Female Reproduction

1
Female Reproduction

• Sex organs
• Sex characteristics
• Puberty and Menopause
• Sexual cycle
• Sex response
• Pregnancy
• Lactation

2
Sex Organs

• Ovary female gonads produces eggs and sex
  hormones
• Follicle fluid filled sac where egg develops
• Ovulation is the bursting of the follicle
• Fallopian tube is a canal 10cm from the ovary to
  the uterus

3
Sex Organs

• Uterus muscular chamber that opens to vagina it
  often tilts forward over bladder, zygote implants
  and develops, three parts fundus, body, cervix
• Uterine wall is made of three layers
• Perimetrium thin outer covering
• Myometrium middle muscular layer
• Endometrium layer that is shed

4
Sex Organs

• Vagina
• Birth canal 8-10cm long allows for discharge of
  menstrual fluid, receiver of penis and semen, is
  lubricated by glands in its wall
• Hymen located at lower end has one or more
  openings to allow menstral fluid to exit usually
  needs to be broken for intercourse
• Vaginal Rugae act as friction ridges to aid in
  penis ejaculation

5
Sex Organs

• Vulva
• Includes the mons , labia majora, labia minora,
  clitoris, vaginal orifice, and accessory glands

6
Sex Characteristics

• Breasts sits on top of pectoralis major, mostly
  fat with some lacation glands and suspensory
  ligaments
• Body is the Conical mound
• Areola darkened area around nipple can act as
  target for baby and contains nerve fibers that
  promote milk lacation
• Nipple has openings to milk ducts

7
Puberty Menopause

• Puberty in US and Europe starts around 9-10
  years. The pituitary triggers FSH and LH that
  causes ovaries to produce estrogens that cause
  secondary changes
• Menopause the loss of menstruation caused by
  few of follicles. Hormone shifting causes
  blood vessels to dilate and the sense of heat is
  transferred to face and neck

8
Sexual Cycle

• Lasts avg of 28 days
• 1-5 menses
• 6-13 preovulatory phase growth and development of
  follicle
• 14 ovulation
• 15-26 luteal phase formation of corpus luteum
  uterine wall thickest for implantation
• 27-28 beginning of sloughing of necrotic tissue

9
Sexual Response

• Excitement marked by myotonia, vasocongestion,
  increase HR, BP, RR
• Vasocongestion swelling of the labia majora
  causing reddening in color. The labia then
  flatten and move laterally to expose vaginal
  opening, labia minora extends past labia majora,
  clitoris grows 2-3 times normal size then tucks
  under prepuce

10
Sexual Response

• Plateau
• Thrusting of the penis pulls on the labia minora,
  the minora pulls on prepuce and the prepuce
  stimulates to clitoris
• The vaginal wall becomes purple due to hyperemia
  and secretions seep from wall for lubrication
• The inner end of the vagina dilates and becomes
  cavernous

11
Sexual Response

• The lower 3rd of the vagina constricts to form
  the orgasmic platform to enhance stimulation and
  orgasm for both
• The uterus becomes erect, almost vertical, called
  the tenting effect
• Breasts become swollen with nipples becoming
  erect, stimulation can enhance sexual response

12
Sexual Response

• Orgasm
• Pre-Orgasm can be describe as a short period of
  involuntary pelvic thrusts followed by 1-2 sec of
  stillness
• Orgasm is an intense sensation starting with the
  clitoris and spreading through the pelvic region

13
Sexual Response

• The platform gives 3-5 strong contractions while
  the cervix plunges repeatedly into the vagina and
  pool of semen
• The uterus also goes though a series of
  contractions (possibly to help sperm travel to
  fallopian tubes)
• Breasts swell even more and a rash like flush
  appears on the stomach, chest, neck and face

14
Sexual Response

• Resolution
• Uterus tilts over bladder into resting place,
  platform quickly relaxes, the vaginal end slowly
  returns to normal, flush and breast firmness go
  away
• Women have no refractory period so orgasms can
  quickly be experienced again