The female reproductive system matures at puberty and enables women to reproduce.

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The female reproductive system matures at puberty
and enables women to reproduce.
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• eggs
• ovaries
• uterus
• ovulation

• fallopian tubes
• vagina
• menstruation
• cervix

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Female Reproductive Organs
The organs of the female reproductive system
enable pregnancy to occur with the first monthly
ovulation.
The female reproductive system matures at puberty.
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Female Reproductive Organs

• The female reproductive system has several
  functions, including producing female sex
  hormones and storing the eggs.

Eggs
Female gametes
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Female Reproductive Organs

• A female at birth has more than 400,000 immature
  ova in her ovaries.

Ovaries
The female sex glands that store the ova, or
eggs, and produce female sex hormones
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Female Reproductive Organs

• The ovaries are located on each side of the
  uterus.

Uterus
The hollow, muscular, pear-shaped organ that
nourishes and protects a fertilized ovum until
birth
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Female Reproductive Organs

• The process of ovulation is controlled by the
  release of luteinizing hormone by the pituitary
  gland.

Ovulation
The process of releasing a mature ovum into the
fallopian tube each month
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Female Reproductive Organs

• A mature ovum is released from an ovary and moves
  into one of the two fallopian tubes.

Fallopian tubes
A pair of tubes with fingerlike projections that
draw in the ovum
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Female Reproductive Organs
Cervix
The cervix is the opening of the uterus.
The uterus protects and nourishes a developing
fetus.
Uterus
The ovaries contain ova and produce hormones.
Ovaries
Ova travel to the uterus through the fallopian
tubes.
Fallopian Tubes
Endometrium
Endometrium tissue lines the uterus.
The passageway from the uterus to the outside of
the body.
Vagina
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Female Reproductive Organs

• Sperm from the male enter the female reproductive
  system through the vagina.

Vagina
A muscular, elastic passageway that extends from
the uterus to the outside of the body
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Female Reproductive Organs

• The fertilization of an egg by a sperm produces a
  cell called a zygote.
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• When the zygote leaves the fallopian tube, it
  enters the uterus and attaches itself to the
  uterine wall. The fetus remains in the uterus
  until birth.

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Female Reproductive Organs

• After a female matures, the uterus prepares each
  month for possible pregnancy. If pregnancy
  doesnt occur, menstruation occurs.

Menstruation
The shedding of the uterine lining
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Female Reproductive Organs

• The endometrium tissues pass through the cervix
  and into the vagina.

Cervix
The opening to the uterus
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Female Reproductive Organs
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Maintaining Reproductive Health
Good hygiene, breast self-exams, and abstinence
from sexual activity help female reproductive
system health.
Sound health practices will help females care for
their reproductive systems.
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Maintaining Reproductive Health
Tips for Maintaining Your Reproductive Health
Bathe regularly.
Have regular medical exams.
Practice abstinence.
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Breast Self-Exam

• Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the
  second leading cause of death, after lung cancer,
  for women in the United States.

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Breast Self-Exam

• The American Cancer Society recommends that
  females examine their breasts once a month, right
  after the menstrual period, when breasts are not
  tender.
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• Early detection is critical for successful
  treatment of breast cancer.

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Female Reproductive System Problems
Several disorders can affect the female
reproductive system, and some can lead to
infertility.
While menstrual cramps and premenstrual syndrome
are common, toxic shock syndrome is uncommon.
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Female Reproductive System Problems
Menstrual Cramps
Cramps that occur at the beginning of a menstrual
period
Premenstrual Syndrome
A disorder caused by hormonal changes
Toxic Shock Syndrome
A rare but serious bacterial infection that
affects the immune system and the liver
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Infertility and Other Disorders
Infertility in females can have several causes.
Endometriosis
Uterine tissue grows outside the uterus
STDs
Diseases spread through sexual contact
Infection that causes discharge, odor, pain,
itching, or burning
Vaginitis
Ovarian cysts
Fluid-filled sacs on the ovary
Cancer
Cancer of the cervix, uterus, or ovaries
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After You Read Reviewing Facts and Vocabulary

1. What is the function of the uterus?

The uterus protects and nourishes a developing
fetus.
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After You Read Reviewing Facts and Vocabulary

1. Distinguish between ova, ovaries, and ovulation.

The ova are egg cells. The ovaries are the female
sex glands that store the ova and produce female
sex hormones. Ovulation is the process of
releasing a mature ovum into a fallopian tube
each month.
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After You Read Reviewing Facts and Vocabulary

1. Identify a kind of cancer of the female
   reproductive system that is linked to a sexually
   transmitted disease (STD).

Cervical cancer