FEMALE

REPRODUCTIVE
SYSTEM
 OVARIES
 The female gonads or sex glands

 They develop and expel 1 ovum/egg cell each

month

 A woman is born with approximately 2 – 4 million

immature eggs called FOLLICLES

In a lifetime: about 400 – 500 fully matured eggs for

fertilization 3
 OVARIES
 The follicles in the ovaries
produce the female sex
hormones, ESTROGEN and
PROGESTERONE

 These hormones prepare the

uterus for implantation of the
fertilized egg

 Maturation of follicles is blocked

until puberty

 2-5 cm in length / 14 grams in

4
weight
 SEX ACCESSORIES
Fallopian tubes – transport of
egg cells to uterus

Uterus – complex, pear-

shaped, muscular organ; where
the fertilized egg implants itself
for development

Cervix – facilitate the entry of

sperm cells into the uterus

Vagina – passageway for

chilbirth and intercourse 5
ESTROGEN, PROGESTERONE,
AND SOME ANDROGENS

 Estrogens and androgens are transported

by SEX-HORMONE BINDING
GLOBULIN (SHBG)

 Progesterone is transported by
CORTICOSTEROID BINDING
GLOBULIN (CBG) / TRANSCORTIN

 1 – 2% are in FREE FORM 7

 ESTROGEN
 Carbon-18 compounds
 Principal estrogen – ESTRADIOL (E2)
• Primary metabolites:
o Estrone (E1; menopause)
o Estriol (E3; pregnancy)
 Promote breast, uterine and vaginal
development
 Affects vascular smooth muscle –
VASODILATION
 Estriol during pregnancy –
uteroplacental blood flow

 Increases vaginal lubrication

 Inhibits BONE RESORPTION 8

 ESTROGEN
FUNCTIONS:
 OVULATION
 Surge in estrogen level induces the release of 
LUTEINIZING HORMONE, which then triggers ovulation
by releasing the egg from the Graafian follicle in the ovary

 CARDIOPROTECTIVE
 INCREASE  HDL level
 DECREASE  LDL
 DECREASE platelet adhesion

 FLUID BALANCE
 Salt (sodium) and water retention

9
 PROGESTERONE
 Carbon-21 compound
 Produced by the CORPUS LUTEUM
 Plays a part in the SECRETORY phase

FUNCTIONS:
 Reduction of uterine contractions
 Increased cervical mucus (allows sperm to survive)
 Thermogenic effects
 Reconstruction and maintenance of ENDOMETRIUM
10
Notes for PROGESTERONE

 Estrogen level peak 1 day before ovulation = LH SURGE

 Extrusion of the ovum takes place 36 HOURS after LH

peak

 Implantation of egg takes place 9 days after ovulation

 THELARCHE – breast budding- first sign of puberty in

females

 MENARCHE – occurs 2-3 years after thelarche

** LH SURGE – SUDDEN INCREASE OF LH LEVELS 11
 OVARIAN
CYCLE
Also known as:

FOLLICULOGENESIS

1 follicle : 1 OOCYTE

Primordial → Primary → Secondary → Tertiary → Graafian →

Ovulation → Corpus luteum → Corpus albicans
 OVARIAN CYCLE
PRIMORDIAL FOLLICLE
 oocyte surrounded with
SQUAMOUS pregranulosa
cells
 90-95% of all follicles are
primordial

PRIMARY FOLLICLE
 oocyte surrounded with
15
 OVARIAN CYCLE
SECONDARY FOLLICLE
 Several layers of granulosa cells
 Appearance of THECA CELLS

TERTIARY FOLLICLE
 Granulosa cells secrete fluid to create a space called
ANTRUM
 ZONA PELLUCIDA: zone that surrounds the oocyte; adds
on protection to oocyte and regulates the interaction of
sperm cell to egg cell

GRAAFIAN FOLLICLE
 enlarged antrum
 formation of CUMULUS OOPHORUS

16
ANTRUM: Fluid-filled space inside the follicle
 GRAAFIAN
AND
TERTIARY
FOLLICLES
Seen at the surface
of the ovary to
facilitate ovulation
 OVARIAN CYCLE
OVULATION: 14 DAYS

 Appearance LH surge (LH peak)

 Release of oocyte from follicles
 Expelled oocyte is picked up by the
FIMBRIAE
 Oocyte is transported to the AMPULLA
where it waits for fertilization
 If fertilization happens
o Zygote resides in the ampulla for 72
HOURS
o It then floats in the uterus for 2-3
DAYS before attaching to the
20
endometrium
 OVARIAN CYCLE
CORPUS LUTEUM

 REMNANTS OF THE
FOLLICLE
 Temporary endocrine organ
o produces estrogen and
progesterone
 Increased estro/proges: suppress “EMPTY FOLLICLE”
FSH/LH
Supplies sex hormone
 CL ATROPHY: decrease estro/proges
which leads to increased FSH which 21
 OVARIAN CYCLE
CORPUS ALBICANS

 OVARIAN SCAR
 A corpus luteum that degenerates
(LUTEOLYSIS)
 Made up of COLLAGEN that
persists on the ovary for a few
months until it is completely
dissolved
22
GRANULOSA AND THECA
CELLS

LH + THECA CELL
Cholesterol to
Androstenedione

FSH + GRANULOSA CELL

Production of Estrogen
 UTERINE WALL
Composed of three layers:

PERIMETRIUM
 Outermost serous layer; the visceral
peritoneum

MYOMETRIUM
 Middle layer; interlacing layers of
smooth muscle

ENDOMETRIUM
 Mucosal lining of the uterine cavity

24
 ENDOMETRIUM
FUNCTIONAL ZONE
 Layer closest to the cavity
 Thicker portion
 Undergoes changes with
monthly cycle

BASAL ZONE
 Layer just under myometrium
 attaches functional layer to
myometrium
 remains constant
25
MENSTRUAL CYCLE: PHASES

26
 MENSES PHASE
DAYS
1–5

 A lack of signal from a fertilized egg influences the

drop in estrogen and progesterone
production.
 A drop in progesterone results in the SLOUGHING
OFF of the thick endometrial lining which is the
menstrual flow.
 PROLIFERATIVE /
FOLLICULAR
DAYS
6-14
PHASE
 A drop in progesterone and estrogen stimulates the
RELEASE OF FSH from the anterior pituitary.
 FSH stimulates the MATURATION of an ovum with
Graafian follicle until ovulation.
 Near the end of this phase, the release of LH increases
causing a sudden burst like release of the ovum, which
is known as OVULATION.
 DAYS SECRETORY /
15-28 LUTEAL PHASE
(ESTROGEN AND PROGESTERONE)

 High levels of LH cause the empty Graafian follicle to

develop into the CORPUS LUTEUM.
 The corpus luteum releases PROGESTERONE, which
increases the endometrial blood supply.
 FERTILIZATION
 If the egg is fertilized, the embryo
produces HUMAN CHORIONIC
GONADOTROPIN (hCG)

 HCG signals the CORPUS LUTEUM

to continue to supply progesterone
to maintain the uterine lining

 Continuous levels of progesterone

prevent the release of FSH and
ovulation ceases
30
 MENSTRUAL CYCLE

PROLIFERATIVE PHASE
 Stimulated by estrogen
 Rebuilds endometrium

SECRETORY PHASE
 Stimulated by estrogen and progesterone
 Endometrium prepares for implantation

MENSTRUAL PHASE
 Lack of estrogen/progesterone
 Removes endometrium 32
INHIBIN
 Negative feedback to FSH

Inhibin A
 Produced in Corpus Luteum
Inhibin B
 Produced by other developing
follicles

ACTIVIN
 Positive feedback to FSH
Sex Hormones:
Menstrual Cycle
 On the day of LH peak = estrogen secretion begins to decline = there
is a slight drop in basal body temperature
 After the LH peak = the basal body temperature sharply rises as a
result of progesterone secretion and remains elevated throughout
the luteal phase of the cycle.
** THERMOGENIC EFFECT

• Happens especially During luteal phase

• There is an increase in the basal body temperature
 MENSTRUATION
MENSTRUAL CYCLE
 25-35 days with an average of 28 days

MENOPAUSE
 45-55 years old with average of 53

MENSTRUATION
 Lasting 3-5 days

Average blood loss: 50 mL

36
 MENSTRUATION
AMENORRHEA
 Absence of menses
1. Primary Amenorrhea – when woman has never
menstruated
2. Secondary Amenorrhea – woman who has had at
least one menstrual cycle followed by absences of
menses for a minimum of 3 – 6 months

OLIGOMENORRHEA
 Infrequent or irregular menstrual bleeding with cycle
lengths in excess of 35 – 40 days

MENORRHAGIA
 Uterine bleeding in excess of 7 days
37
 CLINICAL
SIGNIFICANCE
 Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism
 Hypergonadotropic Hypogonadism
 HYPOGONADOTROPIC
HYPOGONADISM
WEIGHT LOSS:
 ANOREXIA NERVOSA
causes disruption of
normal GnRH secretion
INTENSE PHYSICAL EXERCISE:
 RUNNER’S AMENORRHEA
 low energy availability
o The body stops its
other activities
o including
menstruation
PITUITARY TUMOR
PROLACTINOMA
 HYPERGONADOTROPIC
HYPOGONADISM
MENOPAUSE: 45 – 55 years old
PREMATURE OVARIAN FAILURE
Causes:
o Early menopausal stage
o Genetic Cause
 Example: Turner’s Syndrome
1. normal ovarian development
2. egg cells die prematurely
3. occurs when your ovaries which store
and release eggs stop working before age 40

POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME

 irregular periods, increased androgen,
polycystic ovaries (UNDERDEVELOPED
follicles, unable to release egg)
 Risk factor: Family history and obesity
 Diagnosis: Ultrasound