1. The female Reproductive System

2.  The reproductive cells in females are called ova.  The functions of the female reproductive system are to:  produce sex hormones  to produce eggs  to provide a nourishing environment in which a fertilized egg can develop.

3.  The reproductive glands in which eggs are produced.  They are located a few inches below the waist, one on each side of the body.  Each ovary is about the size of an almond.  They each have two important functions:  Produce the female sex hormones  Release mature egg cells.

4.  The sex hormone estrogen activates certain physical changes at puberty, such as breast development, and controls the maturation of eggs.  Progesterone activates changes to a woman’s reproductive system before and during pregnancy.

5.  When a girl is born, each ovary contains hundreds of thousands of immature eggs.  The eggs begin to mature, or ripen, when the girl reaches puberty.  Once puberty begins, one of the ovaries releases a ripened egg about once a month in a process called ovulation.  The tiny egg that is released is no larger than a period at the end of a sentence.