The female reproductive system is intricately designed to facilitate various functions essential for human reproduction:
- Production of eggs (ova)
- Sexual intercourse
- Protection and nourishment of a fertilized egg until full development
- Childbirth
Central to sexual reproduction are the gonads, which are often associated with the male testicles. However, both sexes possess gonads: ovaries in females and testes in males. Ovaries produce female gametes, or eggs.
At birth, a baby girl’s ovaries contain numerous eggs, which remain inactive until puberty. During puberty, hormones from the pituitary gland prompt the ovaries to produce female sex hormones, including estrogen, leading to the maturation of a girl into a sexually mature woman.
As puberty progresses, girls begin to release eggs in a monthly cycle known as menstruation. Approximately once a month, an ovary releases a tiny egg into one of the fallopian tubes.
If the egg is not fertilized by sperm within the fallopian tube, it exits the body approximately two weeks later through the uterus, resulting in menstruation. Menstrual flow comprises blood and tissue from the inner lining of the uterus and typically lasts from 3 to 5 days. The onset of a girl’s first period is referred to as menarche.
Before menstruation, many women and girls experience discomfort known as premenstrual syndrome (PMS), characterized by physical and emotional symptoms such as acne, bloating, fatigue, and mood swings.
During the first few days of menstruation, some girls may experience belly cramps caused by contractions of the uterine smooth muscles, driven by chemicals called prostaglandins.
It can take up to two years from menarche for a girl’s menstrual cycle to become regular, as her body adjusts to the hormonal changes of puberty. The average menstrual cycle for an adult woman is 28 days, though it can range from 23 to 35 days.