Overview
“Turn outward the woman’s, turn inward, so to speak, and fold double the man’s, and you will find the same in both in every respect,” Claudius Galen, a second century A. D. philosopher and medical expert once said about the similarities between the male and female reproductive systems. Modern day understanding of the the female reproductive system is considerably more enlightened, reflecting a greater appreciation for the specialized functions of the female reproductive system that are responsible for creating new life.
Development
The female reproductive system includes the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix, vagina and lactating breasts. At fertilization, the genetic sex of the baby is determined. A male embryo will have one X- and Y-chromosome, whereas a female will have two X-chromosomes. An ovary will form in the female embryo and germ cells in the ovary will generate eggs. Estrogen produced by the ovary directs the further development of the uterus, fallopian tubes and vagina. Hormones also stimulate the breast tissue to develop during puberty and become functional during pregnancy.
Function
The female reproductive system supports most of the functions necessary to create new life. The vagina and cervix act as the gateway for the male gametes, or the sperm, to find and fertilize the egg. The ovaries produce eggs, the female gametes, for fertilization and hormones to regulate reproductive function. The fallopian tubes provide the site of fertilization and embryonic growth for the first week of the embryo’s life. The uterus is where the embryo will eventually implant itself and the placenta that will support the growing fetus for nine months will form. Lactating breasts provide nutrition and protective antibodies for the newborn.
Puberty
The female reproductive system becomes active and fully capable of reproduction when young girls enter puberty. This happens due to the production of hormones by the brain, including follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), which stimulate the ovaries and regulate cyclic production of hormones and mature eggs in anticipation of fertilization. If fertilization and pregnancy do not occur, the cells lining the uterus are shed and menstrual bleeding occurs. Breast tissue also undergoes further maturation during puberty in preparation for a future pregnancy.
Reproductive Care
Starting with puberty, young women should understand and become familiar with their reproductive system and how it works. Once cycles become regular, taking note of the starting dates and duration of each menstrual cycle is useful in detecting menstrual irregularities that can cause fertility problems. Within a few years of becoming sexually active, women should have annual pelvic exams and Pap smears to maintain good reproductive health, according to the National Cancer Institute. Using barrier methods such as condoms to protect against sexually transmitted diseases is essential to good reproductive health, because STDs are a major cause of female infertility and some female system cancers.
Time Frame
The time frame of the functional reproductive system starts with puberty and ends when menses stop, a stage called menopause. Menopause occurs at around the age of 50. In addition to the loss of fertility with advanced maternal age, loss of reproductive hormones, particularly estrogen, causes problems with bone density, cardiac function and sexual function. Hormone replacement therapy is often prescribed for women who want relief from annoying symptoms such as hot flashes, thinning hair, vaginal dryness and mood swings that occur as hormone production diminishes.
About this Author
Carole Wegner is a Ph.D. scientist and in-vitro fertilization lab director in the Midwest. For more than 20 years, she has published scientific findings in peer-reviewed journals such as “Endocrinology” and “Fertility & Sterility” and also written on the topic of ethics in reproductive medicine.
