Age-specific characteristics of female genitalia

The ovary in a newborn girl is cylindrical. During the second childhood (8-12 years), the ovary becomes ovoid. The length of the ovary in a newborn is 1.5-3.0 cm, the width is 4-8 mm. During the first childhood, the length becomes 2.5 cm. In adolescence and youth, the length of the ovary increases to 5 cm, the width reaches 3 cm, the thickness is 1.5 cm. The mass of the ovary in a newborn is 0.16 g, in infancy (up to 1 year) - 0.84 g, during the first childhood (4-7 years) - 3.3 g and in adolescence - 6.03 g. In women after 40-50 years, the mass of the ovaries decreases, and after 60-70 years, gradual ovarian atrophy occurs. The surface of the ovaries is smooth in newborns and in infancy. Beginning in adolescence, their surface becomes uneven and bumpy due to swelling of maturing follicles and the presence of corpora lutea in the ovarian tissue. In newborns, the ovarian tissue contains primordial follicles; in infancy, primary ovarian follicles appear. In adolescence, secondary (vesicular) follicles form in the ovarian cortex, which appear as cavities with light contents when viewed through the organ. In newborns, the ovaries are still located outside the pelvic cavity, above the pubic symphysis, and are strongly tilted forward. By the age of 3-5, the ovaries acquire a transverse position as a result of downward displacement and rotation around their long axis by approximately 90°. By the period of early childhood (4-7 years), the ovaries descend into the pelvic cavity, where they assume the position that is typical for them in an adult woman.

The uterus in a newborn, in infancy and in early childhood (up to 3 years) has a cylindrical shape, flattened in the anteroposterior direction. During the second childhood, the uterus becomes rounded, its bottom expands. In adolescents, the uterus becomes pear-shaped. This shape is preserved in an adult woman. The length of the uterus in a newborn is 3.5 cm (2/5 of its length is the cervix), by 10 years it increases to 3 cm, in adolescence - up to 5.5 cm. In an adult woman, the length of the uterus is 6-8 cm. During the second childhood (8-12 years), the length of the body and cervix of the uterus are almost equal, in adolescents the length of the body of the uterus increases relatively, and in adolescence reaches 5 cm.

The weight of the uterus increases slowly at first and then rapidly. In a newborn, the weight of the uterus is 3-5 g, in adolescence (12-15 years) - approximately 6.5 g, and in young adulthood (16-20 years) - 25-30 g. The uterus has its maximum weight (45-80 g) at the age of 30-40 years, and after 50 years its weight gradually decreases.

The cervical canal in a newborn is wide and usually contains a mucous plug. The mucous membrane of the uterus forms branched folds, which smooth out by the age of 6-7. The uterine glands are few in number, but as the girl ages, their number increases, their structure becomes more complex, and by the period of puberty they become branched. The muscular membrane of the uterus, poorly developed in a newborn girl, thickens as the uterus grows, especially after 5-6 years.

In newborns, the uterus is tilted forward. The cervix is directed downwards and backwards. The uterus is located high, protruding above the pubic symphysis. The ligaments of the uterus are weak, so it easily shifts to the sides. After 7 years, a large amount of connective and fatty tissue appears around the uterus between the sheets of its broad ligaments. As the size of the pelvis increases and in connection with the lowering of the organs located in it, the uterus gradually shifts downwards and in adolescence takes the position typical of this organ in a mature woman. In old and senile age, due to a decrease in fatty tissue in the pelvic cavity, the mobility of the uterus increases.

The fallopian tubes of a newborn are curved and do not touch the ovaries. During the period of maturation (in adolescence), due to the growth of the uterus, its broad ligaments and the increase in the cavity of the small pelvis, the fallopian tubes lose their tortuosity, descend downwards, and approach the ovaries. The length of the fallopian tube in a newborn is approximately 3.5 cm, and during puberty it increases rapidly. In older women, the wall of the fallopian tube becomes sharply thinner due to atrophy of the muscular membrane, and the folds of the mucous membrane are smoothed out.

The vagina of a newborn is short (2.5-3.5 cm), arcuately curved, its anterior wall is shorter than the posterior. The lower part of the vagina faces forward. As a result, the longitudinal axis of the vagina with the axis of the uterus forms an obtuse angle, open to the front. The opening of the vagina is narrow. Until the age of 10, the vagina changes little, and grows rapidly in adolescence.

The pubis of a newborn girl is convex, the labia majora are loose, as if edematous. The labia minora are not completely covered by the labia majora. The vestibule of the vagina is deep, especially in its anterior part, where the external opening of the urethra is located. In the posterior third, the vestibule of the vagina is limited by the labia majora, and in the anterior parts - by the labia minora; the hymen is dense. The vestibule glands of a newborn are poorly developed.

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