Female Reproductive System What is the female reproductive system? The female reproductive system is made up of some special organs (female reproductive diagram A). An organ is a part of the body designed to perform a certain function, such as the heart, which has the job of pumping blood. The female reproductive organs make it possible for a woman to have a baby. The uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries and the vagina are the main structures of the female reproductive system. ovulation fertilization menstruation vagina egg cell sperm cell uterus ovaries egg cells fallopian tubes vagina

What are the different parts of the female reproductive system? female reproductive diagram B The vagina is a tube about four to five inches long. It connects the uterus with the outside of the body. The part of the uterus that meets the vagina is called the cervix. The cervix is a very tiny opening that leads into the uterus. The uterus is about the size and shape of an upside-down pear. Sometimes you might hear the uterus called the womb. The womb or the uterus is where a baby grows and develops inside the mother. The uterus is a hollow organ with muscular walls. The inside lining of the uterus is called the endometrium. The uterus is located inside of a females body between the hips. On each side of the uterus there are small organs called ovaries. The ovaries contain thousands of egg cells. These egg cells are only about the size of a tiny grain of sand. The egg cells formed inside of a girl's ovaries before she is even born. During puberty these egg cells will begin to mature and be released from the ovary. When an egg cell is released from an ovary it must travel to the uterus. Directly next to each ovary is a thin tube through which the egg cell travels to get to the uterus. These thin tubes are called fallopian tubes. The interior of a fallopian tube is only the thickness of two human hairs. What changes occur to the reproductive organs during puberty? As a females body begins the process of puberty special hormones are released that create changes to the internal reproductive organs inside of a girl's body. The vagina becomes deeper,and girls may notice some wetness, called vaginal discharge, on their panties. The color of the discharge is usually clear to whitish and, it's normal in small amounts, so it's nothing to worry about. The uterus becomes longer and the lining of the uterus becomes thicker. The ovaries enlarge and the egg cells inside the ovaries begin to grow and develop getting ready for a special monthly event called ovulation. What is ovulation? Ovulation is the release of an egg cell from one of the ovaries. This event occurs approximately once a month near the midpoint of a women's menstrual cycle. Upon release, the egg travels into the fallopian tube and then begins a four to five day journey to the uterus. The fallopian tube is only about five inches long and very narrow, so this is a slow journey. The egg cell moves about one inch per day. The movement of the egg cell is caused by two factors. First, the tiny muscles that surround the fallopian tube gently squeeze the egg cell pushing it along slowly. Second, are the millions of cilia (microscopic hairs) inside of the fallopian tube that gently sweep the egg toward the uterus. What is fertilization? Fertilization is when a sperm cell from the father meets and joins with an egg cell from the mother. Fertilization occurs when the egg cell is inside of the fallopian tube. Fertilization can occur as a result of sexual intercourse. The egg and sperm need to meet and combine in order to make a baby. When they do, a woman becomes pregnant. Where does a baby grow inside of the mother? Each month during the menstrual cycle the lining of the uterus gets ready for a fertilized egg . The blood vessels of the uterus swell, flooding the uterus with a rich supply of blood for the spongy tissue that lines the inside of the uterus. This inside lining of the uterus is called the endometrium. If a fertilized egg cell reaches the uterus it will attach itself to the endometrium and slowly begin to grow into a baby. The lining of the uterus will supply nourishment to the egg cell and from the endometrium will grow the placenta and umbilical cord which will provide the baby with everything it needs for the nine months it will spend growing and developing inside of the mother. What is menstruation? For most of a women's life the egg cell that is released approximately once each month will not become fertilized, so the lining that develops each month for the possibility of a fertilized egg cell won't be needed. Over a period of days the blood vessels shrink and the uterus will shed the unneeded lining, which is made of a small amount of blood and tissue. The lining flows down the uterus through the cervix into the vagina and out of the body. This is called menstruation or the menstrual period. The amount of blood being lost during menstruation is relatively small. Only about two to four ounces over a three to eight day period slowly flow from the vagina. A women has approximately 120 ounces of blood in her body that is constantly being replenished. Some girls and women may experience discomfort during their period. Sometimes this discomfort may be called cramps. There are ways to deal with the discomfort that may accompany a period. Menstrual Cycle The menstrual cycle is the way a women's body gets ready for the possibility of pregnancy each month. A cycle is counted from the first day of one period (menstruation) to the first day of the next. An average cycle is 28 days, but anywhere from 23 to 35 days is normal. The day that bleeding starts is counted as the first day of a given cycle. hormone Menstrual Cycle ovulation menstruation pituitary gland estrogen The menstrual cycle is controlled by hormones released by the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, and the ovaries. The cycle has four stages: the menstrual phase, the preovulatory phase, the ovulation phase, and the postovulatory phase. (Menstrual Cycle Diagram) The cycle begins with the menstrual phase. This is the period or menstruation. When a women is having her period it means that the lining of the uterus is breaking down and slowly flowing out of her body through the vagina over a period of days. Menstruation may last between three to eight days, sometimes a little longer, sometimes a little shorter. Usually a period is between three to five days. The preovulatory phase (before the egg cell is released) is next and starts as soon as the menstrual phase (the period) has ended. During the preovulatory phase the uterine lining thickens with an increased numbers of blood vessels. The lining of the uterus needs to prepare itself for the possibility of supporting a fertilized egg cell. An egg cell is also ripening in one of the ovaries in preparation for ovulation. The third phase is the ovulation phase at midcycle, which in a 28 day cycle would be day 14. A mature egg cell is released from one of the ovaries during ovulation. Some women may have some slight discomfort during ovulation usually described as a twinge or cramp in the lower abdomen or back. Many women have no sensation that they are ovulating. The egg lives twelve to twenty-four hours in the fallopian tube after it has been released from the ovaries and then disintegrates if not fertilized. Sperm cells can survive for up to five days inside a women's reproductive system. The few days before, during and after ovulation are a woman's "fertile period" -the time when she can become pregnant. Because the length of menstrual cycles vary, many woman ovulate earlier or later than day 14 of the cycle. It's even possible for a woman to ovulate while she still has her period if that month's cycle is very short, although this would be very unusual. Stress and other things can sometimes cause a cycle to be shorter or longer. Most months the egg cell simply dies In the postovulatory phase (after the egg cell is released), the endometrium continues to develop and the uterine glands secrete nutrient materials. The endometrium is now ready to receive and nourish a fertilized egg cell. If the egg cell is fertilized by a sperm cell it attaches to the uterus, and begins to feed off the inside lining of the uterus until a placenta and umbilical cord ( organs connecting the baby to the mother) develops. The placenta then makes hormones and provides nourishment from the mother to the baby. This is what is called pregnancy. If a women becomes pregnant her menstrual cycle will stop during the time that she is pregnant. If pregnancy (a fertilized egg attaches to the uterine lining) doesn't occur, hormone (estrogen and progesterone) levels drop. Below a certain level of hormones, the uterine lining can no longer be maintained and the lining of the uterus breaks down, menstruation begins, and the cycle repeats. What about cramps? More than half of menstruating women have cramp-like pain during their periods. The medical term for menstrual pain is dysmenorrhea. Cramps are usually felt in the pelvic area and lower abdomen, but can radiate to the lower back or down the legs. hormone Menstrual Cycle ovulation menstruation hormone Menstrual Cycle ovulation menstruation hormone Menstrual Cycle ovulation menstruation hormone Menstrual Cycle ovulation menstruation pituitary gland estrogen ovulation fertilization menstruation vagina egg cell sperm cell uterus ovaries egg cells fallopian tubes vagina Mechanically, cramps are like labor pains. Just as the uterus contracts to open up the cervix (neck of the uterus) and push out a baby, it contracts to expel menstrual blood. Often, after several years of menstruating or after childbirth, the cervical opening enlarges. The uterus doesn't have to contract as much to discharge the menstrual flow, so there is less cramping. Menstrual pain may also come from the bleeding process itself. When the uterine lining separates from the wall, it releases chemicals called prostaglandins. Prostaglandins cause blood vessels to narrow, impeding the supply of oxygen to the uterus. Just as the pain of a heart attack comes from insufficient blood to the muscles of the heart, too little blood to the uterine muscle might cause the pain of menstrual cramps. Pain, pain, go away... Sometimes, simple measures are all that's needed to feel better. Cutting down on salt might help reduce fluid buildup, and support hose may alleviate swelling in the legs or ankles. Crawling into bed for some extra rest or sleep is one way to deal with fatigue, and taking along a heating pad or hot water bottle eases cramps for some. Exercising also helps reduce pain in many young women, and may lift a blue mood as well. ________, explains that exercising during menstruation lessens pain because it causes release of brain chemicals called endorphins, which are natural painkillers. He says exercise may also decrease pain by affecting prostaglandin metabolism. Lisa Rarick, M.D., a gynecologist in FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research adds that exercise may also help because it increases blood flow, and because it "just makes a lot of people feel better in general." What does it mean if I skip my period? Many young women have very irregular periods the first couple years of menstruating--even skipping some months. It seems to take a few years for the menstrual cycle to fine tune itself. In addition young women don't always ovulate every month when they first get their periods. There's no sure way for a young woman to know which month she is ovulating and which she is not. So, from the time her periods begin, a young woman should assume she can get pregnant each and every month, even if her periods are irregular. Eventually, periods become regular, but even when they do, a missed or late period once a year--especially at a stressful time--is considered normal. Also, just as prolonged strenuous exercise and eating disorders can delay the onset of menstruation, they can also cause previously regular menstrual cycles to become irregular or stop completely. Do women get moody when they have period? Some young women feel it coming days before they get it. Others are hardly aware they have it. Friends who compare notes about their periods will probably find that menstruation--the monthly shedding of the lining of the uterus, or womb-affects each of them a little differently, both physically and emotionally. "The menstrual cycle has its ups and downs of hormones, and different people react differently to hormonal swings," says Lisa Rarick, M.D., a gynecologist in FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. She explains that just before and during menstruation, levels of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone are low. That's when some women feel bloated, irritable or blue, or "just crummy," she says. "Just crummy" might mean cramps, sore breasts, backache, headache, nausea, and feeling tired. "A day or two after your period starts you begin to feel better. Hormone levels go back on the upswing and you get back to what you're accustomed to during the rest of your cycle," Rarick explains. Glossary A - P Glossary Q - Z Amniotic Sac A bubble like sac that surrounds the baby while it is inside of the mother's uterus. The amniotic sac is filled with amniotic fluid. The unborn baby is basically underwater for nine moths before it is born! Anus The opening in the body through which solid waste exits the body. Cervix The narrow end of the uterus which has a small opening that connects the uterus with the vagina. Conception The beginning of pregnancy, when the sperm cell from the father joins with the egg cell from the mother. Contractions The squeezing action of the uterine muscle that helps to push the baby out of the mom during the process of birth. Embryo The developing baby during the first two months of pregnancy. Endometrium The inside lining of the uterus made of tissue and blood. Ejaculation The process by which semen is ejected from the penis. Epididymis A storage chamber in the male's body that's attached to each testicle. This is where sperm cells are nourished and mature. Erection The penis becomes stiff and hard due to increased blood flow. Erections may happen in response to physical or emotional stimulation, or sometimes an erection happens for no reason at all. Estrogen The main female sex hormone produced by the ovaries. Fallopian tubes Narrow tubes that are connected to the uterus. The fringes of the fallopian tube catch the egg cell when it is released from the ovary and then the egg cell slowly travels from the ovary to the uterus. Fertilization This is what happens when a male sperm cell unites with a female egg cell. A fertilized egg cell grows into a baby. Fetus The developing baby from two months of pregnancy until birth. Genitals The external sex organs. Hormones Chemical messengers created by glands that control specific things that happen in the body. Hypothalamus An area of the brain responsible for controlling functions such as water balance, body temperature, sleep, food intake, and the development of the body during puberty. Menstruation The process by which the lining of the uterus is shed periodically as menstrual flow. It usually happens about once a month except during pregnancy. Nocturnal Emission An ejaculation of semen that happens while a boy is sleeping. It is sometimes called a "wet dream," and it's nature's way of making room for new sperm cells that are made. Ovaries Two small organs inside of a female's body where the egg cells are produced and stored. Each ovary is about the size of a walnut, and there is one on each side of the uterus. The ovaries also produce the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Ovulation The release of an egg cell by an ovary. This process usually occurs at the midpoint of the menstrual cycle. Ovum Another name for the female egg cell. It is smaller than a grain of salt. Penis The male reproductive organ involved in sexual intercourse and elimination of urine. Period The days when menstruation is taking place. Pituitary Gland A small gland at the bottom of the brain which is responsible for controlling the hormones that affect growth, metabolism and maturation. Placenta A structure that grows from the uterine wall that allows nutrients and oxygen from the mom to pass through the umbilical cord to the baby and waste products from the baby go back through the umbilical to the placenta. Progesterone A female hormone. Prostrate Gland A male gland at the base of the bladder. It contributes a thin, milky fluid that makes up the largest part of the semen. Puberty The stage of growth where a child's body turns into the body of an adult. Rectum The end of the large intestine which connects to the anus. The solid waste is stored here before it exits the body through the anus. Scrotum The outside sac of loose skin under the penis that holds the testicles. Semen A milky white fluid made by the seminal vesicles and prostate gland. This fluid mixes with the sperm cells during an ejaculation. About a teaspoon of semen comes out of the penis during an ejaculation. Seminal vesicle One of two glands located behind the male bladder, which secrete a fluid that forms part of semen. Sexual Intercourse The erect penis of the male entering the vagina of the female. Sperm The tiny, tiny, tiny microscopic cells produced by a male that contains the genes from the father. A sperm cell from the father must join with an egg cell from the mother for a baby to be created. Testicles The main male reproductive glands in which sperm are produced. The testicles also produce the main male hormone testosterone. Testosterone A male sex hormone, which causes a boy's body to develop into a mans. Testosterone is responsible for more muscle mass, deeper voice, facial hair. Umbilical cord A cord attaching the unborn child to the mother. This cord comes from the placenta inside of the uterus and attaches to the baby's abdomen. The umbilical cord is the lifeline between mom and baby. Uterus A muscular organ about the size and shape of an upside-down pear, located inside the body between a female's hips. Also called the womb. This is where the baby grows before it is born. Vagina The tube-shaped passageway that leads from the uterus to the outside of the body. Vas deferens A thin tube that transports sperm from the epididymis (the storage chamber attached to the back of each testicle) to the urethra. Vulva The entire outside genital area of a female. Womb Another name for the uterus. The place where the baby grows and develops inside of the mother.