17 Female Reproductive System

Female Reproductive System Word Parts

Click on prefixes, combining forms, and suffixes to reveal a list of word parts to memorize for the female reproductive system.

Introduction to the Female Reproductive System

The female reproductive system produces gametes and reproductive hormones. In addition, the female reproductive system supports the developing fetus and delivers it to the outside world. The female reproductive system is located primarily inside the pelvic cavity. The female gonads are called ovaries and the gamete they produce is called an oocyte.

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Practice Medical Terms Related to the Female Reproductive System

Anatomy (Structures) of the Female Reproductive System

External Female Genitals

The external female reproductive structures are referred to collectively as the vulva and they include:

• The mons pubis, a pad of fat that is located at the anterior, over the pubic bone. After puberty, it becomes covered in pubic hair.
• The labia majora (labia = “lips”; majora = “larger”), folds of hair-covered skin that begin just posterior to the mons pubis.
• The labia minora (labia = “lips”; minora = “smaller”), which is thinner and more pigmented and extends medially to the labia majora.
  • Although they naturally vary in shape and size from woman to woman, the labia minora serve to protect the female urethra and the entrance to the female reproductive tract.
  • The superior, anterior portions of the labia minora come together to encircle the clitoris (or glans clitoris), an organ that originates from the same cells as the glans penis and has abundant nerves that make it important in sexual sensation and orgasm. The hymen is a thin membrane that sometimes partially covers the entrance to the vagina.
• The vaginal opening is located between the opening of the urethra and the anus. It is flanked by outlets to the Bartholin’s glands.

Internal Female Reproductive Organs

Vagina

The vagina is a muscular canal (approximately 10 cm long) that is the entrance to the reproductive tract. It also serves as the exit from the uterus during menses and childbirth. The outer walls of the anterior and posterior vagina are columns with ridges. The superior fornix meets the uterine cervix. The cervix is the opening to the uterus.

The walls of the vagina are lined with:

• An outer, fibrous adventitia
• A middle layer of smooth muscle
• An inner mucous membrane with transverse folds called rugae.

Together, the middle and inner layers allow the expansion of the vagina to accommodate intercourse and childbirth. The thin, perforated hymen can partially surround the opening to the vaginal orifice. The Bartholin’s glands and the lesser vestibular glands (located near the clitoris) secrete mucus, which keeps the vestibular area moist.

The vagina has a normal population of microorganisms that help to protect against infection. There are both pathogenic bacteria and yeast in the vagina. In a healthy woman, the most predominant type of vaginal bacteria is from the genus Lactobacillus, which secretes lactic acid. The lactic acid protects the vagina by maintaining an acidic pH (below 4.5).

Lactic acid, in combination with other vaginal secretions, makes the vagina a self-cleansing organ. However, douching can disrupt the normal balance of healthy microorganisms, and increase a woman’s risk for infections and irritation. It is recommended that women do not douche and that they allow the vagina to maintain its normal healthy population of protective microbial flora.

The Menstrual Cycle

The three phases of the menstrual cycle are:

1. The menses phase of the menstrual cycle is the phase during which reproductive hormone levels are low, the woman menstruates, and the lining is shed. The menses phase lasts between 2 to 7 days with an average of 5 days.
2. The proliferative phase is when menstrual flow ceases and the endometrium begins to proliferate. During this phase reproductive hormones are working in homeostasis to trigger ovulation on approximately day 14 of a typical 28-day menstrual cycle. Ovulation marks the end of the proliferative phase.
3. The secretory phase is when the endometrial lining prepares for the implantation of a fertilized egg. If no pregnancy occurs within approximately 10 to 12 days the endometrium will grow thinner and shed starting the first day of the next cycle.

Menopause

Menopause is the cessation of the menstrual cycle that occurs as a result of the loss of ovarian follicles and the hormones that they produce, namely estrogen. The earliest changes occur during the menopausal transition, often referred to as perimenopause, when a woman’s cycle becomes irregular but does not stop entirely. As estrogen levels change, other signs and symptoms that occur are hot flashes and night sweats, trouble sleeping, vaginal dryness, mood swings, difficulty focusing, and thinning of hair on the head along with the growth of more hair on the face. Depending on the individual, these symptoms can be entirely absent, moderate, or severe.

A woman is considered to have completed menopause if she has not menstruated in a full year. After that point, she is considered postmenopausal. The average age for this change is consistent worldwide at between 50 and 52 years of age, but it can normally occur in a woman’s forties or later in her fifties. Poor health, including smoking, can lead to earlier loss of fertility and earlier menopause. After menopause, low levels of estrogen increase women’s risks of high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, and osteoporosis.

Anatomy Labeling Activity

Practice Terms Related to the Female Reproductive System

Common Abbreviations for the Female Reproductive System

Many terms and phrases related to the female reproductive system are abbreviated. Learn these common abbreviations by expanding the list below.

Diseases and Disorders of the Female Reproductive System

Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the United States. It starts in the cells that line the ducts or the lobule of the breast. Some warning signs include a new lump in the breast or axilla, thickening or swelling, dimpling of the breast skin, redness or flaky skin, discharge, and change in breast size. Risk factors include a familial or personal history of breast cancer, obesity, hormonal treatment, and mutations in breast cancer-related genes (BRCA1 or BRCA2) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.-a; National Cancer Institute, 2021a).

Treatment options include chemotherapy, hormone therapy, immunotherapy, radiation, and surgical interventions such as mastectomy, and biopsy (National Cancer Institute, 2021a). To learn more about breast cancer, view the National Cancer Institute’s web page on breast cancer.

Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is typically slow-growing cancer and is highly curable when found and treated early. Advanced cervical cancer may cause abnormal bleeding or discharge from the vagina such as bleeding after sex. It is diagnosed during a Papanicolaou test (or Pap smear), which looks for precancerous lesions on the cervix. The Pap test can find cervical cancer early when treatment is most effective. Almost all cervical cancers are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). The HPV test looks for HPV strains which is the virus that can cause precancerous cell changes.  In the United States, a vaccine called Gardasil® 9 is available, which prevents infection with HPV and significantly reduces the risk of cervical cancer (National Cancer Institute, 2021b, 2021c). To learn more, visit the National Cancer Institute’s web page on cervical cancer.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is an abnormal condition of the endometrium. Endometriosis occurs when this tissue grows and implants outside the uterus. The female hormone estrogen causes these implants to grow, bleed, and become inflamed. The inflammation causes scar tissue around nearby organs, which can interfere with their normal functioning and cause pain (Office on Women’s Health, 2019a).

Endometriosis generally appears in women in their 30s and 40s. Signs and symptoms may include dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, menstrual irregularity, and infertility. Diagnosis may include laparoscopy and endometrial biopsy. There is no cure for endometriosis. Treatment may include hormonal birth control, surgical interventions such as hysterectomy and oophorectomy. The cause of endometriosis is unknown (MedlinePlus, 2021; Office on Women’s Health, 2019a). For more information, visit the Office on Women’s Health web page on endometriosis.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has no known etiology, but researchers have linked it to excessive production of insulin and androgens. Excessive insulin in the body can cause insulin resistance and lead to type 2 diabetes. High levels of androgens can prevent the ovaries from releasing an egg during the menstrual cycle. The most common signs and symptoms of PCOS include oligomenorrhea, amenorrhea, polymenorrhea, one or both ovaries with multiple small painless cysts, acrochordons, acanthosis nigricans, hirsutism, thinning hair, acne, weight gain, anxiety, depression, hyperglycemia, and infertility. Treatments like medications such as birth control pills or antiandrogens can help balance the hormones in your body and relieve some of the symptoms (Office on Women’s Health, 2019b). To learn more, visit the Office on Women’s Health’s web page on endometriosis.

Sexually Transmitted Infections and Diseases (STIs and STDs)

Although the terms sexually transmitted infections (STI) and sexually transmitted diseases (STD) are often used interchangeably, they have distinct meanings. STIs refer to infections caused by a virus, bacteria, fungus, or parasite via sexual contact. STDs refer to the disease state that develops as a result of infection (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2020).

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases. It is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, which infects the cervix and other organs of the reproductive tract in women. Chlamydia spreads through unprotected oral, anal, or vaginal sex with an infected person. Chlamydia can also spread from mother to child during childbirth. Many people with chlamydia do not have any symptoms and unknowingly pass the infection to their sexual partner(s). If symptoms develop, they may not appear for several weeks after sexual contact with an infected person. Women may have abnormal vaginal discharge, polyuria, and painful intercourse. Untreated chlamydia in women can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, which can cause permanent damage to the reproductive tract and infertility. Chlamydia is easy to treat with antibiotics and can be cured. However, until a patient finishes their treatment, they continue to have the infection and can continue to pass it to others. Patients should be re-tested three months after treatment, as re-infection is common (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.-b).

Gonorrhea (Gonococcus)

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It infects the mucous membranes of the reproductive tract, including the cervix, uterus, and fallopian tubes in women. Infections can also infect the mouth, throat, eyes, and anus. Gonorrhea is spread through unprotected oral, vaginal or anal sex with an infected person. It can also spread from mother to child during childbirth. Many people infected with gonorrhea have no symptoms and can unknowingly pass the infection on to their sexual partner(s). Signs and symptoms vary depending on which part of the body is infected. Women may have dysuria, increased vaginal discharge, or vaginal bleeding not related to their menstrual cycle. Gonorrhea infection from oral sex may lead to a sore throat, whereas infection from anal sex may cause itchiness and discharge from the anus. Untreated chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease. Gonorrhea can be treated and cured with antibiotics in combination with an intramuscular (IM) injection. However, until the patient finishes their treatment, they continue to have the infection and can pass it to others. Patients should be re-tested three months after treatment, as re-infection is common (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.-c).

Notifiable and Reportable Diseases

In every state in the United States, chlamydia and gonorrhea are notifiable and reportable diseases. This means that when a person tests positive for either of the STIs, public health departments and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are informed so that they may monitor trends, identify outbreaks, and take the necessary steps to prevent further spread of the disease (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.-d, n.d.-e).

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is another common sexually transmitted infection (STI). Both males and females can be infected with HPV. There are over 200 strains of HPV. Some strains can cause visible genital warts, while others cause genital, anal, throat, and cervical cancers. HPV spreads through sexual activity and skin-to-skin contact in the genital area with an infected person. Since some people are asymptomatic, they don’t know they have the virus and consequently pass the virus to their sexual partners. Treatments are available for genital warts but there is no cure for HPV (MedlinePlus, 2021). For more information, visit the CDC’s web page on HPV.

Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease that is caused by a virus called the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two types of herpes simplex viruses:

• Type 1- oral herpes or cold sores (HSV-1)
• Type 2- genital herpes (HSV-2).

Signs and symptoms might include dysuria, enlarged glands, myalgia, and fever. Once a patient is infected with HSV, the virus remains in their body even after the symptoms are gone and can cause recurring outbreaks. When the virus becomes active again, the symptoms return but are usually less painful and heal faster (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.-f).

Herpes is spread through direct contact with the sores or blisters of an infected person. Contact (and transfer of the virus) can occur from genitals-to-genitals, mouth-to-genitals, or mouth-to-mouth. Herpes can also be passed to the anal area. Herpes spreads easily during sexual contact while symptoms are present or just before an outbreak of symptoms. An infected person may spread herpes even when they have no symptoms; this is called asymptomatic shedding. One can spread the herpes virus to other parts of their body after touching the sores. The fingers, eyes, and other body areas can accidentally become infected in this way. Hand washing after touching sores and blisters is recommended to prevent spreading the virus (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.-f).

There is no cure for herpes. Antiviral pills help to reduce symptoms and speed the healing of blisters or sores and are prescribed by a doctor. All sexual partner(s) should be informed. The only way to reduce the risk of transmission of herpes is to avoid direct contact with the sores and to use condoms. Condoms will reduce but not eliminate risk, as the virus can be present and shed from the skin in the genital area (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.-f).

Common Abbreviations for Reproductive Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

Medical Terms in Context

Medical Specialties and Procedures Related to the Female Reproductive System

Obstetrics and Gynecology

Obstetrics and gynecology, also known as OB/GYN, is a branch of medicine focusing on the diagnosis, treatment, management, and prevention of diseases and disorders of the female reproductive system, as well as the care of women during pregnancy and childbirth. Subspecialties in women’s health include contraception, reproductive endocrinology, and infertility (National Cancer Institute, n.d.-a). To learn more, visit the American College of Surgeons’ web page on obstetrics and gynecology.

Hysterectomy

A hysterectomy is performed to stage or treat endometriosis, cancers, and precancers of the female reproductive tract, and some non-cancerous conditions that have not responded to other forms of treatment. There are three types of hysterectomy:

• A total hysterectomy removes both the uterus and the cervix.
• A subtotal hysterectomy removes the uterus only.
• A radical hysterectomy removes the uterus, cervix, part of the vagina, and ligaments (Office on Women’s Health, 2019b).

Sometimes the ovaries and fallopian tubes are removed at the same time that a hysterectomy is done. A bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) removes both ovaries and fallopian tubes. A unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy removes one ovary and one fallopian tube (National Cancer Institute, n.d.-b, n.d.-c). For more information, visit the Cleveland Clinic’s web page on hysterectomy.

Female Reproductive System Vocabulary

Acanthosis nigricans

A disorder that causes darkening and thickening of the armpit and other body folds.

Acrochordons

Common benign skin growths that appear as small, raised, brown or skin-colored bumps; also called skin tags.

Amenorrhea

Absence of menstruation.

Androgens

Male sex hormones; for example, testosterone.

Antiandrogens

Substances that keep androgens (male sex hormones) from binding to proteins called androgen receptors. Preventing this binding blocks the effects of these hormones in the body.

Antibiotics

A drug used to treat infections caused by bacteria and other microorganisms.

Antiretrovirals

Drugs that inhibit the ability of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or other types of retroviruses to multiply in the body.

Asymptomatic

Having no signs or symptoms of disease.

Axilla

The underarm or armpit.

Bartholin’s glands

Glands that produce a thick mucus that maintains moisture in the vulva area; also referred to as the greater vestibular glands.

Bilateral

Affecting both the right and left sides of the body.

Cervicitis

Inflammation of the cervix.

Colposcope

A lighted magnifying instrument used to check the cervix, vagina, and vulva for signs of disease.

Colposcopy

A procedure in which a lighted, magnifying instrument called a colposcope is used to examine the cervix, vagina, and vulva.

Contraception

The use of drugs, devices, or surgery to prevent pregnancy.

Douching

Washing the vagina with fluid.

Dysmenorrhea

Painful menstruation.

Dyspareunia

Genital pain before, during, or after intercourse.

Dysuria

Painful urination.

Endocrinology

A specialty in the field of medicine that focuses on the treatment of endocrine system disorders.

Endometriosis

A disease characterized by the presence of endometrial-like tissue found outside the uterus.

Endometritis

Inflammation of the endometrium.

Endometrium

The innermost layer of the uterus. It provides the site of implantation for a fertilized egg and sheds during menstruation if no egg is fertilized.

Endoscopy

A procedure that uses an endoscope to examine the inside of the body.

Fistula

An abnormal opening or passage between two organs or between an organ and the surface of the body.

Fornix

The superior portion of the vagina.

Gamete

A specialized sex cell carrying 23 chromosomes.

Gynecologist

A doctor who has special training in diagnosing and treating diseases of the female reproductive organs.

Gynecology

A medical-surgical specialty concerned with the physiology and disorders primarily of the female genital tract, as well as female endocrinology and reproductive physiology.

Hirsutism

A condition in which women and children have excess coarse body hair of an adult male distribution pattern as a result of elevated androgen levels.

Homeostasis

The state of steady internal conditions maintained by living things.

Hysterectomy

Surgery to remove the uterus and, sometimes, the cervix.

Hysterosalpingogram

A radiographic image of the uterus and fallopian (uterine) tubes.

Hysteroscope

An endoscope used for examining the interior of the uterus.

Hysteroscopy

Endoscopic examination of the uterus.

Inferior

A position below or lower than another part of the body proper.

Intramuscular

Within or into muscle.

Laparoscopy

A procedure that uses a laparoscope, inserted through the abdominal wall, to examine the inside of the abdomen.

Leukorrhea

White discharge from the vagina.

Lumbago

Acute or chronic pain in the lumbar or sacral regions.

Mammography

The use of film or a computer to create a picture of the breast.

Mammogram

Radiographic image of the breast.

Mammoplasty

Surgical reconstruction of the breast, including both augmentation and reduction.

Mastalgia

Pain or discomfort in one or both breasts.

Mastectomy

The surgical procedure to remove all or part of a breast.

Mastitis

A condition in which breast tissue is inflamed.

Menarche

First menstruation in a pubertal female.

Menopause

The cessation of the menstrual cycle; is considered complete when a woman has not menstruated in a full year.

Menorrhagia

Excessive bleeding at menstruation.

Metrorrhagia

Excessive bleeding from the uterus not related to menstruation.

Oligomenorrhea

Abnormally infrequent menstruation.

Oocyte

Immature egg cell.

Oophorectomy

Surgery to remove one or both ovaries.

Oophoritis

Inflammation of the ovary.

Ovulation

Release of a secondary oocyte and associated granulosa cells from an ovary.

Papanicolaou smear (Pap test)

A procedure in which a small brush is used to gently remove cells from the surface of the cervix and the area around it so they can be checked under a microscope for cervical cancer or cell changes that may lead to cervical cancer.

Perimenopause

The transitional period before and after menopause wherein the menstrual cycle is irregular and hormone levels widely fluctuate.

Polyuria

Excessive urine production.

Prolapse

The protrusion of an organ or part of an organ into a natural or artificial orifice.

Proliferate

The ability to reproduce rapidly.

Puerperium

Time directly after childbirth.

Salpingectomy

Excision of one or both of the fallopian (uterine) tubes.

Salpingitis

Inflammation of a fallopian (uterine) tube.

Salpingo-oophorectomy

Surgical removal of the fallopian (uterine) tubes and ovaries.

Salpingostomy

Creation of an artificial opening in the fallopian (uterine) tube.

Speculum

An instrument used to widen an opening of the body to make it easier to look inside.

Superior

A position above or higher than another part of the body proper.

Trachelectomy

Excision of the cervix.

Tubal ligation

Surgical closure of the fallopian (uterine) tubes for sterilization.

Unilateral

Pertaining to one side.

Urethritis

Inflammation of the urethra.

Vaginal

Pertaining to the vagina.

Vaginosis

Abnormal condition of the vagina.

Vulvectomy

Excision of the vulva.

Vulvovaginitis

Inflammation of the vulva and vagina.

Test Yourself

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.-a). Breast cancer statistics. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/statistics/index.htm

CrashCourse. (2015, October 2015). Reproductive system, part 1 – female reproductive system: Crash course A&P #40 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFDatCchpus

MedlinePlus. (2021). Endometriosis. U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://medlineplus.gov/endometriosis.html

National Cancer Institute. (n.d.-a). Definition of obstetrics and gynecology. National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/obstetrics-and-gynecology

National Cancer Institute. (n.d.-b). Definition of bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/bilateral-salpingo-oophorectomy

National Cancer Institute. (n.d.-c). Definition of unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/unilateral-salpingo-oophorectomy

National Cancer Institute. (2021a). Breast cancer treatment (adult) (PDQ®)–Patient version. National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
https://www.cancer.gov/types/breast/patient/breast-treatment-pdq

National Cancer Institute. (2021b). Cervical cancer treatment (adult) (PDQ®)–Patient version. National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
https://www.cancer.gov/types/cervical/patient/cervical-treatment-pdq

National Cancer Institute. (2021c). Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines. National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/infectious-agents/hpv-vaccine-fact-sheet

Office on Women’s Health. (2019a). Endometriosis. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/endometriosis

Office on Women’s Health. (2019b). Hysterectomy. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/hysterectomy

Image Descriptions

Figure 17.1 image description: This figure shows the structure and the different organs in the female reproductive system. The top panel shows the lateral view with labels (clockwise from top): uterus, ovary, fornix of uterus, cervix, rectum, vagina, anus, labia majora, labium minora, clitoris, urethra, mons pubis, pubic symphysis, bladder; and the bottom panel shows the anterior view with labels (clockwise from top): ovary, ovarian ligament, broad ligament, labia minora, labia majora, vagina, cervix, uterine tube, uterus, fimbriae. [Return to Figure 17.1].

Figure 17.2 image description: This figure shows the parts of the vulva. The right panel shows the external anterior view and the left panel shows the internal anterolateral view. The major parts are labeled (from top): prepuce, glans clitoris, labia minora, corpus cavernosum, bulb of vestibule, urethral opening, labia majora, vaginal opening, the opening of right Bartholin’s gland, Bartholin’s glands, anus. [Return to Figure 17.2].