Female Reproductive System

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.

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.