ABSTRACT
In humans, reproduction refers to the ability to conceive and produce the next generation of offspring. Reproduction usually occurs as a result of sexual intercourse between a man and a woman, although artificial insemination and in vitro fertilisation also enables this process to take place without the need for actual sex. Although there are clear similarities in the way in which these hormones influence the male and female reproductive systems, there are also important differences. The male reproductive system has two main functions: to produce and transport male gametes and to deposit them within the female reproductive system. The female reproductive system consists of the vulva, vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes, fimbriae and ovaries. When discussing the female reproductive system it is convenient to divide it into two parts: the external genitalia and the internal components. The uterus or womb is a hollow muscular organ that is comparable in size and shape to an upside-down pear.
