Female Reproductive Parts & Their Functions
The female reproductive system has several functions, all related to the propagation of the species. The female reproductive system is the cornerstone of reproduction, the male’s contribution is a lot less involved and complicated. The main purpose of the female reproductive system is to provide a way for the egg and sperm to get together and when they do, to nourish the growing infant until it’s ready to be born.
In order for this to happen, the female reproductive system also has the structures necessary to allow sperm from a man to meet the ova of a woman.
The female reproductive system makes its own hormones that help to control a woman’s monthly cycle. These hormones cause ova to develop and be released in a monthly cycle. This process is called ovulation. If one of these ova is fertilized by male sperm, this leads to pregnancy. The hormones also create the right conditions in the womb (uterus) for the fetus to develop, and block ovulation during pregnancy.
Reproductive Sciences Medical Center – San Diego, CA brings you details about the different organs of the system and their purposes in the process.
The Ovaries
It is one of the most important parts of the female reproductive system. It is also the one that often causes the most infertility problems. The ovaries are a pair of small glands, about the size and shape of almonds. They are located on the left and right sides of the pelvic body cavity to the sides and above the uterus. Ovaries produce female sex hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, as well as ova (commonly called “eggs”), the female gametes. The ova are the female contribution to the embryo. The male contribution i.e the sperm fertilizes the ova or egg.
There are five main hormones that control the reproductive cycle of a woman. Three of them are produced in the brain, while the other two are made in the ovaries.
- Gonadotropin-releasing hormone or GnRH is made by a part of the brain called the hypothalamus. GnRH travels to another part of the brain where it controls the release of follicle-stimulating hormone or FSH and luteinizing hormone or LH.
- FSH is released by a part of the brain called the anterior pituitary. FSH is carried by the bloodstream to the ovaries. Here it stimulates the immature eggs (ova) to start growing.
- LH is also released by the anterior pituitary and travels to the ovaries. LH triggers ovulation and encourages the formation of a special group of cells called the corpus luteum.
- Estrogen is produced by the growing ova and by the corpus luteum. In moderate amounts, estrogen helps to control the levels of GnRH, FSH, and LH. This helps to prevent the development of too many ova. Oestrogen also helps to develop and maintain many of the female reproductive structures.
- Progesterone is mainly released by the corpus luteum. It works with estrogen to thicken the lining of the uterus ready for the implantation of a fertilized ovum. It also helps to prepare the breasts for releasing milk. High levels of progesterone control the levels of GnRH, FSH, and LH.
Number of Eggs a Woman has
A woman is born with all the ova she will ever have for the reproduction system to work. The ovaries contain all of it as immature cells. At birth, there are approximately 1 million eggs. By the time of puberty, only about 300,000 remain. Out of the remaining ones, only 300 to 400 will be ovulated during a woman’s reproductive lifetime. After she hits puberty, one ova a month matures and then it is expelled from the ovary. It travels down the fallopian tube, the tube that connects the ovary and the uterus. The sperm that is swimming up the tube fertilizes the eggs while it’s in the fallopian tube. This is how conception occurs.
The Fallopian Tubes
This leads us to fallopian tubes, these are muscular tubes that attach the ovaries to the uterus. The end is a funnel-shaped structure that is the infundibulum. Some small finger-like projections called fimbriae keeps the infundibulum covered. The fimbriae swipe over the outside of the ovaries like a brush to pick up the ova as it’s released. Then it carries the ova to the infundibulum to transport it to the uterus.
Cilia are the hair-like structures that cover the inside of each fallopian tube. It transports the eggs by ciliary movement. The cilia work in conjunction with the smooth muscle of the tube to carry the ovum to the uterus. If sperm does not fertilize the ovum in the fallopian tube, the ovum will neither implant in the uterus nor develop into an embryo. Eggs are only viable for 12-24 hours. So, if they aren’t fertilized while in the tube they will disintegrate and be absorbed.
Implantation
Now, if sperm fertilizes the egg (or ovum) in the fallopian tube, it will implant into the wall of the uterus instead of disintegrating. Here the cells can continue to divide, growing the embryo into a fetus. The uterus anticipates zygote implantation. It spends the last 14 days preparing a lining to nourish the possible embryo.
This lining is a combination of mucus and blood. If there is no zygote implanted then the uterine lining sheds them about two weeks later during menstruation. If there is a zygote (which will turn into an embryo) implanted, the endometrium in the uterus develops a placenta. The placenta contains amniotic fluid which supports the developing fetus until it’s ready to be born. The amniotic fluid serves as a cushion for the growing fetus but also serves to facilitate the exchange of nutrients, water, and biochemical products between mother and fetus. The uterus is normally approximately 3″L x 2″W x 1″D but stretches to the size of a watermelon during pregnancy.
The Vagina
The logical next question is, how does the sperm get into the uterus to travel up the fallopian tube for a date with the egg? The answer is the vagina. It is a muscular tube that connects the exterior of the female reproduction system to the cervix, the mouth of the uterus.
What role does the cervix play in all of this? The cervix is like the guardian of the fertility site. The mucus layer allows sperm to swim through into the uterus. All other substances, primarily ejaculate, can’t penetrate. The sperm can swim, so they can get through the layer of mucus. But ejaculate is just the fluid and can’t move independently. Its’ main purpose is to carry the sperm along quickly, like a rushing river. It delivers sperm to the cervix where the sperm start swimming for their lives.
The ejaculate falls back out of the body through the vagina, which is how it got there in the first place. It’s a good thing that the cervix is such a good barrier as the ejaculate is not welcome in the uterus. Seminal fluid can cause the uterus to cramp. This isn’t good at any time and especially not good when you’re trying to get pregnant.
The Sperm’s Journey
So, how does the sperm get to the cervix so they can swim on into the uterus? Through the vagina, of course, the muscular tube that connects the outside of a woman’s body to the cervix. This is the tube the penis is inserted through to deposit the sperm close to the cervix.
The vagina is also the birth canal that the baby travels through while it’s being born. Menstrual blood also flows out the vagina if no pregnancy is achieved. Needless to say, the vagina stretches quite a bit when necessary.
20–40% Chance of Pregnancy per Month
That’s basically how the female reproductive system works. From being an egg in the ovary to become a baby as it’s being born. When the entire female reproductive system works as a unit and the sperm is healthy, the average couple has a 20-40% chance of getting pregnant per month.
Conclusion
Generally, the female reproductive organs ( or reproduction system) work just as they are supposed to. However, with all that goes into achieving a pregnancy, it’s surprising that more doesn’t go wrong. If you’ve been trying to get pregnant for over a year without success, it’s time to consult a fertility specialist just to see if everything is working as it should.
Reproductive Sciences Medical Center – San Diego, California has helped over 1000 families. As the leaders in the field of surrogacy, IUI & IVF, we attained more than 100 years of combined experience of infertility treatment. Our team dedicates itself to provide you with a fully integrated solution. We stand by your side throughout your infertility treatment journey. Visit us at today or call at 858-436-7186 to learn more about Egg Donor services with Reproductive Sciences Medical Center – San Diego, California.
