Our Human Odyssey: Becoming Female and Male focuses on

critical aspects in the development and biology of our reproductive

system. A wealth of information not readily available to the

general reader is complemented with a rich assortment of

historical perspectives and commentaries. It begins with the

amazingly complex, seemingly miraculous processed that lead to

the formation of eggs and sperm, follows the fetal development

of the genital tissues, the post-pubertal reproductive functions

of females and males, the pubertal transition, and finally our

reproductive twilight. The next section focuses on fertilization

and implantation, birth and lactation, and exciting new studies

relating the origins of chronic adult diseases to our pre-birth

environment in the womb. The third section covers pregnancy

loss and birth defects, while the final section reviews birth

control methods, the causes of infertility and the new growth

industry - assisted reproduction. In addition, three appendices

supplement the main text and provide more detailed information

about sex chromosomes, mutations, hormonal integrations of the

reproductive system, and disorders of sexual development.