Physiological processes in a woman’s body at different periods of life. When can I give birth? Boundaries of a woman’s reproductive age The period of maturity in women continues

The functional state of a woman’s reproductive system is largely determined by the periods of life, among which it is customary to distinguish the following:

Antenatal (intrauterine) period;
- neonatal period (up to 10 days after birth);
- childhood period (up to 8 years);
- period of puberty, or puberty (from 8 to 16 years);
- period of puberty, or reproductive (from 17 to 40 years);
- premenopausal period (from 41 years to the onset of menopause);
- postmenopausal period (from the moment of permanent cessation of menstruation).

Antenatal period.Ovaries. During embryonic development, the gonads are the first to develop (starting from 3-4 weeks of intrauterine life). By 6-7 weeks of embryo development, the indifferent stage of gonad formation ends. From the 10th week, female gonads are formed. At week 20, primordial follicles form in the fetal ovaries, which represent an oocyte surrounded by compacted epithelial cells. At week 25, the tunica albuginea of ​​the ovary appears. At 31-32 weeks, granular cells of the inner lining of the follicle differentiate. From 37-38 weeks the number of cavity and maturing follicles increases. By the time of birth, the ovaries are morphologically formed.

Internal genital organs. The fallopian tubes, uterus and upper third of the vagina originate from the paramesonephric ducts. From 5-6 weeks of embryo development, the development of the fallopian tubes begins. At 13-14 weeks, the uterus is formed by the fusion of the distal sections of the parameso-nephric ducts: initially the uterus is bicornuate, but later acquires a saddle-shaped configuration, which is often preserved at the time of birth. At 16-20 weeks, the cervix differentiates. From the 17th week, the labia develop. By 24-25 weeks, the hymen is clearly visible.

Hypothalamic-pituitary system. From 8-9 weeks of the antenatal period, the secretory activity of the adenohypophysis is activated: FSH and LH are determined in the pituitary gland, fetal blood and in small quantities in the amniotic fluid; during the same period, GnRH is identified. At 10-13 weeks, neurotransmitters are detected. From the 19th week, the secretion of prolactin by adenocytes begins.

Newborn period. At the end of intrauterine development of the fetus, high levels of maternal estrogens inhibit the secretion of gonadotropins from the fetal pituitary gland; a sharp decrease in the mother’s estrogen content in the newborn’s body stimulates the release of FSH and LH by the girl’s adenohypophysis, which provides a short-term increase in the function of her ovaries. By the 10th day of a newborn’s life, manifestations of estrogenic effects are eliminated.

Childhood period. It is characterized by low functional activity of the reproductive system: the secretion of estradiol is insignificant, the maturation of follicles to the antral occurs rarely and unsystematically, the release of GnRH is inconsistent; receptor connections between subsystems are not developed, the secretion of neurotransmitters is poor.

Puberty period. During this period (from 8 to 16 years), not only the maturation of the reproductive system occurs, but also the physical development of the female body is completed: body growth in length, ossification of the growth zones of tubular bones, the physique and distribution of fat and muscle tissue according to the female type are formed.

Currently, in accordance with the degree of maturity of the hypothalamic structures, three periods of maturation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian system are distinguished.

First period- prepubertal (8-9 years) - characterized by increased secretion of gonadotropins in the form of individual acyclic emissions; estrogen synthesis is low. A “jump” in body length growth is noted, the first signs of feminization of the physique appear: the hips are rounded due to an increase in the amount and redistribution of adipose tissue, the formation of the female pelvis begins, the number of epithelial layers in the vagina increases with the appearance of intermediate-type cells.

Second period- the first phase of the puberty period (10-13 years) - is characterized by the formation of daily cyclicity and an increase in the secretion of GnRH, FSH and LH, under the influence of which the synthesis of ovarian hormones increases. The mammary glands begin to enlarge, pubic hair begins to grow, the vaginal flora changes - lactobacilli appear. This period ends with the appearance of the first menstruation - menarche, which coincides in time with the end of the rapid growth of the body in length.

Third period- the second phase of the pubertal period (14-16 years) - is characterized by the establishment of a stable rhythm of GnRH secretion, a high (ovulatory) release of FSH and LH against the background of their basal monotonous secretion. The development of the mammary glands and sexual hair is completed, the body grows in length, and the female pelvis is finally formed; The menstrual cycle becomes ovulatory.

First ovulation represents the culmination of puberty, but does not mean puberty, which occurs by 16-17 years. Puberty is understood as the completion of the formation of not only the reproductive system, but also the entire woman’s body, prepared for conception, pregnancy, childbirth and feeding a newborn.

Period of puberty. Age from 17 to 40 years. The features of this period are manifested in specific morphofunctional transformations of the reproductive system (Section H.1.1.).

Premenopausal period. The premenopausal period lasts from 41 years to the onset of menopause - the last menstruation in a woman's life, which on average occurs at the age of 50 years. Declining activity of the gonads. A distinctive feature of this period is a change in the rhythm and duration of menstruation, as well as the volume of menstrual blood loss: menstruation becomes less abundant (hypomenorrhea), their duration is shortened (oligomenorrhea), and the intervals between them increase (opsomenorrhea).

The following phases of the premenopausal period are conventionally distinguished:

Hypolutein - there are no clinical symptoms, there is a slight decrease in the secretion of lutropin by the adenohypophysis and progesterone by the ovaries;
- hyperestrogenic - characterized by the absence of ovulation (anovulatory menstrual cycle), cyclical secretion of FSH and LH, an increase in estrogen content, which leads to a delay of menstruation for 2-3 months, often with subsequent bleeding; the concentration of gestagens is minimal;
- hypoestrogenic - amenorrhea is observed, a significant decrease in estrogen levels - the follicle does not mature and atrophies early;
- ahormonal - the functional activity of the ovaries ceases, estrogens are synthesized in small quantities only by the adrenal cortex (compensatory hypertrophy of the cortex), the production of gonadotropins increases; clinically characterized by persistent amenorrhea.

Postmenopause. The ahormonal phase coincides with the beginning of the postmenopausal period. Postmenopause is characterized by atrophy of the internal genital organs (the mass of the uterus decreases, its muscular elements are replaced by connective tissue, the vaginal epithelium becomes thinner due to a decrease in its layering), urethra, bladder, and pelvic floor muscles. In postmenopause, metabolism is disrupted, pathological conditions of the cardiovascular, skeletal and other systems are formed.

Hello, friends!

A woman’s health, like a man’s health, is of great importance to maintain healthy offspring..

At different periods of life, depending on anatomical and physiological characteristics, the nature of the pathology that occurs in a woman’s body changes.

So, the topic:

Periods of a woman's life.

How did it all begin?

...Yes, it all started with a single “seed” that appeared as a result of the fusion of male and female reproductive cells.

In her development, a woman has several age periods in anatomical, physiological and functional terms, depending on a number of factors.

This:

- period of intrauterine development– antenatal period (Latin word: ante – before, natus – birth)

- childhood period– childhood lasts from birth to 9-10 years of age (7-9 years of childhood can be considered prepubertal age, that is, the transition from childhood to the age of puberty)

- puberty– pubertal (Latin word: pubertas – puberty, manhood) period – from 9-10 years to 15-16 years

- teenage years– up to 16-18 years old

- period of puberty– reproductive (Latin word: product – produce) – period of reproduction, reproduction; continues - from 18 to 40 years; According to modern data, it lasts up to 49 years

- menopause:

*premenopausal period – transitional period – 2-5 years before the cessation of menstrual function

*menopause – the actual cessation of menstrual function – 45-55 years

*postmenopause - from the moment of persistent cessation of menstrual function in a woman (usually 5 years after menopause) - the woman’s body is completely rebuilt to live in a different capacity - in a period of rest.

Digital values ​​of periods may have deviations in one direction or another (different authors indicate differently, depending on a number of factors).

Separation by age periods is necessary for a correct understanding of deviations from normal development and functional viability reproductive system.

Various types of disorders can occur already at the earliest stages of embryo development.

1. Prenatal period.

During this period, the formation, development, and maturation of all organs and systems of the fetus occur, including the reproductive system, including the ovaries.

The laying and embryonic development of the ovaries is an important part of the regulation functions of the reproductive system in the process of postnatal ontogenesis (Greek word: ontos – existing, genesis – origin), that is, in the process of individual development (the totality of transformations occurring in the body from the moment of birth to the end of life).

Before the 8th week of intrauterine development of the embryo, so-called oogonia (oogonia) appear in the embryonic rudiments of the future ovaries - primordial germ cells capable of mitosis (Greek word: mitos - a thread). Mitosis – This is an indirect cell division, ensuring a strictly identical distribution of chromosomes between daughter nuclei, the formation of genetically identical daughter cells, and maintaining continuity in a number of cell generations.

With the development of pregnancy, oogonia are transformed into oocytes (oocytes), then into primary - primordial follicles (Latin word: folliculus - sac) - bubble-like formations in the ovaries. Several million primordial follicles initially appear in the ovaries of the fetus; by the time the girl is born, 400,000-500,000 remain.

A number of harmful factors during this period:

Infections – acute and chronic

Intoxication – acute and chronic

Ionizing radiation

Medications

Harmful working and living conditions

Alcoholism, drug addiction, smoking and others -

may have a damaging effect on the embryo or fetus:

Embryopathic damage

Terotogenic damage, -

thereby contributing to the development of anomalies of various organs and systems, including the genitals. This can lead to disruption of specific functions of the female body as a result of damage to various parts of the regulation of menstrual function, including. As a result, a girl during puberty may experience various disorders of menstrual, and subsequently childbearing (reproductive) function.

2.Childhood.

During this period, there is relative rest of the reproductive system.

The first days after birth, when the effect of placental steroid hormones (mainly estrogens) ceases, the girl may develop a so-called sexual crisis:

Bloody vaginal discharge

Breast engorgement.

During childhood, the genital organs gradually develop, maintaining the characteristic features of childhood. This :

The predominance of the size of the cervix over the size of the body of the uterus

Fallopian tube tortuosity

Lack of mature follicles in the ovaries

Lack of secondary sexual characteristics.

3.Puberty. It begins long before menstruation and continues for 3-5 years. Happens:

- relatively rapid development of the organs of the reproductive system, including the uterus, mainly its body

The appearance and development of secondary sexual characteristics:

*formation of the female skeleton (especially the pelvis)

*fat deposition according to the female type

*hair growth in the pubic area

*hair growth in the armpits

*and most importantly, the onset of the first menstruation - menarche - at 12-14 years, deviation - at 9-10-17 years, the formation of menstruation occurs within 6 months - 1 year

Character traits typical of girls begin to appear - shyness, desire to be liked … .

4.Adolescence, it is a transitional period - the transition from the period of puberty to the onset of puberty - the flourishing of the development of the organs of the reproductive system.

5.Puberty– reproductive period. It is the longest period of a woman's life. During this period, all the necessary conditions for pregnancy are created in the female body. Specific changes occur in the nervous system, endocrine system, ovaries and uterus, and manifest themselves in the form of cyclical regular menstruation.

6. Menopause– cessation of reproductive function:

*premenopause – transition from the state of puberty to the cessation of menstrual function; ovarian function gradually fades away, menstruation becomes irregular; transition to a state of venerable age

*menopause is the period when menstruation actually stops

* postmenopause - the female body is finally rebuilt for life in a new quality - at rest; complete cessation of menstrual function, involution of the genital organs, general signs of aging of the body.

Disorders that occur in the female body are associated with her age periods of life.

So:

- in antenatal developmental anomalies occur more often during this period

- during childhood– most often develop inflammatory diseases of the external genitalia and vagina

- during puberty– dysfunctional uterine bleeding and other menstrual dysfunction are observed

- during puberty– inflammatory diseases of the female genital organs, menstrual dysfunction of various origins, cysts, infertility; towards the end of this period, the incidence of benign and malignant formations of the genital organs increases

- premenopausal– the incidence of tumor formations and menstrual dysfunction increases significantly; the incidence of inflammatory processes decreases

- postmenopausal– the most common occurrences are prolapse and prolapse of the genital organs, tumor formations (mostly malignant).

Age specifics gynecological diseases are caused by the anatomical and physiological characteristics of the female body at different periods of her life. Knowing them makes it easier to diagnose and prevent pathologies in the female body. Consequently, it contributes to the preservation of Healthy Offspring.

Take care of yourself, dear women. Cherish your woman, dear men.

Woman – Mother of the World. A woman is your daughter, friend, life partner, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother,... .

God bless you!

I hope the information was useful.

With respect and good wishes, Rasalija.

It is customary to distinguish between seven periods: 1) the period of antenatal, or intrauterine, development; 2) the period of childhood (from birth to 9-10 years); 3) puberty, or the period of puberty (from 9-10 years to 15-16 years); 4) adolescence (from 16 to 18 years); 5) period of puberty, or reproductive (from 18 to 40 years); 6) premenopausal period, or transitional period (from 41 to 50 years); 7) the period of aging, or postmenopause (from the moment of permanent cessation of menstrual function).

1.During the prenatal period the formation, development and maturation of all organs and systems of the fetus, including the reproductive system, occur. In the antenatal period, the formation and embryonic development of the ovaries occur, which are one of the most important links in the regulation of the function of the reproductive system of the female body in the process of postnatal ontogenesis.

2. During childhood There is relative rest of the reproductive system. Only during the first few days after the birth of a girl, under the influence of the cessation of the influence of placental steroid hormones (mainly estrogens), can she develop phenomena of the so-called sexual crisis (bloody discharge from the vagina, engorgement of the mammary glands). In childhood, the organs of the reproductive system gradually grow, but the features typical for this age are preserved: the predominance of the size of the cervix over the size of the body, tortuosity of the fallopian tubes, the absence of mature follicles in the ovaries, etc. During childhood, there are no secondary sexual characteristics.

3. Puberty characterized by relatively rapid growth of the organs of the reproductive system and primarily the uterus (mainly its body), the appearance and development of secondary sexual characteristics, the formation of the female type of skeleton (especially the pelvis), the deposition of fat according to the female type, the growth of hair first on the pubis and then in the armpits depressions. The most striking sign of puberty is the onset of the first menstruation (menarche). The appearance and formation of menstrual function occurs under the influence of the cyclic secretion of releasing factors of the hypothalamus, gonadotropic hormones of the pituitary gland and ovarian steroid hormones. Ovarian hormones have a corresponding effect on the uterine mucosa, causing characteristic cyclic changes in it (proliferation, secretion, desquamation).

4. Puberty period is the longest. Due to the regular maturation of follicles in the ovaries and ovulation with the subsequent development of the corpus luteum during this period, all the necessary conditions for pregnancy are created in the female body. The most clearly expressed indicators of the normal functioning of a woman’s reproductive system during puberty are specific cyclic changes that occur in the central nervous system, ovaries and uterus, which outwardly manifests itself in the form of regular menstruation.

5. Premenopausal period characterized by the transition from the state of puberty to the cessation of menstrual function and the onset of old age. During this period, women often develop various disorders of menstrual function, the cause of which is age-related disorders of the central mechanisms that regulate the function of the genital organs.

The concept of “age” can be considered from different aspects: from the point of view of the chronology of events, biological processes of the body, social formation and psychological development.

Age covers the entire life course. It begins from birth and ends with physiological death. Age shows from birth to a specific event in a person's life.

Birth, growing up, development, old age - all human lives, of which the entire earthly path consists. Having been born, a person began his first stage, and then, over time, he will go through all of them sequentially.

Classification of age periods from a biological point of view

There is no single classification; at different times it was compiled differently. The delimitation of periods is associated with a certain age, when significant changes occur in the human body.

A person’s life is the periods between key “points”.

Passport or chronological age may not coincide with biological age. It is by the latter that one can judge how he will perform his work, what loads his body can withstand. Biological age can either lag behind the passport age or be ahead of it.

Let's consider the classification of life periods, which is based on the concept of age based on physiological changes in the body:

Scientists' views on the age periods of human life

Depending on the era and country, scientists and philosophers proposed different criteria for grading the main stages of life.

For example:

• Chinese scientists divided human life into 7 phases. “Desirable,” for example, was the age from 60 to 70 years. This is a period of development of human spirituality and wisdom.
• The ancient Greek scientist Pythagoras identified the stages of human life with the seasons. Each lasted 20 years.
• The ideas of Hippocrates became fundamental for the further determination of periods of life. He identified 10, each 7 years long, starting from birth.

Periods of life according to Pythagoras

The ancient philosopher Pythagoras, considering the stages of human existence, identified them with the seasons. He identified four of them:

• Spring is the beginning and development of life, from birth to 20 years.
• Summer is youth, from 20 to 40 years.
• Autumn is the heyday, from 40 to 60 years.
• Winter - fading, from 60 to 80 years.

Periods according to Pythagoras had a duration of exactly 20 years. Pythagoras believed that everything on Earth is measured by numbers, which he treated not only as mathematical symbols, but also endowed them with a certain magical meaning. Numbers also allowed him to determine the characteristics of the cosmic order.

Pythagoras also applied the concept of “quaternary” to age periods, because he compared them with eternal, unchanging natural phenomena, for example, the elements.

The periods of human life (according to Pythagoras) and their benefits are based on the idea of ​​eternal recurrence. Life is eternal, like seasons changing each other, and man is a part of nature, lives and develops according to its laws.

The concept of “seasons” according to Pythagoras

Identifying the age intervals of a person’s life with the seasons, Pythagoras focused on the fact that:

• Spring is the time of beginning, the birth of life. The child develops, absorbing new knowledge with pleasure. He is interested in everything around him, but everything is still happening in the form of a game. The child is blossoming.
• Summer is the period of growing up. A person blossoms, he is attracted by everything new, still unknown. Continuing to blossom, a person does not lose his childish fun.
• Autumn - a person has become an adult, balanced, the former gaiety has given way to confidence and leisureliness.
• Winter is a period of reflection and summing up. The man has gone most of the way and is now considering the results of his life.

The main periods of people's earthly journey

Considering the existence of an individual, we can distinguish the main periods of a person’s life:

• youth;
• mature age;
• old age.

At each stage, a person acquires something new, revises his values, and changes his social status in society.

The basis of existence is made up of periods of human life. The characteristics of each of them are associated with growing up, changes in the environment, and state of mind.

Features of the main stages of personality existence

The periods of a person’s life have their own characteristics: each stage complements the previous one, bringing with it something new, something that has not yet happened in life.

Youth is characterized by maximalism: the dawn of mental and creative abilities occurs, the basic physiological processes of growing up are completed, appearance and well-being improve. At this age, a system is established, time is valued, self-control increases, and others are re-evaluated. A person decides on the direction of his life.

Having reached the threshold of maturity, a person has already reached certain heights. In the professional sphere, he occupies a stable position. This period coincides with the strengthening and maximum development of social status, decisions are made thoughtfully, a person does not avoid responsibility, appreciates the present day, can forgive himself and others for the mistakes he has made, and really evaluates himself and others. This is the age of achievement, conquering peaks and obtaining maximum opportunities for your development.

Old age is more associated with losses than with gains. A person ends his working life, his social environment changes, and inevitable physiological changes appear. However, a person can still engage in self-development, in most cases this happens more on a spiritual level, on the development of the inner world.

Critical points

The most important periods of human life are associated with changes in the body. They can also be called critical: hormonal levels change, which causes changes in mood, irritability and nervousness.

Psychologist E. Erickson identifies 8 crisis periods in a person’s life:

• Teenage years.
• A person’s entry into adulthood is the thirtieth birthday.
• Transition to the fourth decade.
• Fortieth birthday.
• Midlife - 45 years.
• Fiftieth anniversary.
• Fifty-fifth anniversary.
• Fifty-sixth birthday.

Confidently overcoming “critical points”

Overcoming each of the presented periods, a person moves to a new stage of development, while overcoming the difficulties that arose along the way, and strives to conquer new heights of his life.

The child breaks away from his parents and tries to independently find his own direction in life.

In the third decade, a person reconsiders his principles and changes his views on the environment.

Approaching their thirties, people try to gain a foothold in life, climb the career ladder, and begin to think more rationally.

In the middle of life, a person begins to wonder whether he is living correctly. There is a desire to do something that will leave a memory of him. Frustration and fear for your life appear.

At the age of 50, a slowdown in physiological processes affects health; age-related changes occur. However, the person has already correctly set his life priorities, his nervous system works stably.

At 55 years old wisdom appears and a person enjoys life.

At 56 years old, a person thinks more about the spiritual side of his life and develops his inner world.

Doctors say that if you are prepared and know about the critical periods of life, then overcoming them will happen calmly and painlessly.

Conclusion

A person decides for himself by what criteria he divides his life periods, and what he means by the concept of “age”. It could be:

• Purely external attractiveness, which a person seeks to prolong by all available means. And he considers himself young as long as his appearance allows it.
• The division of life into “youth” and “the end of youth.” The first period lasts as long as there is an opportunity to live without obligations, problems, responsibility, the second - when problems and life difficulties appear.
• Physiological changes in the body. A person clearly follows changes and identifies his age with them.
• The concept of age is associated with the state of the soul and consciousness. A person measures his age by his state of mind and inner freedom.

As long as a person’s life is filled with meaning, a desire to learn something new, and all this is organically combined with the wisdom and spiritual wealth of the inner world, a person will be forever young, despite the weakening of the physical capabilities of his body.

In the specialized medical literature, there are reports of pregnancy in a six-year-old girl with premature sexual development and in a 113-year-old woman, who was apparently distinguished by the special preservation and activity of the endocrine system.

Of course, such cases belong to the category of casuistic, that is, exceptional, falling out of social patterns. But even within the limits of the laws, individual fluctuations are very large, and therefore it is impossible to say with absolute accuracy from what age and ending with what age a woman is able to become pregnant and give birth to a child.

There are six periods in the development of the female body. This is the period childhood(up to 8 years), the period preceding puberty ( prepubertal- 8-11 years old); period of puberty ( pubertal- 12-18 years old); childbearing(reproductive - 19-45 years); transitional ( climacteric 45-55 years): period of withering ( postmenopause- after 55 years).

Their change is determined by the changes that occur in the gonads, in the cerebral cortex, its subcortical structures (hypothalamus), and in the leading endocrine gland - the pituitary gland.

The female sex glands are the ovaries. An egg matures in them, capable of merging with a male reproductive cell - a sperm - to give rise to a new life. But the maturation of the egg occurs only if there is a clear interaction between the functions of the ovary and the mechanisms that regulate its activity. In its most general form, it goes like this: the hypothalamus produces hormones that stimulate the pituitary gland, and pituitary hormones awaken the activity of the ovaries.

In the first years of a girl's life, the regulatory systems and especially the ovaries are almost inactive. This period is rightly called “rest of the reproductive system.” Only within a few days after the birth of a girl, under the influence of placental and maternal hormones, she may develop the phenomenon of the so-called sexual crisis (bloody discharge from the vagina, engorgement of the mammary glands).

Only in the prepubertal period does the formation of the complex system hypothalamus - pituitary gland - ovaries begin. For some time, her activities proceed chaotically, with many disruptions and dissonances. The reproductive cell, as a rule, does not yet mature, but under the influence of hormones produced by the pituitary gland and ovaries, signs of puberty appear - a female physique is formed, and the mammary glands develop. From 11 to 15 years, girls experience a period of rapid growth, they seem to “stretch out”; from 15 to 19 years, processes of fatty tissue deposition predominate; The girl doesn’t stretch out so much as she gets fatter and takes shape.

From the moment the first menstruation appears, and this can happen from 11 to 16 years, puberty begins (that is, the period of puberty). Now a clearer relationship is being established between the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and ovaries. Menstruation gradually becomes regular. The time of onset and course of puberty is influenced by external and internal factors. Internal factors include hereditary and constitutional factors, health status and body weight; to external ones - climatic (illumination, geographical location, altitude), nature of nutrition (content of proteins, vitamins, fats, carbohydrates, microelements in food).

I wouldn’t want, of course, for the decline of reproductive function to be perceived as a decline of the body in general. No, that's a long way off! A woman even during menopause is still full of strength, energy, and attractiveness. It must be said that sexologists believe that prolonging intimate life at this age helps to prolong the activity of the endocrine system and maintain general tone.

Sevostyanova Oksana Sergeevna