a-meh-nuh-ree-uh), when a girl hasn't started her period by the time she is 16 years old or 3 years after starting puberty, has not developed signs of puberty by age 14, or has had normal periods but has stopped menstruating for some reason other than pregnancy.
Infections of the Female Reproductive System
- Sexually transmitted infections. These include infections and diseases such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), human papilloma virus (HPV, or genital warts), syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and genital herpes. Most are spread from one person to another by sexual intercourse.
- Toxic shock syndrome. This uncommon illness is caused by toxins released into the body during a type of bacterial infection that is more likely to develop if a tampon is left in too long. It can produce high fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and shock.
If you think you have symptoms of a problem with your reproductive system or if you have questions about your growth and development, talk to your parent or doctor — many problems with the female reproductive system can be treated.