The secret to excellent health and wellbeing is understanding your body. The reproductive system can sometimes be complex to understand. Many people compare this supposedly intimate and delicate subject to a biology lesson. The female reproductive system is incredibly intricate and fascinating. Simply put, the reproductive system consists of both outer and inner parts.
The outer parts are:
Vulva: It is the outer part of your genitals, which consists of labia, clitoris, the vaginal opening, and the opening to the urethra. People at large confuse the vulva with the vagina. But in reality, the vagina is inside the vulva.
Labia Majora and Minora: The Labia Majora and the Labia Minora are most commonly referred to as outer and inner lips. Their primary job is to protect the sensitive parts inside.
Clitoris: Known as the pleasure center, this part of the body is intended for sexual pleasure. The head is located outside the body, but the rest extends internally through the genitals. It is situated above the urethra and below the clitoral hood.
Urethra: The tube known as the urethra is in charge of eliminating pee from the body. Although it can be challenging for some to find, the urethral opening is situated beneath the clitoris. Male and female urethras differ significantly from one another, with the female one being shorter.
The inner parts are:
Vagina: The vagina, often known as the birth canal, is a muscular tube that connects the vulva to the cervix. It is around 9 cm long. The pH of a normal vagina is between 3.8 and 4.5. This environment is acidic for a reason—it protects the vagina by forming a barrier that stops bacteria and yeast from creating infections.
Cervix: The uterus' thin portion that descends to the vagina is known as the cervix. The cervix stays closed except when it dilates to give birth and when it releases blood and other fluids during your period. Interestingly, your cervix can vary in size and shape over the course of your lifetime, like during ovulation, when it may rise to prepare for conception, or during childbirth, when it may enlarge by up to 10 cm.
Uterus: The uterus, often known as the womb, is located above the cervix. The uterus has the capacity to grow, and it is where the developing foetus resides. If there is no pregnancy, the uterus will shed its lining every 28 days. And then menstruators get their periods; therefore, every month you should keep heavy flow pads and regular flow pads in stock. 28 days is considered the average time in which a woman gets her period. But it can be somewhere between 21 and 35 days as well.
Fallopian Tubes: The two tubes that protrude from the top of the uterus like antennae are the fallopian tubes. The uterus and ovaries are connected via the fallopian tubes. Every month, an egg is released from the ovaries and travels down the fallopian tube to the uterus.
Ovaries: This is where your eggs are housed. One to two million eggs are present in every female at birth. The ovaries release an egg into the fallopian tubes during ovulation. And if the eggs are not fertilized, then they exit the body in the form of uterine lining shedding.
Not only the reproductive system, but knowing your body altogether can be very beneficial. We can therefore easily get to know the telltale signs of the body. And if something is not right, it can be easily identified, and we can then consult a health specialist.