Female Reproductive System
In order to understand fertility issues you must first
understand the female reproductive system and that
of its male counterpart. Gender aside, the female
reproductive system differs from the male in major
ways. Yet despite the disparity nature has intended
that they complement each other well when it comes
to reproduction.
Female & Male Reproductive
Systems at a Glance
Female fetuses contain all the eggs the newborn child
is destined to have; the eggs only mature at puberty.
Only one egg is expelled per cycle. This cycle and
expulsion stops when menopause hits. Male fetuses
on the other hand contain no sperm. Sperm development
doesn't take place until adolescence. Sperm production
continues till death.
The major Differences between Male and Female
Fertility
| Males |
Females |
| Since sperm are
produced daily, men are fertile all the time |
Ovulation occurs
only once per cycle which means that females
are fertile only for a few days per cycle |
| Fertility starts
at puberty and continues till death |
Fertility starts
from puberty but ceases at menopause (usually
in 50s) |
| Sperm production
only starts at puberty |
Females are born
with all the eggs they will ever have |
| Distinct
Similarities in both Anatomies |
| Women develop eggs
in their ovaries |
Men develop sperm
in their testes |
| The fallopian tube
is the pathway through which the ovum travels
down |
Sperm makes its
journey through a tube called the vas deferens |
| Woman's uterus
provides nutrients for the egg |
Man's prostate
provides nourishment to the sperm |
The Female Parts explained
Uterus
Uterus or the womb is a hollow muscular pear-shaped
organ. It is the size of a lemon in a non-pregnant
female. Every cycle the uterus builds and releases
a blood rich lining termed the endometrium. During
pregnancy the fertilized ovum embeds in the endometrium
and from there the uterus becomes the temporary home
of the growing fetus. For most women their uterus
curves forward. Two components, the corpus or the
body and the cervix make up the uterus. The corpus
is the upper section and the top part of the corpus
is called the fundus. The cervix is the mouth of the
uterus. During pregnancy the uterus will grow in weight
from about a quarter pound to almost 3 pounds and
its volume will grow from nothing to about 5 quarts.
Fallopian tubes
Fallopian tubes are the two narrow tubes on either
side of the uterus; each is 4-5 inches long. They
form the pathway for the upward swim of the sperm
and the downward journey of the ovum to the womb.
Ovaries
Ovaries are the two primary glands which are the size
and shape of almonds and lie in the lower part of
the abdominal cavity. They contain up to a million
immature egg cells. A cluster of cells called a follicle
surround each egg cell or ovum. Apart from storing
the eggs, the ovary which is an endocrine gland, is
responsible for the production of two key female hormones,
estrogen and progesterone. Even if one ovary is surgically
removed, fertility is not affected; the other ovary
takes over the complete job of egg production.
An ovum
An ovum or egg cell stored in the ovary is released
one at a time during the monthly cycle. During fertilization
one ovulated egg unites with sperm to form the fetus.
Endometrium
Endometrium lines the uterus in preparation for a
potential pregnancy every month. Every cycle the lining
is shed in the form of menstruation in non-pregnant
females.
Cervix
Cervix forms the lower opening of the uterus. It is
the only part of the uterus that can be felt protruding
into the upper vagina. Every cycle the cervix produces
cervical fluid which allow the sperm to thrive
Cervical
Cervical os is a small opening of the cervix which
becomes larger around ovulation and during birth to
allow for the passage of baby. Before pregnancy the
os resembles a tiny dimple in the middle of the cervix.
After giving birth, the os looks more like a slit.
Vagina
Vagina is the elastic muscular passage between the
vulva and the cervix. It is about 4-6 inches in length
but expands to receive the penis during penetration
and stretches further to become the birth canal during
childbirth.
The Male Parts explained
Prostrate gland
Prostrate gland is a walnut-sized gland which produces
milky fluid that nourishes the sperm. It also expels
fluid during ejaculation which constitutes a part
of the semen
Vas deferens
Vas deferens is a pair of about 15 inch long tubes
which functions as the pathway through which the sperm
travels to reach the seminal vesicles. Millions of
sperm cells enter the tubes daily to be stored there
until ejaculation.
Penis
Penis is the male organ through which urine and semen
are released. It stands erect during intercourse because
of the increased flow of blood that collects inside.
Penis has a conical end and is partially protected
by a thin elastic cover called the foreskin in uncircumcised
males. During ejaculation urine is prevented from
being discharged with the semen.
Urethra
Urethra is the narrow 8-inch tube that carries either
the urine from the bladder or the semen from the seminal
vesicle duct through the penis and is expelled out
of the body
Testicles
Testicles are a pair of sex glands that are the size
and shape of plums in the adult male. Each testicle
contains hundreds of thousands little chambers which
are lined with cells called spermatogonia. Everyday
about 200 million sperm are manufactured and emitted
either during intercourse or masturbation through
ejaculation. The left testes usually hangs lower than
the right.
Scrotum
Scrotum is the loose thin skin pouch which surrounds
the testicles. It maintains the testicles at around
92.6 Fahrenheit, some 6 degrees lower than the interior
of the body. Sperm making cells are extremely sensitive
to heat; therefore the scrotum responds to temperature
changes by either thickening in cold weather or thinning
out in warm temperatures
Seminal vesicles
Seminal vesicles are sacs that produce nourishment
for the sperm and forms about 65% of the seminal fluid
Epididymis
Epididymis is a series of long, narrow and tightly
coiled tubes which lie above each testicle. In this
tube young sperm cells mature and are stored. The
sperm takes 2-12 days to pass through the tube during
which time the sperm attains its swimming and fertilization
ability. Both the epididymis and vas deferens store
about 700 million sperm cells at one time.
Sperm Facts
| Semen
composition |
| Fluid
from seminal vesicles |
65% |
| Fluid from prostate
gland |
30% |
| Sperm and testicular
fluid |
5% |
| Semen
in General |
| Number of sperm
produced per day |
100-300 million |
| Number of sperm
per ejaculate (2-6ml) |
150-400 million |
| Typical number
of sperm per ml |
20 - 200 million |
| No. of days sperm
can survive in fertile cervical fluid |
5 days |
