The uterus is a muscular organ primarily designed for childbearing. This is where you will nourish and carry a baby as it grows from a tiny collection of cells to a full-term fetus ready to emerge into the world as a healthy newborn.

The endometrium is the lining on the inside of the uterine cavity. Each month, under the influence of two hormones, estrogen and progesterone, the endometrium thickens in preparation for pregnancy. Should you conceive, it will nourish the fetus during the first few weeks of life. If pregnancy does not occur, the endometrium is shed as your menstrual period.

The cervix is the entrance into the uterine cavity through which blood and tissue flow out when you menstruate. It is also the entry way to the uterus for sperm.

The ovaries are the repository of all the eggs a women will ever have. The eggs are lodged in microscopic bubbles called follicles, which themselves produce a number of different reproductive hormones. Chief among them are estrogen, progesterone, and androgens.



The fallopian tubes are positioned between the ovaries and the uterus. Conception takes place in a tube, after which the fertilized egg begins to travel down the narrow tubal passageway toward the uterine cavity, where it will implant itself and continue to grow during the nine months of pregnancy.

The vagina is a closed canal that, under ordinary circumstances, is collapsed. However, it can expand to fit whatever is placed into it and distends to permit the delivery of a baby.