The female reproductive system is the organ system in girls and women responsible for maintaining the reproductive cycle. The organs and tissues in the system have specific roles, such as producing eggs (ovaries) and carrying a developing fetus (uterus).

The external structures of the female reproductive system are collectively referred to as the vulva. They include the mons pubis, labia and clitoris. These structures cover and protect the vaginal opening.

The vagina is the outermost internal reproductive structure in females. It is separated from the uterus, also known as the womb, by the cervix. The fallopian tubes attach to the upper corners of the uterus. Each one ends in a funnel-like area with finger-like fringes that wrap around, but do not completely connect with, the ovaries. The ovaries store, nurture and release the eggs and produce female sex hormones (e.g., estrogen, progesterone).

At some point during puberty, once the reproductive system has matured, the monthly menstrual cycle begins. At the beginning of the menstrual cycle, one of the ovaries releases an egg that travels into the fallopian tube. If it is not fertilized, it is expelled from the body along with blood and uterine tissue (endometrium) in the process called menstruation.

If a man’s sperm meets an egg in the fallopian tube, the egg may be fertilized. Once fertilized, the egg continues to travel through the fallopian tube and into the uterus, where it becomes implanted into the inner lining. It develops into an embryo and then a fetus. The fetus continues to grow and develop, cushioned by the amniotic fluid (fluid contained in the uterus during pregnancy to protect the fetus and regulate temperature) and nourished by the placenta (endometrium spongy structure that nourishes the fetus).

Around an average of about 280 days (about nine months) after fertilization, the fetus is ready to be born. The mucus plug in the cervical opening loosens, the walls of the uterus begin to contract, and the cervical opening begins to widen until it is wide enough for the infant to pass through. Once the infant passes through the cervix, it is pushed along the birth canal and out of the body.

A number of conditions may affect the reproductive system of female children and adolescents (e.g., urinary tract infections, yeast infections). If a child or adolescent displays any signs or symptoms of any condition affecting her reproductive system, a visit to a pediatrician is warranted.