Female Reproductive System
The functions of the female reproductive system are
- to produce sex hormones
- to “mature” eggs
- to provide a nourishing environment for a fertilized egg to develop into a baby
Hormones: estrogen, progesterone, lil’ bit of testosterone
• The sex hormone estrogen activates certain physical changes at puberty.
• Progesterone activates changes to a woman’s reproductive system before
and during pregnancy.
Initiates physical changes:
Hair growth (pubic, armpit, legs, arms)
breast development
widening of hips
OVA ovum (or Egg eggs): female reproductive cell
(Born with 1-3 million immature eggs, by puberty you’re at 400,000
with 1,000 dying off monthly until menopause)
Internal Parts & Functions
Ovaries: 2 reproductive glands that house maturing ovum & produce female sex
hormones (starting at puberty)
fallopian tubes: tubes (passageway) on each side of the uterus lined with
cilia; end of the fallopian tubes are finger like projection (fimbria) that gather a
released (ovulation) ovum into the tubes; fertilization takes place here.
Uterus “womb”: hollow, elastic muscular organ about size of fist (pear
–shaped), function is to hold & nourish developing embryo/fetus
Cervix: neck of uterus; very small opening; holds child in place until baby is
ready to be born and it expands to allow the baby to pass through.
Vagina “birth canal”: hollow, muscular, elastic passageway leading
from the uterus to the outside of the body (about 4-5” long); Sperm
enter a woman’s body through the vagina.
Fallopian tube
Ovary
Uterus
Urinary bladder
Cervix
Urethra
Vagina
* Females have 3 openings: Urethra, Vagina, Anus *
Fallopian tube
Ovary
Uterus
Cervix
Vagina
External Parts (VULVA) & Functions
* Just inside the vaginal opening there MAY be a thin membrane called the hymen.
Labia (Majora/Minora): functions as protection against pathogens for the
internal sex organs and functions in sexual arousal (covers clitoris)
labia majora: the outer fold of tissue on either side of vaginal opening
labia minora: the inner folds of skin within the labia majora
Clitoris: small knob of sensitive tissue in front of the vaginal
opening; rich supply of nerve endings & blood vessels which
produces sexual arousal/pleasure; no known reproductive function
Mons Pubis: rounded, fatty pad of tissue covered with pubic hair;
located in the front, on top pubic bone
Ovulation
· Once ovaries start producing hormones, the message is given to start releasing
usually one mature ovum, once a month from one ovary
· a girl cannot feel this happening
· If egg is not fertilized in a day or so, it dissolves
The uterus must go through monthly changes in order to prepare for pregnancy.
During puberty
·
·
·
·
·
Regularly Irregular = average 28 days (repeating cycles)
Menstruation
Hormones (estrogen & progesterone) from ovaries send message to uterus to grow a
thick, soft lining of tissue & blood
This lining contains nutrients that would be needed to nourish the egg and sperm if
fertilization occurred and the implantation onto lining
If the egg is not fertilized in the fallopian tube, the lining is not needed to nourish a
baby, so a message from ovary (by hormone) tells the uterus to shed the lining
(endometrium), takes 5-7 days to shed lining – this is called menstruation
(having a period) – usually menstruate once a month – bloody discharge
trickles out of the body through the vagina
Once the lining is completely shed, a new lining begins to grow
Soon another egg is released, and if fertilization does not occur, the egg dissolves and
that lining is shed. This continues to happen over and over again. That is why
we call it the menstrual cycle.
* Typical female loses 4 – 12 teaspoons of blood each month *
Stages of the Menstrual Cycle
Days 1–4 The uterine lining is shed
during menstruation. “period”
Days 23–28 The
unfertilized egg enters
the uterus.
Maturing Egg
Egg
average
age of 12
for 1st
period
The Menstrual Cycle
Days 16–22 The egg travels
through the fallopian tube to the
uterus, and the uterine lining
continues to thicken.
Egg
Days 5–13 An egg matures
in one of the ovaries, & the
uterine lining starts to
thicken.
Days 14–15 The ovary releases the
mature egg during ovulation.
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
The dramatic change in hormone (imbalance) levels that
occurs before menstruation begins.
Variety of symptoms that some females experience prior to menstrual cycle:
nervous tension, anxiety, irritability, headaches, bloating, weight gain,
depression, mood swings and fatigue
* Encouraged to find
ways to reduce stress
* recommend diet &
life style change
During menopause (average age of 51), the
ovaries slow down their hormone production
(very imbalanced) & no longer release mature
eggs.
Cleanliness
One important health habit is cleanliness (including daily washing of the external vaginal area)
Cleanliness is especially important during menstruation, as is the regular changing of:
- sanitary pads (various sizes as flow varies; change every 3-4 hours; scented may irritate)
- tampons (absorbed & held in place in vagina; string used is very strong)
Toxic Shock Syndrome caused by a bacterial infection
Symptoms of toxic shock syndrome include
• a rash
• diarrhea
• a sudden high fever
• dizziness
• vomiting
To decrease the risk of toxic shock syndrome, women should use tampons with
the lowest possible absorbency for their needs and change tampons often
(every 3-4 hours).
Prompt Treatment for Infections
• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: infection of the uterus (womb), fallopian tubes (tubes that carry
eggs from the ovaries to the uterus) & other reproductive organs that causes symptoms such
as lower abdominal pain; can damage the fallopian tubes and tissues in and near the uterus & ovaries
• Vaginitis: an inflammation of the vagina (one example is called trichomoniasis)
• symptoms can be un usual vaginal discharge, vaginal itching and pain, burning during urination
or intercourse, and often associated with an irritation, inflammation, or infection of the vulva.
• Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) (bacteria) occur more commonly in women than men, with half
of women having at least 1 infection at some point in their lives; Recurrences are common;
Risk factors include female anatomy, sexual intercourse and family history; antibiotics
yeast infection (fungus) Extreme itching & soreness / redness in the vaginal area, white, thick vaginal
discharge that looks like cottage cheese, Painful urination & intercourse
A woman should always consult a doctor (ob/gyn) also:
• if she notices heavier bleeding than normal during menstruation
• if her periods stop completely
• if she notices bleeding at times between her regular periods
other
Health Concerns
• Ovarian cysts Ovarian cysts are growths (fluid) on the ovary/ovaries
range in size from as small as a pea to larger than an orange; affect all ages; benign
• Sterility / infertility: inability to reproduce
Causes may include:
- problems with ovulation (inability to produce ova, ova cannot pass into the
uterus, does not ovulate)
- blocked fallopian tubes
- even endometriosis
• Endometriosis This is a condition in which tissue from the lining of
the uterus—the endometrium—grows outside the uterus, in the
pelvic cavity. (sometimes corrected by surgery)
Breast Cancer
2nd leading cause of death in women after lung cancer
• For the early detection of breast cancer, all women (including teens)
should perform a monthly breast self-examination
(best done 1 week after menstrual period)
• A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast that can help detect breast
cancer. (regular after 35, unless family history)
Cervical Cancer
In a Pap smear, a sample of cells is
taken from the cervix and examined
under a microscope.
(annual exam) should begin as soon as a
female begins sexually active or turns 18 (whichever
comes first)
Ovarian Cancer
Female Reproductive System
What is ovulation? When does it occur?
What does ovulation feel like?
What exactly is a period?
How long does the average menstrual cycle flow last?
How long is the average female menstrual cycle?
How long does the egg live in the fallopian tube?
At what age does a female begin to menstruate?
What controls the menstrual cycle?
When is the most likely/ least likely time during the month that girl can get pregnant?
What is a gynecologist & what is a pap smear?