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Male Reproductive System

The male reproductive system mostly exists outside of your body. The external organs include
the penis, scrotum and testicles. Internal organs include the vas deferens, prostate and
urethra. The male reproductive system is responsible for sexual function and urination.

Function Anatomy Conditions and Disorders Care

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OV E RV I E W

What is the male

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reproductive system? Provider
The male reproductive system
includes a group of organs that Schedule an Appointment

make up the reproductive system

and urinary system in men and
people assigned male at birth
(AMAB).
The male reproductive system consists of
The male reproductive system internal and external organs. These organs help
you have sexual intercourse and pee.
contains internal and external
parts. Internal parts are inside
your body, and external parts are outside your body. Together, these
organs help you urinate (pee), have sexual intercourse and make
biological children.

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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 Muid
around sperm.
Discharge sperm.
Produce and secrete male sex hormones.

How does the male reproductive system

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).

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A N ATO MY

What are the external parts of the male

reproductive system?
Most of the male reproductive system is on the outside of your
abdominal cavity or pelvis. The external body parts of the male
reproductive system include the penis, scrotum and testicles.
Another name for these parts is genitals or genitalia.

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 Hll 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).

In most people, the opening of the urethra is at the tip of the glans.
The urethra transports pee and semen out of your body. Semen
contains sperm. You expel (ejaculate) semen through the end of
your penis when you reach sexual climax (orgasm).

When your penis is erect, your corpora cavernosa press against the
part of your urethra where pee Mows. This blocks your pee Mow so
that only semen ejaculates when you orgasm.

What is a normal size of the penis?

Studies suggest that the average penis is about 3.5 inches (8.9 cm)
when Maccid (soft) and a little more than 5 inches (13 cm) when
erect.

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.

The scrotum protects your testicles and provides a sort of “climate-

control system.” For normal sperm development, the testes must
be at a temperature that’s slightly cooler than body temperature
(between 97 and 99 degrees Fahrenheit or 36 and 37 degrees
Celsius). Special muscles in the wall of the scrotum let it contract
(tighten) and relax. Your scrotum contracts to move your testicles
closer to your body for warmth and protection. It relaxes away from
your body to cool them.

Testicles
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.
Most people AMAB have two testicles, on the left and right side of
the scrotum. The testicles make testosterone and produce sperm.
Within the testicles are coiled masses of tubes. These are the
seminiferous tubules. The seminiferous tubules produce sperm
cells through spermatogenesis.

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 — the
sperm that emerge from the testicles are immature and incapable
of fertilization. During sexual arousal, muscle contractions force
the sperm into the vas deferens.

What are the internal parts of the male

reproductive system?
There are several internal (accessory) organs in the male
reproductive system. They include:

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.

Ejaculatory ducts
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 Muid to add to semen.
They empty into your urethra.

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.

Seminal vesicles
The seminal vesicles are sac-like pouches that attach to the vas
deferens near the base of the bladder. Seminal vesicles make up to
80% of your ejaculatory Muid, including fructose. Fructose is an
energy source for sperm and helps them move (motility).

Prostate gland
The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that rests below your bladder,
in front of your rectum. The prostate adds additional Muid to
ejaculate, which helps nourish sperm. The urethra runs through the
center of the prostate gland.

Bulbourethral (Cowper) glands

The bulbourethral glands are pea-sized structures on the sides of
your urethra, just below your prostate. They create a clear, slippery
Muid that empties directly into the urethra. This Muid lubricates the
urethra and neutralizes any acids that may remain from your pee.

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C O N D IT I O N S A N D D I S O R D E R S

What are common conditions that affect the

male reproductive system?
Common conditions that affect the male reproductive system
include:

Testicular cancer.
Penile cancer.
Prostate cancer.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Premature ejaculation.
Male infertility.
Erectile dysfunction.
Priapism.

What are common symptoms of male reproductive

system conditions?
Common signs of conditions that affect the male reproductive
system include:

Lumps or sores on your external reproductive parts.

Pain or swelling.
Aching or discomfort around your groin or lower abdomen.
Blood in your semen (hematospermia).
Blood in your pee (hematuria).
Pain or burning when you pee (dysuria).
Loss of bladder control (urinary incontinence).
Inability to get and maintain an erection hard enough for sexual
intercourse.

What are common tests to check the health of the

male reproductive system?
A healthcare provider may order the following tests to check the
health of the male reproductive system:

Physical examination.
Blood test.
Urine test.
Ultrasound.
X-ray.
Computed tomography (CT) scan.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Biopsy.
Digital rectal exam.
Prostate-speciHc antigen (PSA) test.

Can a man go through menopause?

No, a man can’t go through menopause.

Menopause is the end of a woman’s or person assigned female at

birth’s (AFAB) menstrual cycle. In people AFAB, this involves a
change in hormone production. One of the biggest changes after
menopause is you can no longer have biological children. In people
AMAB, the testicles don’t lose the ability to make hormones.
People AMAB may be able to make sperm well into their 80s or
even longer.

However, subtle changes in how the testicles function can happen

when you’re around 45. The changes can happen more
dramatically after 70. Some people refer to this as “male
menopause.” For many people AMAB, hormone production
remains normal into their 60s and longer. Declining hormone
function at an earlier age may be a side effect of another condition,
such as diabetes.

It’s not clear whether decreasing testicular function contributes to

other symptoms, like erectile dysfunction, fatigue, weakness or
depression.

Can “male menopause” be treated?

If your testosterone levels are low, hormone replacement therapy

may help relieve some symptoms, including low sex drive,
depression and fatigue. However, replacing male hormones can
make prostate cancer worse. It can also make atherosclerosis
worse.

Talk to a healthcare provider about all the pros and cons of

hormone replacement therapy. Before starting, you should get a
complete physical examination and laboratory tests.

CARE

How can you 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 Hrst prostate exam by
age 50. However, if you have a biological family history of
prostate cancer, it’s a good idea to get your Hrst 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).

F R E Q U E NT LY A S K E D Q U E S T I O N S

Do men’s balls change with age?

As you age, your testicles (balls) may shrink, and your scrotum may
hang lower.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

The male reproductive system includes many different organs.

Many people think of the external organs, which include the penis,
scrotum and testicles. However, the male reproductive system also
includes many internal parts, including the urethra and prostate.
Together, the parts that make up the male reproductive system
involve sexual activity, reproduction and peeing. Your external
reproductive organs might look different than someone else’s, and
it’s natural for them to change slightly over time. However, if you
have any symptoms or concerns about your genitals, talk to a
healthcare provider.

Medically Reviewed

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on

05/08/2023.
Learn more about our editorial process.

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