What is the male reproductive system?

The male reproductive system includes a group of organs that make up the reproductive system
and urinary system in men and people assigned male at birth (AMAB).

What does the male reproductive system do?

The organs that make up the male reproductive system perform the following:
• Produce, maintain, and transport sperm cells and semen. Sperm cells are male reproductive
cells. Semen is the protective fluid around sperm.
• Discharge sperm.
• Produce and secrete male sex hormones.

How does it function?

The entire male reproductive system depends on hormones. Hormones are chemicals that stimulate or
regulate activity in your cells or organs. The primary hormones that help the male reproductive system
function include:
• Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Your pituitary gland makes FSH. FSH is necessary to
produce sperm (spermatogenesis).
• Luteinizing hormone (LH). Your pituitary gland also makes LH. LH is necessary to continue the
process of spermatogenesis.
• Testosterone. Testosterone is the main sex hormone in people AMAB. It helps you develop certain
characteristics, including muscle mass and strength, fat distribution, bone mass and sex drive
(libido).

Parts of the male reproductive system:

Vas deferens - The vas deferens is a long, muscular tube that

travels from the epididymis into the pelvic cavity, just behind
the urinary bladder. The vas deferens transports mature
sperm to the urethra in preparation for ejaculation.\
Bladder - The bladder is the muscular sac that stores urine
(pee) until it is released through the urethra.
Seminal vesicle - Seminal vesicles make up to 80% of your
ejaculatory fluid, including fructose. Fructose is an energy
source for sperm and helps them move (motility).
Ejaculatory duct - Each testicle has a vas deferens that joins with seminal vesicle ducts to form ejaculatory
ducts. The ejaculatory ducts move through your prostate, where they collect fluid to add to semen. They
empty into your urethra.
Rectum - The rectum is part of the lower gastrointestinal tract, a continuation of the sigmoid colon, and
connects to the anus. It acts as a temporary storage site for feces.
Prostate - The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that rests below your bladder, in front of your rectum. The
prostate adds additional fluid to ejaculate, which helps nourish sperm. The urethra runs through the center
of the prostate gland.
Epididymis - The epididymis is a long, coiled tube that rests on the back of each testicle. It carries and
stores the sperm cells that your testicles create. The epididymis also brings the sperm to maturity.
Testicle - The testicles (testes) are oval-shaped organs that lie in your scrotum. They’re about the size of
two large olives. The spermatic cord holds the testicles in place and supplies them with blood.
Scrotum - The scrotum is the loose, pouch-like sac of skin that hangs behind the penis. It holds the
testicles (testes) as well as nerves and blood vessels.
Urethra - The urethra is the tube that carries pee from your bladder outside of your body. If you have a penis,
it also ejaculates semen when you reach orgasm.
Pubic bone - The main function of the pubis is to protect the intestines, bladder, and internal sex organs.
Penis - The penis is the male organ for sexual intercourse. It contains many sensitive nerve endings, and it
has three parts:
• Root. The root is the base of your penis. It attaches to the wall of your abdomen.
• Body (shaft). The body has a shape like a tube or cylinder. It consists of three internal chambers: the
two larger chambers are the corpora cavernosa, and the third chamber is the corpus spongiosum.
The corpora cavernosa run side by side, while the corpus spongiosum surrounds your urethra.
There’s a special, sponge-like erectile tissue inside these chambers. The erectile tissue contains
thousands of spaces. During sexual arousal, the spaces fill with blood, and your penis becomes
hard and rigid (erection). An erection allows you to have penetrative sex. The skin of the penis is
loose and stretchy, which lets it change size when you have an erection.
• Glans (head). The glans is the cone-shaped tip of the penis. A loose layer of skin (foreskin) covers
the glans. Healthcare providers sometimes surgically remove the foreskin (circumcision).

How to take care of the male reproductive system?

• Practice safe sex. Use condoms to help protect yourself against STIs.

• Perform self-examinations. Regularly examine your penis, scrotum and testicles for any changes.

• Get the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine. This vaccine helps protect you from HPV, which can
cause penile cancer and genital warts.

• Consider circumcision. A circumcision reduces your risk of penile cancer.

• Don’t use tobacco products. Tobacco products increase your risk of developing cancers. If you
smoke, ask a healthcare provider for tips to help quit smoking.

• Practice good hygiene. It’s a good idea to regularly clean your penis, scrotum and the surrounding
areas with soap and warm water to help kill germs that cause infections. If you still have your
foreskin, be sure to pull back your foreskin, clean the head of your penis and thoroughly dry the area.

• Get regular prostate exams. Prostate exams look for early signs of prostate cancer. You should get
your first prostate exam by age 50. However, if you have a biological family history of prostate cancer,
it’s a good idea to get your first prostate exam by 45.

• Maintain a weight that’s healthy for you. Ask your provider what a healthy weight means for you.

• Educate yourself about STIs. Learn about the signs and symptoms of STIs. The more you know, the
better you can protect yourself and your partner(s).