The Human Male Reproductive System
The Female Reproductive System
Although the function of the female reproduction system is the same as that of the male reproductive system, to produce life, they are made up of entirely different organs. The female reproductive organs are entirely inside the woman’s body, while the male reproductive system is located inside and outside the human body. The male reproductive system is called genitals.
The Male Reproductive System
The male reproductive system includes the testicles, the duct system, the accessory glands which include seminal vesicles and prostate glands and the penis. When boys reach sexual maturity, the two testes (also called testicles) produce and store millions of sperm cells. In addition, the testicles are part of the endocrine system as they produce hormones, especially testosterone. Testosterone is what makes men, men. Testosterone is responsible for male facial hair, muscle growth, deepening of the voice and other male characteristics. During puberty, the testicles produce a lot of testosterone. With the onset of raging hormones comes the desire to have sex. This is where it is important to educate adolescents about sexually transmitted diseases.
The Human Reproductive System and Disease
The purpose of the human reproductive system is to enable humans to produce. But the female reproductive system has another purpose. The female reproductive system enables her to have her menstrual cycle, which occurs when her egg has not been fertilized. There needs to be a way for nature to clean out her body of that unfertilized egg. However, when disease occurs in the reproductive system of the male or female, it disrupts its natural functions. Genital HPV (human papilomavirus) is a sexually transmitted disease which is the name of a group of viruses that include over 100 different types of strains. They can infect the genital area of men and women including on the penis, the anus, the vagina, the cervix. Unfortunately, most people who are infected don’t have any symptoms. Sometimes they clear on their own and sometimes not. Certain strains of HPV can cause genital warts in both men and women. Other types of HPV strains can cause cervical cancer and other types of cancers such as cancer of the vulva, vagina, anus and penis. Those types are rare though. The strain of HPV that causes genital warts is not the same strain that causes cervical cancer. HPV can be categorized as low risk and high risk. The low risk strain is the wart causing type HPV and the high risk type HPV is the cancer causing type HPV. In over 90% of the cases the body’s immune system clears the HPV infection naturally within a couple of years.
The Whole Picture of the Reproductive System
The female picture of the reproductive system and the male picture of the reproductive system look entirely different. Again, the female diagram of her reproductive system shows that her reproductive organs are located entirely inside her body, while the male are both inside and outside of the body. No matter where the reproductive system is located, the human reproductive system is an extremely delicate and important aspect of human health. It is important to use condoms and practice safe sex so as not to contract any disease and ruin nature’s amazing organs.
