Female reproductive system: conception, anatomy & function
Understanding your anatomy
- Vagina: The opening through which sperm travels in order to reach an egg. The vagina also serves as a passage for menstrual flow and secretions, which may help or obstruct sperm from fertilizing an egg.
- Cervix: The cervix or neck of the uterus is the lower, narrow portion of the uterus where it joins with the top end of the vagina.
- Uterus: A pear-shaped organ also known as the womb. The inner lining of the uterus is called the endometrium. An egg that has been fertilized will implant itself into the endometrium lining and will continue to develop in the uterus throughout pregnancy.
- Ovaries: Almond-sized organs located on either side of the uterus, which produce and release mature egg cells. Egg cells develop in follicles - fluid filled sacs in the ovaries. Each month a new egg matures and travels to the fallopian tube. Ovaries also release the hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which are vital for reproduction.
- Fallopian tubes: Two ten-centimetre-long tubes, which connect with the uterus. During ovulation, the mature egg passes from the ovaries into the fallopian tube, where fertilization may occur.
| Sometimes, couples give up their dreams of a baby before allowing enough time for their fertility treatment to work. The emotional stress of coping with their conception difficulties can become too great. Organise your life to give it balance and guard against stress in the months ahead. |
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A reminder of the basics
During a normal 28-day reproductive cycle, a woman’s body releases a single egg from a follicle in one of her ovaries. The egg travels down one of two fallopian tubes, where it can be fertilized by a man’s sperm. If the sperm reaches and penetrates the egg, a new life begins. As the first few cells divide, the embryo travels to the uterus where it implants and begins to develop into a foetus. If fertilization doesn’t take place, or if for some reason the embryo is unable to implant, the period begins and the cycle starts over.
| Prepare yourself to undergo multiple treatment cycles. Pregnancy is a result of a complex combination of factors and events. Even if doctors are able to identify the barriers preventing pregnancy, conception still takes a degree of luck. Many couples go through multiple cycles to conceive. |
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You’re not alone
Infertility is nobody’s fault. It is a medical condition affecting almost one in ten couples trying to conceive.1 Here are some common problems that may slow conception in women:
Ovulation disorders
The normal ovarian cycle is so complex that even small changes may disrupt the cycle and prevent ovulation. In most cases, problems are caused by a hormonal imbalance: the body may not produce enough of a particular hormone or may fail to release a hormone at the right time. Ovulation may also be thrown off by significant changes in weight, either lost or gained.
Fallopian tube disorder
Damage to the fallopian tubes can prevent the sperm and egg fusing. Reasons may include:
- Inflammation in the region
- A previous ectopic or tubal pregnancy
- Scarring caused by surgery
- Spontaneous growth of uterus lining cells outside the uterus, known as endometriosis.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis occurs when cells that normally line the uterine cavity grow in areas outside the uterus, for example in the fallopian tubes, ovaries, or even the bladder or intestines creating an adverse environment in these unsuitable organs. Its cause is largely unknown.
Changes to the uterus or cervix
Sperm may fail to reach the egg if scarring caused by surgery, blockage or inflammation, reduces access to the cervix. A myoma or fibroid (a benign tumour in the uterus) may be the cause of persistent fertility problems or miscarriage.
Reproductive malformations
In very rare cases, conception difficulties are caused by congenital irregularities with the reproductive system that could affect the shape and side of the uterus, the fallopian tubes, the vagina or a combination of these.
Immune system disorders
On rare occasions, an impaired immune system may treat the egg or sperm as a ‘foreign body’. and attack it as an ‘intruder’.
| The overall success rate for Assisted Reproduction Technologies (ART) is high. A Danish study from 2009 found that within five years of starting ART treatment, almost 70% of couples had succeeded in having at least one child.2 It’s important to remember however that the success rate for fertility treatment is not absolute. The outcome will be different for every individual couple and clinic. |
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1. Boivin J et al, International estimates of infertility prevalence and treatment seeking: potential need and demand for infertility medical care. Hum Reprod. 2007; 22: 1506-1512. 2. Pinbourg A et al, Prospective longitudinal cohort study on cumulative 5-year delivery and adoption rates among 1338 couples initiating infertility treatment. Hum Reprod.2009;24: 991-999.
