the vulva and penis, and the internal organs involved in reproduction, like the uterus and seminal vesicle.Ā We categorize this anatomy as either female or male, but not necessarily the person. A personās anatomy doesnāt determine their gender.
Based on sexual anatomy, a person is typically assigned a sex at birthāfemale or male. Sometimes a personās sexual anatomy isnāt characteristically male or female, thoughāwhat is calledĀ intersex. Intersex is an umbrella term for differences in sex traits or reproductive anatomy. Intersex people are born with these differences or develop them in childhood. There are many possible differences in genitalia, hormones, internal anatomy, or chromosomes. People who are intersex have reproductive traits or sexual anatomy that does not conform to the sex binary of male or female.
GenderĀ is shaped by social and cultural norms and expectations of behavior. A personās gender identityātheir own personal perception of themselvesāas female, male, both, or neitherādoes not necessarily match their biological sex. A person expresses their gender in various ways, such as their name, pronouns, dress, hairstyle, and more. Some gender terms that are important to know include:
- CisgenderĀ refers to a person whose gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth.
- TransgenderĀ refers to a person whose gender identity does not match the sex they were assigned at birth. For example, a person who was assigned female at birth but identifies as male may be called a transman.
- NonbinaryĀ refers to a person who may identify as male and female, neither, or somewhere between. Some, but not all, nonbinary people consider themselves transgender because they donāt identify with the sex they were assigned at birth.
When we talk about sexual anatomy here, we talk about it in a binary wayāmale and female. But we are talking about biological sex, not gender identity or expression. So letās learn about this part of the body and how it works.
Female Reproductive System
TheĀ female reproductive systemĀ includes the ovaries, the uterus, fallopian tubes, the cervix, and the vagina. Click on the buttons below to learn more about each.
These are narrow tubes that are attached to the upper part of the uterus and serve as tunnels for the ova (egg cells) to travel from the ovaries to the uterus.
Starting at puberty, theĀ ovariesĀ begin to release eggs regularly. The eggs travel from theĀ fallopian tubesĀ into theĀ uterusĀ and eventually are flushed out of the body, along with uterine lining, through theĀ vagina. This process is calledĀ the menstrual cycle. A regular cycle averages about 28 days, but it can range from 21-45 days.
If an egg is fertilized by sperm in a fallopian tube, that fertilized egg will typically travel to the uterus. Once there, that egg may or may not implant in the walls of the uterus and continue to growāresulting in pregnancy. Sometimes, the fertilized egg doesnāt implant and is flushed out during menstruation (a.k.a period).
Sometimes, the fertilized egg implants in the fallopian tube. This is called an ectopic pregnancy and requires treatment immediately. The fertilized egg canāt survive here and if continued to grow, it can cause the tube to rupture and cause life-threatening bleeding.
Now letās take a look at theĀ external sexual anatomy:
The mons pubis is the rounded fatty mass over the pubic bone covered with hair and coarse skin. It acts as a buffer during sexual intercourse, preventing injury to the underlying bone. It also contains sebaceous and sweat glands. Some of the latter form a specialized type of gland called the apocrine glands. These glands release a secretion with a characteristic smell that increases sexual attraction.
The above drawing is just a basic idea of the external female genitaliaāit is an example, not the standard. In fact, there is no standard. The appearance of genitals vary a great deal from person to person. Labia minora may be longer than the outer labia. The color of labia may change as you age. Clitorises vary in size, shape, and location. Your vulva is beautiful and uniquely yours.
If youād like to get an idea of just how much all of this varies, you can take a look atĀ The Labia Gallery from Womenās Health Victoria. The models in the gallery reflect a wide range of ages and genders and show just how diverse external genitalia really is. You can also check out vulva portraits and personal stories atĀ The Vulva Gallery, a project of Amsterdam-based illustrator Hilde Atalanta. This collection of vulva portraits showcases a wide variety of vulvas alongside personal stories celebrating body diversity.
Weāre all different, so there is no ānormalā when it comes to genital appearance. The same goes forĀ male genital anatomy. Letās take a look:
Male Sexual Anatomy
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). During orgasm, a thick fluid (semen) is released through the urethral opening at the tip of the penis. Urine also leaves the body through the urethral opening.
As for the penis, much of the concern revolves around size. Penis size is determined entirely by factors out of our control. But questions about size abound; Whatās the average penis size? Can I increase my penis size? Does it matter as much as I think it does?
The answer to the last one is easyāno, it doesnāt. A review of various studies showed that the average size for a flaccid (non-erect) penis is 3.61 inches, and 5.16 inches for an erect penis. But average does not mean normal. Just as with vulvas, there is no one normal. Instead there is just beauty in diversity. You can see some of this in the work of photographer Laura Dodsworth, who shares portraits of 100 men in her bookĀ Manhood: The Bare Reality. Both cisgender and transgender men share their storiesāand photos of their penisesāin another celebration of genital diversity.
Getting Care
Itās important to know how your body works, and be able to recognize when something isnāt quite right. If something changes or doesnāt seem quite right, get checked by
