The parts of the female body that are involved in pregnancy and child bearing are called the reproductive organs. They include the two ovaries, the two fallopian tubes, the uterus (womb), and the vagina. These organs lie inside the lower part of the abdomen, called the pelvis, and are protected by bones and muscles. The breasts are also affected by pregnancy and, of course, are essential for breastfeeding the baby.

Many people, even adults, do not know about the organs inside the body, and do not understand how pregnancy happens. These organs include:

The Ovaries: A woman has two ovaries, one on either side of the womb; each one is the size of a small nut. The ovaries produce the eggs which, if fertilized by sperm from the man, will develop into a baby during the following nine months. The ovaries also produce two important female hormones called estrogen and progesterone. These hormones greatly influence the growth, development, and function of the entire female body, and especially the reproductive organs, throughout a woman’s life. For example, hormones cause the breasts to row, and cause menstruation every month.

The Fallopian Tubes: The two fallopian tubes connect the ovaries to the womb on either side. The tubes are 4 – 5 inches (10 – 12 centimeters) long. When the egg is released from one of the ovaries every month, it is pulled into the fallopian tube and is very gently moved along the tube towards the womb. The man’s sperm meets and fertilizes the egg inside the fallopian tube. The fertilized egg then begins a slow journey to the womb, which it reaches about five days after being released from the ovary.

 The Uterus (womb): before pregnancy, the womb is about the size of a small mango or pear. It is about 3 – 4 inches (nine centimeters) long, and weighs only two ounces (60 grams). The lower end of the womb is called the cervix, and connects with the upper part of the vagina. The fertilized egg attaches itself to the lining on the inside of the womb, and the womb then protects and nourishes the new life until a fully developed baby is born. During pregnancy, the womb gradually grows to hold the growing baby, the bag of fluid which surrounds it, and the placenta (the afterbirth). By the time the baby is born, the womb alone weighs about two pounds (nearly a kilo) and holds an average of ten pounds or about five kilos (the baby, placenta, and the fluid around the baby).

The Cervix: The cervix is sometimes called the neck of the womb. It connects the womb to the vagina, and normally has a very small opening. During pregnancy this opening stays small, so that the baby stays inside the womb. During labor the cervix opens up (dilates) so that the baby can be born.

The Vagina: The vagina is the channel between the womb and the outside. Menstrual blood flows out of the womb through the vagina. The vagina also produces fluids; the amount of fluids, and their color and texture, varies at different times of the month. During sexual intercourse, the man puts his penis inside the vagina. When he “comes” or ejaculates, sperm from the penis enters the vagina, it then passes through the womb and into the fallopian tube, where it may fertilize the egg. During child birth the baby leaves the womb and enters the world through the vagina. This is why it is sometimes called the “birth canal”. The walls of the vagina are elastic and can stretch to allow the passage of the baby’s head and body.

The Vulva: The vulva is the area around the opening of the vagina which can be seen from the outside. The outer folds of skin, called the labia majora, are thick and covered with hair. The two inner folds of skin, called the labia minora, are much thinner. These inner folds form a hood around the clitoris, a small, sensitive organ above the vagina that responds to stimulation and makes sexual intercourse pleasurable. Inside the vaginal opening is a pair of glands that produce a thin fluid which moistens the vagina, especially during sexual excitement.

The Breasts: The main external feature of the breast is the nipple and the dark skin around it, called the areola. Inside, the breasts consist of fat and sacs called “glands” that produce milk. In many women, one breast is larger than the other. Often, both breasts swell slightly during the menstrual period. During pregnancy, the glands grow in size as they produce milk; often some liquid comes out of the nipple even before the baby is born.