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The   (or female genital system) contains two main parts:
the uterus, which hosts the developing fetus, produces vaginal and uterine secretions, and
passes the male's sperm through to the fallopian tubes; and the ovaries, which produce the
female's egg cells. These parts are internal; the vagina meets the external organs at the vulva,
which includes the labia, clitoris and urethra. The vagina is attached to the uterus through
the cervix, while the uterus is attached to the ovaries via the Fallopian tubes. At certain
intervals, the ovaries release an ovum, which passes through the Fallopian tube into the uterus.

If, in this transit, it meets with sperm, the sperm penetrate and merge with the
egg, fertilizing it. The fertilization usually occurs in the oviducts, but can happen in
the uterus itself. The zygote then implants itself in the wall of the uterus, where it begins the
processes of embryogenesis and morphogenesis. When developed enough to survive outside
the womb, the cervix dilates and contractions of the uterus propel the fetus through the birth
canal, which is the vagina.

The ova are larger than sperm and have formed by the time a female is born.
Approximately every month, a process of oogenesis matures one ovum to be sent down
the Fallopian tube attached to its ovary in anticipation of fertilization. If not fertilized, this egg is
flushed out of the system through menstruation, female's internal reproductive organs are the
vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes, cervix and ovary.

The vagina is a fibro muscular tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the
body in female mammals, or to the cloaca in female birds and some reptiles.
Female insects and other invertebrates also have a vagina, which is the terminal part of
the oviduct.

The vagina is the place where semen from the male is deposited into the female's body
at the climax of sexual intercourse, commonly known as ejaculation. Around the vagina, pubic
hair protects the vagina from infection and is a sign of puberty. The vagina is mostly used for
sexual intercourse.

The cervix is the lower, narrow portion of the uterus where it joins with the top end of
the vagina. It is cylindrical or conical in shape and protrudes through the upper anterior vaginal
wall. Approximately half its length is visible, the remainder lies above the vagina beyond view.
The vagina has a thick layer outside and it is the opening where baby comes out during
delivery. The cervix is also called the neck of the uterus.

The uterus or womb is the major female reproductive organ of humans. The uterus
provides mechanical protection, nutritional support, and waste removal for the developing
embryo (weeks1-8) and fetus (from week 9-delivery). In addition, contractions in the muscular
wall of the uterus are important in ejecting the fetus at the time of birth.

The uterus contains three suspensory ligaments that help stabilize the position of the
uterus and limits it's range of movement. The uterosacral ligaments, keep the body from moving
inferiorly and anteriorly. The round ligaments, restrict posterior movement of the uterus. The
cardinal ligaments, also prevent the inferior movement of the uterus.

The uterus is a pear-shaped muscular organ. Its major function is to accept a

fertilized ovum which becomes implanted into the endometrium, and derives nourishment from
blood vessels which develop exclusively for this purpose. The fertilized ovum becomes
an embryo, develops into a fetus and gestates until childbirth. If the egg does not embed in the
wall of the uterus, a woman begins menstruation and the egg is flushed away.

The Fallopian tubes or oviducts are two tubes leading from the ovaries of
female mammals into the uterus.

On maturity of an ovum, the follicle and the ovary's wall rupture, allowing the ovum to escape
and enter the Fallopian tube. There it travels toward the uterus, pushed along by movements
of cilia on the inner lining of the tubes. This trip takes hours or days. If the ovum is fertilized
while in the Fallopian tube, then it normally implants in the endometrium when it reaches the
uterus, which signals the beginning of pregnancy.

The ovaries are small, paired organs that are located near the lateral walls of the pelvic
cavity. These organs are responsible for the production of the ova and the secretion of
hormones. ovaries are the place inside the female body where ova or eggs are produced. The
process by which the ovum is released is called ovulation. The speed of ovulation
is periodic and impacts directly to the length of a menstrual cycle.

After ovulation, the ovum is captured by the oviduct, after traveling down the oviduct to
the uterus, occasionally being fertilized on its way by an incoming sperm, leading
to pregnancy and the eventual birth of a new human being.

The Fallopian tubes are often called the oviducts and they have small hairs (cilia) to help
the egg cell travel.

The external components include the mons pubis, labia majora, labia minora, Bartholin's
glands, and clitoris.
 

An    , or eccyesis, is a complication of pregnancy in which the

pregnancy implants outside the uterine cavity. With rare exceptions, ectopic pregnancies are not
viable. Furthermore, they are dangerous for the mother, internal bleeding being a common
complication. Most ectopic pregnancies occur in the Fallopian tube (so-called tubal
pregnancies), but implantation can also occur in the cervix, ovaries, and abdomen. An ectopic
pregnancy is a potential medical emergency, and, if not treated properly, can lead to death.

Types of Ectopic Pregnancies are (1) Tubal pregnancy. The vast majority of ectopic
pregnancies implant in the Fallopian tube. Pregnancies can grow in the fimbrial end (5% of all
ectopics), the ampullary section (80%), the isthmus (12%), and the cornual and interstitial part
of the tube (2%). Mortality of a tubal pregnancy at the isthmus or within the uterus (interstitial
pregnancy) is higher as there is increased vascularity that may result more likely in sudden
major internal hemorrhage. A review published in 2010 supports the hypothesis that tubal
ectopic pregnancy is caused by a combination of retention of the embryo within the fallopian
tube due to impaired embryo-tubal transport and alterations in the tubal environment allowing
early implantation to occur.

(2) Nontubal ectopic pregnancy. Two percent of ectopic pregnancies occur in the ovary,
cervix, or are intraabdominal. Transvaginal ultrasound examination is usually able to detect
a cervical pregnancy. An ovarian pregnancy is differentiated from a tubal pregnancy by
the Spiegelberg criteria.

While a fetus of ectopic pregnancy is typically not viable, very rarely, a live baby has
been delivered from an abdominal pregnancy. In such a situation the placenta sits on the
intraabdominal organs or the peritoneum and has found sufficient blood supply. This is generally
bowel or mesentery, but other sites, such as the renal (kidney), liver or hepatic (liver) artery or
even aorta have been described. Support to near viability has occasionally been described, but
even in third world countries, the diagnosis is most commonly made at 16 to 20 weeks
gestation. Such a fetus would have to be delivered by laparotomy. Maternal morbidity and
mortality from extrauterine pregnancy is high as attempts to remove the placenta from the
organs to which it is attached usually lead to uncontrollable bleeding from the attachment site. If
the organ to which the placenta is attached is removable, such as a section of bowel, then the
placenta should be removed together with that organ. This is such a rare occurrence that true
data are unavailable and reliance must be made on anecdotal reports. However, the vast
majority of abdominal pregnancies require intervention well before fetal viability because of the
risk of hemorrhage.

(3) Heterotopic pregnancy. In rare cases of ectopic pregnancy, there may be two
fertilized eggs, one outside the uterus and the other inside. This is called a heterotopic
pregnancy. Often the intrauterine pregnancy is discovered later than the ectopic, mainly
because of the painful emergency nature of ectopic pregnancies. Since ectopic pregnancies are
normally discovered and removed very early in the pregnancy, an ultrasound may not find the
additional pregnancy inside the uterus. When hCG levels continue to rise after the removal of
the ectopic pregnancy, there is the chance that a pregnancy inside the uterus is still viable. This
is normally discovered through an ultrasound.

Although rare, heterotopic pregnancies are becoming more common. The survival rate
of the uterine fetus of an ectopic pregnancy is around 70%.

Successful pregnancies have been reported from ruptured tubal pregnancy continuing
by the placenta implanting on abdominal organs or on the outside of the uterus.