Question

If the ovaries are removed in the first 6 weeks of pregnancy, there will be a miscarriage and the embryo will be lost. If they are removed later in the pregnancy, the pregnancy can go to full term without the baby being affected. Explain the difference

Answer 1

Answer:

Human female reproductive system has the primary sex organ being a pair of ovaries which are oval in shape and are located in the lower abdominal region of the body. The ovaries remains connected to the uterus with a structure called as ovarian ligament. The main function of the ovaries is;

a) Formation and release of the primary, secondary, and tertiary (Graffian) follicles

b) Rupturing of the Graffian follicles thus releasing the secondary oocyte (process is called as ovulation)

c) Release of different reproductive hormones like estrogen and progesterone which plays a very important role in the regulation of the reproductive events within the body of human females

Ovulation is the process wherein the Graffian follicle or the tertiary follicle ruptures within the ovaries thus releasing the secondary oocyte which is later received by the fimbrae and then moves to the ampulla-isthmic junction of the fallopian tube. The left over cells within the tertiary follicle together forms a temporary endocrine gland which is known as the corpus luteum as it takes over the role of releasing the hormone progesterone which is required to maintain pregnancy initially within the first 6 weeks of pregnancy. The corpus luteum is formed within the ovaries and hence the ovaries are considered to be very essential and important within the first six months of pregnancy.

Summary: Hormone progesterone is very important to maintain and support the pregnancy. Within the first 6 weeks of the pregnancy, the hormone gets released by the temporary endocrine gland named corpus luteum within the ovaries. Hence if within the initial weeks of pregnancy the ovaries will be removed, it will result into the miscarriage and also the embryo will be lost in the absence of progesterone.

However, in the later stages of pregnancy, the placenta gets formed and also it takes over the role of releasing the hormone Progesterone. Also under the high concentration of the hormone progesterone, the process of ovulation which takes place within the ovaries gets ceased. So, even if the ovaries gets removed in the later stages of pregnancy, the gestational term can continue to proceed in its full term without affecting the baby.