Female reproductive system

The female reproductive system consists of:

• the ovaries (pair of oval-shaped glands located in the pelvic cavity, which produce ova (eggs), as well as the hormones oestrogen and progesterone
• the fallopian tubes (a system of ducts or tubes that transport the ova (egg), to the uterus for implantation
• the uterus (a muscular organ located in the pelvic cavity)
• the vagina (a tube or passage that connects the uterus to the exterior)
• external genitalia (consisting of the labia majora and labia minora, vaginal orifice and the clitoris)
• accessory sex glands (such as Skenes’s and Bartholin’s glands, which produce vaginal secretions).

Nervous system control of the female reproductive system

In the female reproductive system the nervous system controls:

• vaginal secretion production (under the control of the parasympathetic nerves from the S2, S3 and S4 levels of your spinal cord)
• orgasmic contraction of your uterus, vagina, and sphincters (controlled by spinal nerves from the S2-S4 levels of your spinal cord)
• your uterus, cervix and vagina (controlled by the sympathetic nerves from the T11-L2 levels of your spinal cord)
• sensation, which is transmitted from your genitals to your brain (controlled by spinal nerves from the S2-S4 levels of your spinal cord)

Further information:

• The pelvic, or pelvic splanchnic, nerve is formed by the parasympathetic nerves from the S2-S4 levels of the spinal cord.
• The hypogastric nerve is formed by the sympathetic nerves from the T11-L2 levels of the spinal cord.
• The pudendal nerves is formed by the spinal nerves from the S2-S4 levels of the spinal cord

Reflex female sexual function

You have a reflex or upper motor neuron (UMN) injury if you have a spinal cord injury above your conus medullaris (the bottom of your spinal cord) but the S2-S4 levels of your spinal cord remain intact. This means that your spinal and autonomic nerves located at these levels still have their reflex function.

In a UMN injury reflex activity continues to occur between your spinal cord and your reproductive system. Your injury will affect the following functions:

• reflex vaginal lubrication
• swelling of the clitoris
• swelling of the labia
• altered orgasm

Flaccid female sexual function

You have a lower motor neuron (LMN) injury if you have a spinal cord injury at or below the conus medullaris. Alternatively, severe lack of blood supply to any levels of the spinal cord, which occurs when an aortic aneurysm bursts, can cause the entire length of your spinal cord, including the conus medullaris, to be damaged.

This type of injury causes damage to either the spinal and autonomic nerves in the S2-4 levels of your spinal cord, or to the cauda equina. Reflex activity no longer continues between your spinal cord and your reproductive system.

A lower motor neuron injury affects your reproductive system in significant ways:

• loss of reflex vaginal lubrication
• loss of ability of the clitoris to swell
• loss of ability of the labia to swell
• altered orgasm

Your functioning will be dependent on the actual level and completeness of your spinal cord injury.

Further information

Paralysed Veteran's of America offer electronic publications for free. Sexuality and Reproductive Health in adults with spinal cord injury: What you should know