Ayurvedic point of view-Physiology of Female Reproductive System

Physiology of Female Reproductive System
Menstrual blood (‘Raja’) also is a derivative of ‘Rasa’only. Menstruation occurs in females once in every month and lasts for aboutthree days. This process of menstrual cycle begins at the age of twelve yearsand stops at about fifty years of age (Su.Sū. 14/6). During the act of copulation,production of ‘Śukra’ occurs in females also; and it should not be thought thatit is of no use in the process of production of embryo i.e., it is also ofdefinite use (A.S. Śā.1/72). Features of ‘Rakta’ and ‘Ārtava’ are similar.‘Ārtava’ is responsible for the productionof embryo (Su. Sū. 15/5). ‘Rakta’ and ‘Ārtava’ are similar functionally. Thisis because the function of ‘Rakta’ is to ‘Give life’ (‘Jivana’) and thefunction of ‘Ārtava’ also is to give life to a new individual (embryo). So,‘Ārtava’ means ovum in this context. This ‘Ārtava’, after getting nourishedover the period of a month, enters (the uterus and then)
vagina through the specialized structures called ‘Dhamanis’meant for the transportation of the same. ‘Vāta’ is responsible for thismovement of ‘Ārtava’(Su.Śā. 3/10). This is the explanation regarding theprocess of ovum entering the uterus through the Fallopian tube. If notfertilized, it is shed off through menstrual fluid.
Physiology of Lactation:
Breast-milk is formed out of ‘Rasa Dhātu’ (Ca. Ci. 15/17).The essential nutrient fraction of ‘Rasa Dhātu’, enters the breasts from theentire body and it is known as ‘Stanya’ (Su. Ni. 10/18).
Development of Breasts:
Ducts in the breasttissue of non-pregnant women are narrow and are constricted. During pregnancyand after delivery they get dilated as a natural phenomenon (Su. Ni. 10/16-17).
Various Stimuli for Milk Letdown:
Breast-milk isoriginally formed from the essential fraction of food. It is ejected out ofbreasts because of touch, sight and even because of mere remembrance of thebaby. Uninterrupted love of mother towards her baby is the cause of its flow(Su. Ni. 10/12-13). Emotions, touch or even sight of the baby cause thehypothalamus of mother to release oxytocin stored in the posterior pituitary.This causes the myo-epithelial cells surrounding the glandular apparatus tocontract and exert a squeezing effect, thus allowing the milk to flow.