2. Good Sexual Health
Good sexual health involves understanding,
respecting, and protecting your reproductive system.
It is important to keep your reproductive system
healthy to enable sexual intimacy and reproduction.
It involves:
Maintaining overall good health
Practicing personal hygiene
Abstaining from sex to avoid STDs
Abstaining from sex to avoid unplanned pregnancy
Abstaining from drugs and alcohol
3. In the class
folder, check
out the
weblink to
further
explain the
female
diagram.
4. Female Reproduction Definitions
Gynecologist – A medical doctor who specializes in the
treatment and management of problems affecting the female
reproductive system.
Obstetrician- A doctor who specializes in prenatal care,
labor, delivery, and postnatal care.
Genitals – General terms for the organs of reproductive
health in both the male and female.
Estrogen – Hormone produced by the ovaries and
responsible for female characteristics. Also produced in
small amounts in the male body.
5. Female Reproduction Definitions
Vulva – Name of the female sex organs located outside
the body.
Outer Lips – Labia Majora Function: protects inner organs and
secretion during sexual excitement.
Inner Lips – Labia Minora – Function: the same as outer lips.
Clitoris – A small organ about the size of the tip of a wooden match.
It is located at the top of the inner lips. Because it contains many
sensitive nerve endings, it is the center for sexual excitement and
pleasure for the female.
Urethra – The passageway for urine leading from the bladder to
outside the body. (The first of three openings)
Hymen – A thin mucous membrane which usually
partially covers the opening to the vagina. Note: The
hymen is not equated to virginity, nor is absence of the
hymen definite proof that the women has had sexual
intercourse.
6. Female Reproduction Definitions
Vagina – Is like a flat hose or collapsed passageway
extending from the uterus to the outside of the body. It
is also called the birth canal.
Functions:
1. Birth passageway
2. Houses the penis during sexual intercourse
3. Holds tampons during menstruation
4. Passage of menstrual flow
(second of three openings)
Pituitary Gland – The master gland which triggers
puberty in both males and females.
Orgasm – The peak of sexual excitement.
7. Female Reproduction Definitions
Uterus – Also called womb. A pear-shaped muscular
reproductive organ. It is hollow with thick walls that can
stretch to become very thin during pregnancy. Functions:
1. It is where the fertilized egg implants
2. It holds and protects the baby until birth
It stretches many times its original size (smaller than a fist)
and then returns to normal size after birth
Endometrium – the lining of the uterus. Blood and tissue build
in preparation for pregnancy
Cervix – serves as the neck of the uterus and connects with the
vagina. It dilates (enlarges) to ten centimeters during labor to
prepare to accommodate the delivery of the baby. Note: It is a
potential cancer site in women. Therefore, it is recommended
that every female have a pap smear test done annually
Fundus – The top of the uterus.
8. Female Reproduction Definitions
Fallopian tubes – Attached on each of the uterus are two
very thin (threadlike) tubes. They serve as a connection
between the uterus and the ovaries. Function: Passageway
for the egg. It is where conception (joining of the egg and
sperm takes place). They are approximately 4-5 inches in
length.
Fimbria – fingerlike fringe bordering the opening to the tubes.
They guide the mature egg in the fallopian tubes.
Ovary – The plural is ovaries. The female sex gland
(Gonad). It stores ova or eggs inside the body. Each ovary
is about the size of a peach pit. Each lies tucked under one
of the fallopian tubes (not attached). Function: About once
every 28 days from early adolescence on, hormones direct
one ovary to release one egg or ovum. This release is
called ovulation. It must take place to start a pregnancy.
9. Female Reproduction Definitions
Ovum or Egg – The plural is ova. The female sex cell
produced by the ovaries. At birth female has all the eggs she
will ever have. Function: Ovulation. A potential human
being, containing one-half the genetic makeup (23
chromosomes). The female has 100,000 – 300,000 eggs at
birth.
Follicles – Little pockets that store the ova
Ova are very fragile and can live only 12 – 24 hours
Menstruation – The shedding of the endometrium. It occurs
approximately every 28 days. Begins ages 9-12. However,
ovulation does not first occur until several months or even a
couple years after menstruation begins.
Menopause – (Change of Life) The cessation (stopping) of
menstruation.
13. Male Reproduction Definitions
Penis - The organ introduced into the vagina of the female through
which semen is discharged. It is composed of two parts, a. and d.
a. Glans Penis - Is the rounded head or tip of the penis and is
most sensitive to touch.
b. Foreskin - The skin covering the glans at birth.
c. Circumcision - Removal of the foreskin. A simple operation
performed a few days after birth (for most people).
d. Shaft - This is the long part of the penis that becomes firm
during erection.
e. Erection - This is when the vessels of the penis fills quickly with
blood. This pressure causes the penis to become larger and firm.
This can happen to males at any time from infancy through old age.
f. Ejaculation - The release of semen through the urethra.
g. Nocturnal emission - Involuntary release of semen during
sleep. (Wet Dream)
h. Semen - A white fluid produced in the reproductive tract
composed of sperm and secretions.
14. Male Reproduction Definitions
Scrotum - A muscular sac behind the penis that holds
the testes and maintains them at a constant
temperature. This temperature needs to be cooler than
body temperature.
Testes - Singular: Testis. The male sex gland
(Gonad). Function:
1. To produce sperm. The testes of the male continue to
produce sperm and testosterone to the end of the life
cycle (barring disease). This is in contrast to the female,
where the ovaries cease to ovulate after the period of
menopause.
2. To produce Testosterone, the male sex hormone
which is responsible for the secondary sex characteristics.
15. Male Reproduction Definitions
Sperm - The male sex cell produced by the
testes. Function:
1. Conception - to fertilize the egg.
2. Potential human being, containing one-half of the
genetic makeup (23 chromosomes). The sperm is the
smallest cell in the male body. The ovum is the largest cell
in the female body. Each sperm has two parts: a tiny oval
head and a long whiplike tail use to propel it for traveling. A
healthy male makes about 50 million sperm each
day. Most males do not have fully mature sperm until they
are 15 or 16. On average, a healthy mature male will
release 100 - 350 million sperm with each
ejaculation. Once inside the female body, the sperm may
live for as long as six days. Sperm type X produce a
female baby. Sperm type Y produce a male baby.
16. Male Reproduction Definitions
Epididymis - An elongated structure that forms a mass over
the back and upper part of each testis. Once made, the
sperm move into this special compartment - the epididymis -
and are ripened (matured), usually six weeks. When the
sperm mature and are ready to fertilize an egg, they go from
the epididymis into a tube called the vas deferens.
Vas Deferens -Two tubes leading from the epididymis of
each testis to one of the seminal vesicles. When sperm cells
leave the epididymis, they are propelled by muscular
contractions of the vas deferens. (Male tubes)
Seminal Vesicle - A sac-like structure that secretes a slightly
alkaline fluid. The secretion contains a variety of nutrients
and is rich in fructose, which is thought to provide sperm with
an energy source.
17. Male Reproduction Definitions
Ejaculatory Duct - A single tube which connects the two vas
deferens to the urethra.
Bladder Sphincter - A small muscular valve at the base of the
bladder which opens to permit elimination of urine but closes
during sexual excitement to prevent urine from mixing with the
seminal fluid.
Prostate Gland - Surrounds the urethra. Function:
1. Adds secretions to the semen. These prostate secretions are
alkaline in chemical reaction and serve to neutralize the acid
condition of the urethra (in the male) and the vagina (in the female).
This is important because sperm are readily destroyed in an acid
medium.
2. Swells to help cut off urine during sexual excitement. It is a
potential cancer site.
18. Male Reproduction Definitions
Cowper's Gland - They serve the same purpose as
secretions of the prostate gland, and also lubricate the
urethra, to help the sperm move freely.
Urethra - A tube that connects with the bladder and
opens to the outside. In the male it serves two
purposes:
1. To carry urine for elimination.
2. To transport sperm cells through the penis and outside
the body.
20. What can damage the
reproductive system?
Drugs
STDs (we will get more information on
STDs in our next lesson)
21. Marijuana
For intermittent or weekend female users, the menstrual
cycle may be interrupted and ovulation may fail to occur.
Moderate to heavy users may find their pregnancies
resulting in miscarriage, stillbirth, or death shortly after
birth.
In the male, the evidence of damage to the reproductive
system by marijuana is also significant. Marijuana reduces
the level of the hormone testosterone which may prevent
the genitals from developing and functioning properly. The
sperm that are produced are not as active or mobile as
those produced without the adverse effect of marijuana.
This condition may interfere with fertility.
In babies whose mothers used marijuana, there is
evidence of hyperactivity and short attention span.
22. Tobacco
Tobacco use in females can
damage ovaries and disrupt
estrogen production.
In males, it can lower sperm
mobility, affect the shape of sperm,
lower the amount of semen, and
cause impotence.
In both genders tobacco can cause
infertility.
23. Steroids
Steroids can cause males’ breasts to
enlarge and impotency.
Females may experience irregular
periods or menstruation ending
altogether.
24. Alcohol
There is a direct relationship between
alcohol and arousal: the more alcohol
that is consumed the lower the body’s
level of physical arousal becomes.
Prolonged alcohol use can cause
impotence in males. Alcohol can cause
infertility in both sexes.
