Know Your Body

    How things work

    Know your body, know yourself

    Sexual health and sexual pleasure

Long before you had ever heard the word, “penis”, you were well acquainted with what has been called, “man’s favorite organ.” Boys discover their external sex organs in infancy. As they mature, their sex organs continue to develop as their understanding of the male reproductive systems also grows.

Understand how it works

There’s more to it than what you see. Although most of the male reproductive organs are external, it’s important to understand how all your sex organs—external and internal—work together.

Let’s start with the obvious:

There are four major components that make up the exterior part of the male reproductive system (click on any one for more information):

Penis

The penis is the most visible part of the male sexual anatomy. It is made up of two parts, the shaft and the glans (also called the head). The shaft houses the corpora cavernosa (two flexible cylinders comprised of erectile tissue that run the length of the penis and support erections), and the corpus spongiosum (erectile tissue surrounding the urethra). When a man reaches sexual climax, he ejaculates a thick fluid (semen) through the urethral opening at the tip of the penis into the vagina. The semen carries sperm cells through the vaginal canal to the uterus where the sperm seek out the female egg for fertilization. Also, when a man urinates, the flow leaves his body through the urethral opening.

Urethra

The urethra is a duct, or tube, that transports fluids from the inside of the body to the outside. In both men and women, the urethra is connected to the bladder and is used to pass urine out of the body. In males, however, the urethra is also connected to the “accessory glands,” which produce semen, and to the vas deferens, the duct that brings the sperm from the epididymis.

Testicles

The testicles are located below the penis and begin producing male sex cells called sperm and testosterone, the male sex hormone after puberty. A man’s sperm production, once started, continues throughout his life; sexually mature males produce millions of sperm cells each day.

Scrotum

The testicles are covered by a pouch of skin called the scrotum. The scrotum and the muscles surrounding it can pull the testicles toward the body when they are too cold and relax away from the body when the testicles are too warm. This is important because sperm need to be maintained at an appropriate temperature to be viable (able to fertilize female eggs). The scrotum also holds the epididymis.

The interior part of the system is comprised of (click on each for more information):

Epididymis and vas deferens

The epididymis stores the sperm after the testicles produce them, and the vas deferens transports the sperm from the epididymis to the urethra.

Accessory glands

There are several glands that work together to produce semen, or seminal fluid. The seminal vesicle produces a fluid that provides energy to the sperm as they seek out the female sex cell, or the egg. The prostate gland makes a different fluid that helps the sperm move more quickly through the female reproductive system. Another set of glands, called bulbourethral or Cowper's glands, makes a small quantity of fluid that helps protect the sperm on its way through the urethra by neutralizing any leftover traces of acidic urine. Sperm can live inside the female reproductive system for up to 48 hours, and seminal fluid helps the sperm move around and stay nourished.

Learn how to recognize problems

The easiest and fastest way to recognize a problem is to perform monthly testicular exams. When you know what your body looks and feels like when it’s healthy, you’ll know it’s time to get checked if you detect any change at all.

Testicular cancer and hernias
Although rare¹, testicular cancer is the second most common cancer seen during the teen years.

Hernias, on the other hand, are quite common in teens. A hernia is simply a weakness in the abdominal wall. Sometimes a piece of intestine can become trapped in the scrotum, cutting off the blood supply to the intestine. It can cause serious problems if the situation isn't quickly corrected.

Both conditions can produce lumps or bumps, which is why it’s important to perform testicular self-exams. If you notice anything unusual, get checked.

Sexually transmitted diseases and infections (STDs/STIs)

If you are sexually active, you have to protect yourself from diseases and infections. Obviously, the best protection is abstinence, but if you are having sexual intercourse, use a condom every time.

Using a condom doesn’t mean you can forget about sexual health. You still need to be vigilant and consistent about self-exams. Remember, many STD/STIs do not produce symptoms in women. By the time you notice a symptom, you may have already infected your partner(s).

If you notice a change to your genitals, such as:

• Sores, ulcers, blisters or warts
• A burning sensation when you pee
• A heavy feeling in the testicles
• Lumps or bumps
• Swelling, redness or a rash
• Itching or visible lice or eggs in the pubic hair
• Discharge from the penis other than semen and urine

Or if you notice a problem with the following:

• Unusual fever, fatigue, nausea
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
• Night sweats, diarrhea, weight loss, hair loss, increased susceptibility to infectious diseases

... get checked.

Having a symptom doesn’t mean you have a disease. The symptoms are so many and varied, it’s hard to tell if, for example, you have a raging case of jock itch or... scabies. Get checked anyway.

Each year, one of every four sexually active teens will get a sexually transmitted infection. By age 25, half of all youth will have acquired one or more infections. That's more than 9 million people.2

Know when and how to get checked

You don’t have to have a symptom to get checked. If you’re sexually active or even thinking about becoming sexually active, schedule a testicular exam with your health care provider. He or she will examine you to determine what “normal” is for you.

Once a baseline has been established, any changes in your body will be noticeable and easier to diagnose. If an abnormality exists, it can be treated. If an STD/STI is detected, it can be treated and prevented from spreading to others.

Know what to expect when you have your first testicular exam

Many health care providers perform a testicular exam as part of a patient’s annual checkup. It’s quick and painless. Your doctor will look for lumps and bumps, swelling, hardening or enlargement or the testicles. And yes, the doctor will have to touch you “down there.” You may be embarrassed or even have an erection, but both responses are so common that health care providers are unfazed by either reaction. You may want to mention that it’s your first exam; many doctors will explain things to you step-by-step, show you how to perform a self-exam and answer all your questions.

Bottom line? Pay attention to your body and how it works. Make sure a qualified health care provider is tracking your reproductive health. If something changes or doesn’t seem quite right, get checked. Above all, respect your body by protecting it from infection, disease and neglect.

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1 Three out of 100,000 boys between the ages of 15 and 19 in the United States are diagnosed with testicular cancer. www.teenshealth.org. Reviewed by T. Ernesto Figueroa, MD