The Womb and Miracle of Fertilization

The uterus (womb) is connected to the vagina at the cervix, a pear-shaped organ with strong muscular walls, thick linings and a small opening. The cervix expands during childbirth to allow a baby to pass. The baby grows in the uterus when a woman is pregnant. The muscles of the uterus are believed to be the most resilient and one of the strongest muscles in the female body. These muscles have the ability to expand and contract to accommodate a developing and growing fetus and also to help push the baby out during labor. Fallopian tubes, also known as oviducts or uterine tubes, are two long, thin tubes that connect the uterus to the ovaries. Eggs from the ovaries are transported to the uterus via the fallopian tubes. Blockage of the fallopian tubes typically prevents the passage of the egg to the sperm, or fertilized egg to the uterus. A surgical procedure known as tubal ligation, which blocks the fallopian tube, prevents fertilization. The ovaries are magnificent glands which are part of the female reproductive system. The ovaries serve as endocrine organs as well as reproductive organs. They produce female sex hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. About the size and shape of an almond, the two ovaries are located just above the fallopian tubes, and are held in place on each side of the uterus by a membrane. During ovulation each month, one of the ovaries (either the right or the left ovary) produces a single mature egg for fertilization. The miracle of human fertilization (union of sperm and egg) occurs along the uterine tube. Diseases affecting the female reproductive system mostly occur either as a result of disorders involving the ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes, and vagina, or organs such as the brain, hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, and adrenals,whose functions the affect reproductive organs. These disorders include altered menstruation, infertility, vulvovaginitis, pelvic pain, sexually transmitted diseases (STD), endometriosis, and cancers. Menstrual problems that typically occur during the reproductive years of females include painful periods, (dysmenorrheal), very heavy periods with excess bleeding (menorrhagia), infrequent periods (oligomenorrhea), or nonmenstrual vaginal bleeding. Common causes of female infertility include abnormalities of the uterus such as abnormal tissue growth on the lining of the uterus (endometriosis) and fibroids; ovarian dysfunctions such as premature ovarian failure and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which manifests as high levels of androgens (male hormones) missed or irregular periods which leads to lack of regular ovulation and the occurrence of small cysts in the ovary or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).