What is the female reproductive system?

The female reproductive system is the body parts that help women or people assigned female at birth
(AFAB):
• Have sexual intercourse.
• Reproduce.
• Menstruate.

What are the parts of the female reproductive system?

• Vagina: Your vagina is a muscular canal that joins

the cervix (the lower part of uterus) to the outside of
the body. It can widen to accommodate a baby during
delivery and then shrink back to hold something
narrow like a tampon. It’s lined with mucous
membranes that help keep it moist.

• Cervix: Your cervix is the lowest part of your uterus. A

hole in the middle allows sperm to enter and
menstrual blood
menstrual blood to
to exit.
exit. Your
Your cervix
cervix opens
opens (dilates)
(dilates) to
to allow a baby to come out during a vaginal
childbirth.
allow a babyYour cervixout
to come is what prevents
during things
a vaginal like tampons from getting lost inside your body.
childbirth.
•
Your cervix
Uterus: Youris uterus
what prevents things
is a hollow, like tampons
pear-shaped from
organ that holds a fetus during pregnancy. Your uterus is
getting lost inside your body.
divided into two parts: the cervix and the corpus. Your corpus is the larger part of your uterus that
• expandsYour
Uterus: during pregnancy.
uterus is a hollow, pear-shaped organ
•
that holdsOvaries
Ovaries: a fetus are
during pregnancy.
small, Your glands
oval-shaped uterus that
is are located on either side of your uterus. Your
divided into two parts:
ovaries produce the hormones.
eggs and cervix and the corpus. Your
corpus is the larger part of your uterus that expands
• Fallopian
during tubes: These are narrow tubes that are attached to the upper part of your uterus and serve as
pregnancy.
pathways for your egg (ovum) to travel from your ovaries to your uterus. Fertilization of an egg by sperm
• Ovaries:
normally Ovaries
occurs inare small,
the oval-shaped
fallopian glands
tubes. The that egg then moves to the uterus, where it implants
fertilized
are
intolocated on either
your uterine side of your uterus. Your ovaries
lining.
produce eggs and hormones.
• Labia majora: Your labia majora (“large lips”) enclose
• Fallopian tubes: These are narrow tubes that are and protect the other external reproductive organs.
attached to the upper part of your uterus and serveDuring as puberty, hair growth occurs on the skin of the
pathways for your egg (ovum) to travel from your labia majora, which also contain sweat and oil-secreting
ovaries to your uterus. Fertilization of an egg by spermglands.
normally occurs in the fallopian tubes. The fertilized
egg then moves to the uterus, where it implants• into Labia minora: Your labia minora (“small lips”) can have
your uterine lining. a variety of sizes and shapes. They lie just inside your
labia majora, and surround the opening to your vagina
(the canal that joins the lower part of your uterus to the
outside of your body) and urethra (the tube that carries
pee from your bladder to the outside of your body). This
skin is very delicate and can become easily irritated and
swollen.
Clitoris: Your two labia minora meet at your clitoris, a small, sensitive protrusion that’s comparable to a penis
in men or people assigned male at birth (AMAB). Your clitoris is covered by a fold of skin called the prepuce and
is very sensitive to stimulation.

Vaginal opening: Your vaginal opening allows menstrual blood and babies to exit your body. Tampons, fingers,
sex toys or penises can go inside your vagina through your vaginal opening.

Hymen: Your hymen is a piece of tissue covering or surrounding part of your vaginal opening. It’s formed during
development and present during birth.

Opening to your urethra: The opening to your urethra is the hole you pee from.

What happens during the menstrual cycle?

Women or people AFAB of reproductive age (beginning anywhere from 11 to 16 years of age) experience cycles
of hormonal activity that repeat at about one-month intervals. With every cycle, your body prepares for a
potential pregnancy, whether or not that’s your intention. The term menstruation refers to the periodic
shedding of your uterine lining when pregnancy doesn’t occur that cycle. Many people call the days that they
notice vaginal bleeding their “period.”

The average menstrual cycle takes about 28 days and occurs in phases. These phases include:

• The follicular phase (the egg develops).

• The ovulatory phase (release of the egg).

• The luteal phase (hormone levels decrease if the egg doesn’t implant).

There are four major hormones (chemicals that stimulate or regulate the activity of cells or organs)
involved in the menstrual cycle. These hormones include:

• Follicle-stimulating hormone.

• Luteinizing hormone.

• Estrogen.

• Progesterone.

How does reproduction work?

In humans, female and male reproductive systems work together to reproduce. There are two kinds of
sex cells — sperm and eggs. When a sperm meets an egg, it can fertilize it and create a zygote. This
zygote eventually becomes a fetus. Both a sperm and an egg are needed for human reproduction.

How many eggs does a woman have?

You’re born with all the eggs you’ll ever produce. During fetal development, you have about 6 million
eggs. At birth, there are approximately 1 million eggs left. By the time you reach puberty, only about
300,000 remain. The number of eggs you have continues to decline as you age and menstruate each
cycle. Fertility also declines with age due to the decreasing number and quality of your remaining eggs.