Daniel Chwukwuemeka Okwum
For most couple, achieving pregnancy is the first goal immediately after marriage. However, these days, there are ladies yet to tie the knot who appear more desperate to get pregnant than some who are married.
Pregnancy is made possible with the presence of this time-sensitive structure God designed women with: the reproductive system. In general, the reproductive system consists of the uterus, including the cervix down to the vagina, the fallopian tubes, and the ovaries.
Lets talk about them
1. The Uterus
The uterus is the main part of the female reproductive system. It is
made up of an elastic smooth muscle that can adjust into various sizes
especially during pregnancy and/or in the presence of an abnormality e.g.
Fibroid, Adenomyosis, etc. There is a potential space at the centre of the womb
called endometrium that accommodates pregnancy or a family planning device
(Intra-Uterine-Device, IUD). During your menstrual cycle, it is the wall of
this endometrium that wears away leading to menstrual bleeding.
The uterus ends at the cervix and extends to the external through the
vagina.
2. The Cervix
The cervix is the gate into the
uterus, beginning from the end of the vagina to the beginning of the potential space at the center of the uterus known as endometrium. In other words, it brings from the external os to the internal os. It permits the passage of fluids such as blood, sperm or any other
fluids, and a baby. Its strength determines how secured your pregnancy might
be, especially at the second trimester and forward.
3. The Vagina
This is the only external access
to the entire female reproductive system. The entire genital is made up of the
labia (majora and minora), the urethra (urine passage), the clitoris, hymen or
its flap, and the opening called the vulva or vagina. In regions where female
circumcision is yet in vogue like in some countries in Africa, the hymen or its
flap might have been removed. The vagina is a self lubricating, self renewing
and self sanitizing hollow of elastic muscle designed by the Ancient of days to
aid reproduction.
4. The fallopian tubes
These are the
two tubes that connects each ovary to the uterus; one on the right and the
other on the left. They are capable of lodging sperms for a maximum of 7-days
awaiting your ovulation so that fertilization can take place. It is this
fertilization that produces the zygote (tiny baby) which is then transported, by
a rhythmic movement, into the uterus for implantation. In a twin pregnancy, it
is either that two zygotes are formed separately (fraternal twins) or that a
single zygote divides into two (identical twins).
5. The ovaries
As you can see
in the picture above, every woman has two ovaries. The ovaries are the parts of
the reproductive system that produce eggs every month stating from the first
day of your menses. With the help of some chemicals called hormones in the
body, the growth of 15-20 eggs (follicles) are made possible, of which the
dominant one bursts during ovulation and prepares you for pregnancy.
Summarily, the uterus including the cervix and vagina, fallopian tubes
and ovaries makes up the female reproductive system. There are common health
issues associated with each of these parts of the system. These issues will be
addressed in subsequent articles.
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