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How Reproductive Systems Work: Merck Manuals
How Reproductive Systems Work: Merck Manuals
The male reproductive system consists of two major parts: the testes, where sperm are
produced, and the penis, according to Merck Manuals. The penis and urethra belong to
both the urinary and reproductive systems in males. The testes are carried in an
external pouch known as the scrotum, where they normally remain slightly cooler than
body temperature to facilitate sperm production.
The external structures of the female reproductive system include the clitoris, labia
minora, labia majora and Bartholin's glands, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The
major internal organs of the female reproductive system include the vagina and uterus
— which act as the receptacle for semen — and the ovaries, which produce the
female's ova. The vagina is attached to the uterus through the cervix, while the fallopian
tubes connect the uterus to the ovaries. In response to hormonal changes, one ovum,
or egg — or more in the case of multiple births — is released and sent down the
fallopian tube during ovulation. If not fertilized, this egg is eliminated during
menstruation.
Current guidelines recommend that women first start getting the Pap test alone when
they turn 21 and repeat every three years if the test is normal until age 30. A Pap-plus-
HPV test, or co-testing, is recommended for women ages 30 to 65, and if both are
negative repeated every five years, regardless of whether they have received HPV
vaccination. "However, there is compelling scientific evidence that co-testing every three
years misses less cases of cancer and pre-cancer than every five-year co-testing,"
Dubin noted.
While genital HPV is typically associated with females, it is the most common sexually
transmitted infection. The majority of sexually active people in the United States — male
and female — will have HPV at some time in their lives, but most will not experience
any symptoms. In a small portion of women, it can result in cervical cancer and genital
warts; in men, it can cause penile and anal cancer and genital warts, according to the
NIH.
Both genders can develop sexually transmitted diseases, including genital herpes,
gonorrhea and syphilis, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). HIV/AIDS, a
disease of the immune system, is not exclusively transmitted through sexual contact;
sexual activity is one of the ways that the HIV virus is spread.
For females, severe menstrual cramping, or dysmenorrheal, is the most common
disease of the reproductive system occurs with a woman's monthly menstrual period,
according to Dr. Sheryl Ross, OB/GYN and Women's Health Specialist at Providence
Saint John’s Health Center.
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"Severe pain before or during your period can last anywhere from one to seven days
and disrupt your normal day-to-day routines at school, work and socially," Ross noted.
Diagnosis is made by the patient's medical history and a pelvic exam. The best
treatment includes medications that block the effects of prostaglandins and include
ibuprofen and naproxen. The birth control pill also works well in treating dysmenorrhea
by decreasing the blood flow, Ross noted.