Relationships September 24, 2018
The inside is as beautiful as the outside.
Society doesn’t seem to really appreciate the female reproductive system for what it is. I mean, it’s literally the reason we’re all here. Even beyond its ability to create life, however, uteruses and vaginas are totally fascinating. Whether examining humans, elephants or hyenas, the female reproductive system will continue to surprise you.
In Wednesday Martin’s eBook “The Button,” the New York best-selling author takes a closer look into the history of the clitoris and shuts down common misconceptions. Most of these historical misconceptions were spread by—who could have guessed?— men.
In light of her efforts to bring awareness to the “button,” ENTITY created a list of five amazing facts about the female reproductive system in mammals.
According to Ann Downer’s “The Animal Mating Game: The Wacky, Weird World of Sex in the Animal Kingdom,” this mammal’s reproductive system goes the extra mile. The female kangaroo has three vaginas: one in the middle and two on the side. The middle is a birth canal, while the side vaginas are sperm carriers.
Female kangaroos also have two uteruses, as confirmed by “Mammals” of the Britannica Illustrated Science Library. Because of this, they can have two pregnancies at once, even if the embryos are at different stages of development!
It does depend on the species, but on average, these animals can carry their young for 95 weeks. This nearly two-year gestation period is the longest of all mammals. Imagine having two birthdays and still being pregnant.
Female elephants also produce around four children in their lifetime. That’s almost a decade of pregnancy!
While in the womb, both male and female hyenas are exposed to a high level of testosterone, which greatly affects a female’s development. For instance, observational data suggests that these hormones make females more dominant to their male counterparts.
Also as a result of this hormone, both sexes are born with genitals that look very masculine. The clitoris of a hyena is “extremely enlarged,” “resembles a penis” and can also get erections!
While humans don’t have a definite answer as to whether or not other mammals experience orgasms, some research suggests that sex isn’t solely for reproductive purposes.
For one, homosexual interactions seen in bed bugs, fruitflies and bonobo apes do not seem to have a reproductive agenda. While these sexual interactions may be caused by sexual attraction, there is evidence that they serve other social functions, like regulating friendships and tensions.
Also, there have also been reports of female bonobos and white-faced capuchin monkeys having sex when “pregnancy was impossible,” like when they are already pregnant.
According to Dr. Mike Paul, former president of the American Animal Hospital Association, unspayed female dogs can experience false pregnancy.
Also known as pseudocyesis, this can occur after a female dog ovulates. Levels of different hormones rise and fall. These hormones cause symptoms like vomiting, mammary enlargement and weight gain, even when the dog isn’t actually expecting. It’s possible that the dog herself believes she’s pregnant!
In summary, the female reproductive system is fascinating, and we should appreciate it across all species. If you want to learn more about the human reproductive system, check out “The Button” by Wednesday Martin! You’ll learn things about the clitoris that you’ve never known before.
