Uterous

The uterus has three major functions: to prepare a bed for a fertilized ovum, to nourish the developing embryo during pregnancy, and to expel the fetus. Shaped like an upside-down pear, and tilted forwards, it lies within the pelvis and is held in place, along with its two extensions, the Fallopian tubes, by ligaments and folds of the peritoneum. The cervix forms the lower third, connected by a narrow isthmus to the main muscular body of the uterus. The non-pregnant uterus weighs 45–60 g and is 7–8 cm long but its weight increases more than ten-fold by the end of pregnancy.

Amenorrhoea

Amenorrhoea is the absence of menstrual periods. Apart from during childhood, pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause, the absence of periods might be due to a problem with the reproductive system. One of the most common causes of amenorrhoea is hormonal disruption. Production of the female sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone can be affected by a range of factors, including some reproductive disorders, weight loss, weight gain, emotional stress or excessive exercise.