I’m sure the first thing that probably comes to your mind after seeing the phrase “reproductive software” is the iOS, Android OS or maybe Windows OS. You might be wondering if we came to this world with pre-installed software which you haven’t heard about until now. Relax your mind – even though they can be compared in terms of overall function, our reproductive software is completely different from the ones on your devices.
Just as with your phone which has a hardware and software component, our reproductive system has the same. The hardware (vagina, womb, ovaries, penis and testis) is quite functionless without the accompanying software (hormones like testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone).
This article is a sequel to the write-up on reproductive hardware which you can find here. Over the next few paragraphs, we are going to look at how these two components work together, and what really happens when there’s a dysfunction in the hormonal system.
Before going into the web of connectivity between the two components, let’s take a quick dive into how we all came to be – the process of inception!
Firstly, for any form of pregnancy to occur, a woman must be ovulating. Ovulation involves the release of an ovum (egg), which then gets fertilized by a sperm cell – if the woman is sexually active. The product of this fertilization is what develops into a baby within the womb. After approximately 9 months, the baby is delivered, becoming the newest cute member of the family.
Now for these processes mentioned above to occur sequentially and at the right time, the body must release certain hormones at certain times. A reduced or excessive amount of these hormones can lead to fertility problems such as issues with conception (inability to get pregnant), or carrying the pregnancy to term (having early miscarriages).
Hormonal imbalance is a very common condition among women. Women with hormonal imbalances can have a variety of symptoms. While some might have issues with fertility, others might have problems with the regularity of their menstruation. You then keep wondering why everybody else gets visited monthly and you only get visited 2 or 3 times a year! There is an article that further explains the different types of menstrual disorders which you can find here.
Just as with women, men are not spared when it comes to the devastating impact of dysfunctional reproductive software. When there is an imbalance of hormones, a man can also have reduced libido and even a reduction in fertility. If it happens at a younger age, they can experience poor sexual development.
In all, our sexual and reproductive system is a very complex one. I however hope that this has helped to demystify it and that you are a bit more enlightened than you were when you started reading a few minutes ago.