REPRODUCTIVE & SEXUAL

HEALTH
HUMAN PROCREATION

 Itis a biological process that enables the

birth of another human being. It implies
sexual reproduction since the genetic
information of the offspring includes
contributions from the two parents through
the fusion of the gametes.
SEXUALITY & SEXUAL IDENTITY
 Gender identity is a person’s sense of his or her masculinity
or femininity.
 Gender roles are composed of behaviors, attributes and
attitudes an individual conveys about being male or female.
 Biologic gender is the term used to denote chromosomal
sexual development: male –XY or female- XX
 Sexual orientation refers to a person’s preference for
heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual relationship.
 Sexual expression refers to the activities that the individual
chooses to give and receive physical love or gratification.
TYPES OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION
 A heterosexual is a person who finds sexual fulfillment
with a members of the opposite gender.
 A homosexual is a person who finds sexual fulfillment
with a member of his or her own sex; gay, lesbian, men
who have sex with men, women who have sex with
women.
 Bisexual are said to achieve sexual satisfaction from both
homosexual and heterosexual relationships.
 A transsexual or transgender person is an individual who,
although of one biologic gender, feels as if he or she is the
opposite gender.
TYPES OF SEXUAL EXPRESSION
 Sexual abstinence
 Masturbation
 Erotic stimulation
 Fetishism
 Transvestism
 Voyeurism
 Sadomasochism
 Exhibitionism
 Making obscene telephone calls
 Bestiality
 Pedophilia
HUMAN SEXUAL RESPONSE
 Excitement occurs with physical & psychological
stimulation that causes parasympathetic nerve stimulation
which leads to arterial dilation and venous constriction in
the genital area.
 Plateau stage is reached before orgasm.
 Orgasm occurs when stimulation proceeds through the
plateau stage to a point at which the body suddenly
discharges accumulated sexual tension. In men, muscle
contractions surrounding the seminal vessels and prostate
project semen into the proximal urethra.
 Resolution is a 30-minute period during which the external
and internal organs return to an unaroused state.
DISORDERS OF SEXUAL FUNCTIONING
 Inhibited sexual desire
 Failure to achieve orgasm
 Erectile Dysfunction
 Premature ejaculation
 Persistent sexual arousal syndrome
 Pain disorders:
 Vaginismus
 Dyspareunia and vestibulitis
FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
FEMALE EXTERNAL ORGANS
FEMALE EXTERNAL REPRODUCTIVE
ORGAN
 The mons pubis is a mound of fatty tissue over the symphisis pubis that
cushions ad protects the bone.
 The labia majora are longitudinal skin folds between the labia majora.
 The clitoris is erectile tissue located at the upper end of the labia minora.
It is the primary site of sexual arousal.
 The urethral meatus or orifice is small opening of the urethra. It is located
between the clitoris and the vaginal orifice for the purpose of urination.
 Skene or paraurethral glands are small mucus-secreting glands that open
into posterior wall of the urinary meatus and lubricate the vagina.
 The vestibule is an almond-shaped area between the labia minora
containing the vaginal introitus, hymen and Bartholin glands.
 The vaginal introitus is the external opening of the
vagina.
 The hymen is a membranous tissue ringing the introitus.
 Bartholin or vulvovaginal glands are mucus-secreting
glands located on either side of the vaginal orifice.
 The perineal body is composed of muscles and fascia that
support pelvic structures.
 The perineum is the area of tissue between the anus and
vagina, an episiotomy is performed here.
FEMALE INTERNAL REPRODUCTIVE
ORGANS
FEMALE INTERNAL REPRODUCTIVE
ORGANS
The vagina is the female organ of copulation and also serves as the birth canal. It is a tubular
musculomembranous organ that lies between the rectum and the urethra and bladder.
 The uterus is a hollow, muscular organ with three muscle layers(perimetrium, myometrium, and
endometrium). It is located between the bladder and rectum, and consists of the fundus,
body(corpus), and cervix. Uterine function include:
 Menstruation, the sloughing away of spongy layers of endometrium with bleeding from torn vessels.
 Environment for pregnancy; the embryo and fetus develop in the uterus after fertilization.
 Labor, consisting of powerful contractions of the muscular uterine wall that result in expulsion of
the fetus.
 Uterine ligaments include:
 Broad and round ligaments that provide upper support for the uterus
 Cardinal, pubocervical, and uterosacral ligaments that are suspensory and provide middle support.
 Pelvic muscular floor ligaments that provide lower support.
 The fallopian tubes extend from the upper outer
angles of the uterus and end near the ovary. These
tubes serve as the passageway for the ovum to travel
from the ovary to the uterus and for the sperm to
travel from the uterus to the ovary.
 The ovaries are female sex glands located on each side
of the uterus. The two functions of the ovaries are
 Ovulation(release of ovum)
 Secretion of hormones(estrogen and progesterone)
 The pelvis is a bony ring in the lower portion of the trunk. It consists
of three parts (ilium, ischium and pubis) and four bones (two
innominate bones or hipbones, sacrum and coccyx. The pelvic bones
are held together by four joints-symphisis pubis, two sacroiliac, and
sacrococcygeal.
 Types of pelvis: gynecoid, android, anthropoid, platypelloid
 Pelvimetry: the process of measuring the internal or external pelvis
is performed with radiography or by internal examination.
 Internal pelvic inlet measurement measures the diagonal conjugate,
which is the lower margin of the symphisis pubis to the promontory
of the sacrum; it is normally 11.5 cm or more.
 Internal midpelvic outlet measurement measures the distance
between ischial spines and prominence or bluntness of spines; it is
normally 10.5 cm.
 Internal pelvic outlet measurement is an estimation of the angle of
the pubic arch, mobility of the coccyx, intertuberous diameter 11
cm, and posterior sagittal diameter 7.5 cm.
BREASTS
 The female breasts (mammary glands) are specialized sebaceous glands that produce milk after
childbirth(lactation)
 Internal breast include:
 Glandular tissue(parenchyma is composed of acini milk-producing) cells that cluster in groups of
15 to 20 to form the lobes of the breast.
 Lactiferous ducts or sinuses, which form passageways from the lobes to the nipple.
 Fibrous tissue, also called Cooper ligaments, which provide support to the mammary glands.
 Adipose and fibrous tissues, which provide the relative size and consistency of the breast.
 External structure include:
 The nipple, a raised, pigmented area of the breast.
 The areola, pigmented skin around the nipple.
 Montgomery tubercles, sebaceous glands of the areola
 The breasts change in size and nodularity in response to cyclic ovarian hormonal changes,
including;
 Estrogen stimulation
 Progestrone
 Physical changes in the breast size and activity are at a minimum 5 to 7 days after menstruation
stops; this is the best time to detect pathologic changes through breast self-exam.
MENSTRUATION & HORMONES
 Menarche, onset of menstruation, typically occurs between 9 and 17 years of
age, with average age of onset at 12 or 13 years.
 The menstrual cycle is a monthly pattern of ovulation and menstruation.
 Ovulation is the discharge of a mature ovum from the ovary.
 Menstruation is the periodic shedding of blood, mucus, and epithelial cells
from the uterus; average blood loss is 30 to 80 ml.
 The ovaries produce mature gametes and secrete the following hormones:
 Estrogen which contributes to female characteristics.
 Progesterone(hormone of pregnancy),which decreases the contractility of the
uterus.
 Prostaglandins, which regulate the reproductive process by stimulating the
contractility of uterine and other smooth muscle.
THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS)
RESPONSE
 The hypothalamus stimulates the anterior pituitary gland
by secreting gonadotropin-releasing hormone(GnRH). The
anterior pituitary secretes two gonadotropins-follicle-
stimulating hormones (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH).
 FSH prompts the ovary to develop ovarian follicles; the
developing follicles secrete estrogen, which feeds back to
the anterior pituitary to suppress FSH and trigger a surge
of LH.
 LH acts with FSH to cause ovulation and enhance corpus
luteum formation.
OVARIAN RESPONSE

 An oocyte grows within the primordial follicle in two

phases-follicular and luteal.
 In the follicular phase, days 1 to 14, the follicle matures
as a result of FSH.
 In the luteal phase, days 15 to 22, the corpus luteum
develops from a ruptured follicle.
ENDOMETRIAL RESPONSE
 In the menstrual phase, days 1 to 5, the estrogen level is low and
cervical mucus is scanty.
 In the proliferative (follicular)phase, days 6 to 14, the estrogen level
is high, the endometrium and myometrium thickens, and changes in
cervical mucusa occur. On average, ovulation occurs on day 14 of a
28-day cycle.
 In the secretory phase, days 14 to 26, after release of the ovum, the
estrogen level drops, the progesterone level is high, increased uterine
vascularity occurs, and tissue glycogen levels increase.
 In the ischemic phase, days 27 to 28, estrogen and progesterone
levels recede. Arterial vessels constricts, the endometrium prepares
to shed, the blood vessels rupture, and menstruation begins.
CERVIX AND CERVICAL MUCUS
RESPONSE
 Before ovulation, estrogen levels rise, causing
cervical os dilation, abundant liquid mucus, high
spinnbarkeit, and excellent sperm penetration.
 After ovulation, progesterone levels rise, resulting
in cervical os constriction, scant viscous mucus,
low spinnbarket,no ferning, and poor sperm
penetration.
 During pregnancy, cervical circulation( blood
supply) increases and a protective mucus plug
forms.
CLIMACTIC PERIOD & MENOPAUSE
 The climacteric is a transitional period during which
ovarian function and hormonal production decline.
 Menopause refers to a woman’s last menstrual period; the
average age of menopause is 51 with an age range of 40 to
55 years.
 The earlier the age of menarche the earlier menopause
tends to occur
MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
EXTERNAL STRUCTURES
 The penis is the male organ of copulation. This cylindrical
shaft consists of the following:
 Two lateral columns of erectile tissue(corpora cavernosa)
 A column of erectile tissue on the underside of the
penis(corpus spongiosum) that encases the urethra
 The glans penis, a cone shaped expansion of the corpus
spongiosum that is highly sensitive to sexual stimulus
 The prepuce, or foreskin, a skin flap that covers the glans
penis in uncircumcised male.
 The scrotum is a pouch hanging below the penis that
contains the testes. Internally, the medial septum divides
the scrotum into two sacs, each of which contains a
testicle.
INTERNAL STRUCTURES
 The testes are two solid, ovoid organs 4 to 5 cm
long, divided into lobes containing seminiferous
tubules. The two functions of the testes re
production and spermatogenesis(sperm
production)
 The epididymis is a tubular sac located next to
each testis that is a reservoir for sperm storage
and maturation.
 The vas deferens is a duct extending from the
epididymis to the ejaculatory duct, which
provides a passageway for sperm.
 The ejaculatory duct is the canal formed by the
union of the vas deferens and the excretory duct
of the seminal vesicle. It enters the urethra at the
prostate gland.
 The urethra is the passageway for urine and
semen that extends from the bladder to the
urethral meatus.
SEMEN
 Semen is a thick, whitish fluid ejaculated by the
man during orgasm. It contains spermatozoa and
fructose-rich nutrients. During ejaculation, semen
receives contributions of fluid from the seminal
vesicles and the prostate gland.
 Semen is alkaline (average pH 7.5) and the
average amount of semen released during
ejaculation is 2.5 ml to 3.5 ml.
MALE BREASTS

 Male mammary tissue remains dormant

throughout life, but the breasts are a site sexual
excitation and arousal.
 Although rare, male breast cancer occurs
frequently enough to warrant routine inspection
of the breasts for dimpling, discharge or nipple
inversion.
Neurohormonal control of the male
reproductive system
 At puberty, the hypothalamus stimulates the pituitary gland to produce FSH and
LH.
 FSH stimulates germ cells within the testes to manufacture sperm.
 LH stimulates the production of testosterone in the testes. Although LH stimulates
the Leydig cells to produce testosterone from cholesterol, testosterone inhibits the
secretion of LH by the anterior pituitary.
 Testosterone, one of several androgens( and the most potent)produced in the
testes, is responsible for the development of secondary sex characteritics at
puberty.
 Testosterone production occurs in the interstitial Leydig cells in the seminiferous
tubules. Leydig cells are abundant in the newborn and the pubescent boy, and
testosterone is abundant during these periods.
 Testosterone production slows after 40 years of age; by 80 years of age, production
is only about one-fifth peak level.
SPERMATOGENESIS
 Spermatogenesis occurs continually after puberty, providing large
numbers of sperm for unlimited ejaculations during the mature life
span.
 Spermatozoa are released from the epithelial wall of the seminiferous
tubules. Meiosis occurs during the process, and the number of
chromosomes in each cell is reduced b one-half(haploid number).
 Spermatogenesis is a heat-sensitive process; the 2 degree to 3 degree
difference between scrotal and abdominal temperature allows
spermatogenesis to proceed in the cooler environment.
 The entire period of spermatogenesis, from germinal cell to mature
sperm, takes about 75 days.
Activity 3
 Draw a labelled diagram of the human female and male reproductive system
with their functions.
 Illustrate how menstruation takes place.