Female Reproductive System
The female reproductive system consists of internal and external organs. It creates hormones and is responsible for fertility, menstruation and sexual activity.
Parts of the Female Reproductive System
The main parts of the vulva or external genitals are:
- Labia majora: the labia majora (“large lips”) enclose and protect the other external reproductive organs. During puberty, hair growth occurs on the skin of the labia majora, which also contain sweat and oil-secreting glands.
- Labia minora: the labia minora (“small lips”) can have a variety of sizes and shapes. They lie just inside the labia majora, and surround the opening to the vagina (the canal that joins the lower part of the uterus to the outside of the body) and urethra (the tube that carries pee from the bladder to the outside of the body). This skin is very delicate and can become easily irritated and swollen.
- Clitoris: the two labia minora meet at the clitoris, a small, sensitive protrusion that’s comparable to a penis in men or people assigned male at birth (AMAB). The clitoris is covered by a fold of skin called the prepuce and is very sensitive to stimulation.
- Vaginal opening: the vaginal opening allows menstrual blood and babies to exit the body. Tampons, fingers, sex toys or penises can go inside the vagina through the vaginal opening.
- Hymen: the hymen is a piece of tissue covering or surrounding part of the vaginal opening. It’s formed during development and present during birth.
- Opening to the urethra: The opening to the urethra is the hole you pee from.
- Vagina: the vagina is a muscular canal that joins the cervix (the lower part of uterus) to the outside of the body. It can widen to accommodate a baby during delivery and then shrink back to hold something narrow like a tampon. It’s lined with mucous membranes that help keep it moist.
- Cervix: the cervix is the lowest part of the uterus. A hole in the middle allows sperm to enter and menstrual blood to exit. the cervix opens (dilates) to allow a baby to come out during a vaginal childbirth. the cervix is what prevents things like tampons from getting lost inside.
- Uterus: The uterus is a hollow, pear-shaped organ that holds a fetus during pregnancy. The uterus is divided into two parts: the cervix and the corpus. The corpus is the larger part of the uterus that expands during pregnancy.
- Ovaries: Ovaries are small, oval-shaped glands that are located on either side of the uterus. the ovaries produce eggs and hormones.
- Fallopian tubes: These are narrow tubes that are attached to the upper part of the uterus and serve as pathways for the egg (ovum) to travel from the ovaries to the uterus. Fertilization of an egg by sperm normally occurs in the fallopian tubes. The fertilized egg then moves to the uterus, where it implants into the uterine lining.
Functions
The female reproductive system provides several functions. In addition to allowing a person to have sexual intercourse, it also helps a person reproduce. the ovaries produce eggs. These eggs are then transported to the fallopian tube during ovulation where fertilization by a sperm may occur. The fertilized egg then moves to the uterus, where the uterine lining has thickened in response to the normal hormones of the menstrual cycle (also called the reproductive cycle). Once in the uterus, the fertilized egg can implant into the thickened uterine lining and continue to develop. If implantation doesn’t take place, the uterine lining is shed as the menstrual period. In addition, the female reproductive system produces sex hormones that maintain the menstrual cycle.
During menopause, the female reproductive system gradually stops making the female hormones necessary for the menstrual cycle to work. At this point, menstrual cycles can become irregular and eventually stop. You’re considered to be menopausal when you’ve gone an entire year without a menstrual period.
Diseases
- Endometriosis
- Uterine fibroids
- Gynecologic cancer
- HIV
- Interstitial cystitis
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Detoxing The Female Reproductive System
- Go Gluten-Free.
- Drink herbal teas that are known to benefit reproductive health and hormonal imbalances such as Dandelion tea, Peppermint tea and Spearmint tea.
- Go for alkaline greens like spinach, kale and green salads when it comes to dealing with any kind of inflammation or infection.
- Go sugar-free, as this will encourage the body to heal and properly detox while preventing any recurrent fungal or bacterial overgrowth. Cheese must also be avoided.
- Practise Yoga poses such as Shankhaprakshalana (Master Cleansing) for a full-body detox experience as well as 100 rounds of Ashwini Mudra.
- Use natural suppositories by dipping a tampon into either probiotic yoghurt (for thrush) or a mix of water and apple cider vinegar (for BV) and inserting it into the yoni. Coconut oil can also be used internally and externally, as it is a powerful natural antibiotic!