Young People's Guide to
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
and AIDS/HIV Disease
- Index of images
- Complete list of STDs
- Short STD guide in various languages
- Reproductive anatomy Diagrams
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Message to parents
- Anatomy of the sex organs
- Physiology of the sex organs
- STDs
- How to check yourself for STDs
- AIDS
- How to prevent getting STDs and AIDS
- How to use a condom
Anatomy of the Sex Organs
Q. What is anatomy and physiology and why study them?Anatomy is what the parts of the body look like and physiology is how the various parts of the body work. In medical school, one of the very first things that we study is how the body looks and works. After we learn what these parts look like normally, we then learn how they look and work when they become diseased. It is important that we all learn as much as we can about our own bodies as we will have our bodies for all our lives and if we don't take care of them, no one else will. Women and girls should know where their cervix and ovaries are and men and boys should know what the testicles do and where the urethra is.
Anatomy of the genitals and reproductive tract
The genitals are the body parts involved with sex and the reproductive tract includes
those body parts that are involved in sex that are inside our bodies.
Female
External (What is visible from the outside)
Even though these parts are on the outside, if a girl or woman wants to examine them she may want to use a mirror.Labia - There are two pairs of labia or lips, the outer lips and the inner lips. They help to protect the opening to the urethra and the vagina. The outer labia may have some pubic hair on them.
Pubic Hair - Above the labia is the pubic hair which may be in a small area or may cover a large area on the lower abdomen. This hair develops during the teenage years and probably serves a protective function.
Clitoris - A small bump at the top of external genitals where the labia meet in the middle. It enlarges during sexual excitement and its function is in sexual functioning. It is covered by a hood or fold of skin to protect it.
Urethra opening - This lies below the clitoris and above the vaginal opening. It is where urine (pee) comes out of. The urethra is the tube inside from this opening to the bladder. The bladder is a collection area for urine inside our bodies.
Rectum - The rectum is the last part of the intestines and it is from where solid body wastes leave our body. The actual opening to the outside is called the anus or the anal opening. Although it is not a part of the sex organs, it is included here because infections can happen here from leakage from the vagina or from having anal intercourse.
Inside (Internal)
Hymen - This is a ring of skin around the opening of the vagina that gets broken during sexual intercourse after which the women is no longer a virgin.Vagina - This is a tube-like opening that is moist most of the time because it has some glands that produce vaginal fluids. The tube ends a few inches inside at the cervix. This is where the penis fits during intercourse and it is through this tube that a baby goes through when it is being born.
Cervix - This is the bottom end of the uterus. It has a small opening though which menstrual blood flows from the uterus. It is also the hole where semen can enter through and through which a baby comes out. This opening along with the vagina can expand greatly during childbirth to allow the baby to exit. When a doctor examines a woman, s/he will put a speculum (a tool to open the vagina) inside the vagina and look at the cervix for any abnormalities. The lining of the skin covering the cervix is different in young women who have not started to have their periods yet. This is important in the transmission of STDs since germs may be able to enter more easily in younger women.
Uterus - This a muscular organ that has an inner lining with a lot of blood vessels. The inner lining builds up every month and if the woman does not get pregnant, it is washed out and renewed every month. The blood that a woman loses every month during her period is this inner lining of the uterus. This blood rich inner lining provides the necessary environment for a developing embryo and fetus. The uterus is where a baby develops from an embryo into a fetus. It stretches greatly to hold the developing fetus and the muscles tighten up when the baby is due to be delivered. The uterus also contracts during menstruation ( the period) which causes cramps that are familiar to most women. One of the openings of the uterus is through the cervix which opens into the vagina. The other openings are at the other end and open into the fallopian tubes.
Fallopian Tubes - On each side of the uterus there is a narrow tube that reaches out towards the ovaries. It is through this tube that the egg travels from the ovary to the uterus. It is in this tube that fertilization takes place if the egg meets a sperm along the way.
Ovary - Women have two ovaries which are about the size of a flattened walnut(1X1 _"). The ovaries contain eggs which develop and enlarge during the menstrual cycle and then pop out near the opening of the fallopian tube. The tube catches the egg and transports it towards the uterus. About 300 to 400 eggs are produced during a women's life from the time she starts her period until she stops(menopause). The other function of the ovaries are to produce the hormones estrogen and progesterone.
Egg - The egg (also called an ovum or ova) is what gets together with a sperm to form a baby. If the egg travels down the tube without meeting a sperm, it doesn't get fertilized and it comes out with the menstrual flow of blood.
Breasts - The breasts are fatty tissues with milk producing glands inside. The breasts may swell and become tender before the period starts and they may also swell during sexual excitement. The nipple can become firm in the cold or to a touch. Sometimes there is a bit of hair around the nipple. It is common to have one breast slightly larger than the other.
Male
External (Outside organs)
Penis - this is the cylinder-like organ between males legs. It is normally hanging downward and when sexually excited, it becomes hard and enlarges.Shaft - filled with a sponge-like tissue that can get filled with blood during sexual excitement and become erect and stiff. It is not a muscle.
Glans - the bulb-like area on the end of the shaft. This area is the most sensitive to sexual arousal. This is also called the head of the penis. In uncircumcised men it is covered by the foreskin.
Foreskin - the covering over the glans, it is cut off during circumcism. It can be pulled back and it also comes back by itself during erection.
Urethral opening - through this opening comes urine and semen. Germs can also enter into here.
Scrotum - The sac or bag that contains the testicles. The testicles are outside the body because they have to be at the right temperature to produce sperm. When it is warm outside, the scrotum relaxes and the testicles drop down away from the body so as to not get too hot. When it is cold, the scrotum tightens up and brings the testicles close to the body to keep them warm.
Pubic hair - appears after puberty and can be localized above the penis or can go up into the chest hair in some hairier men.
Rectum - The rectum is the last part of the intestines and it is from where solid body wastes leave our body. The actual opening to the outside is called the anus or the anal opening. Although it is not a part of the sex organs, it is included here because infections can happen here. On occasion warts can spread from the front of a man to the back. Also many other STDs can be spread to the anal area by having anal sex.
Internal
Urethra - the tube inside the penis shaft. Urine and semen go through it. Just the opening is visible at the end of the penis. It is the place where such STDs such as gonorrhea and chlamydia can live.Prostate - This gland produces some of the semen that comes out when a man has an orgasm. The prostate can be infected with some of the germs that cause STDs such as gonorrhea or chlamydia. The germs are harder to get rid of when they get into the prostate and antibiotic medicine usually has to be given for a longer time. The prostate gland is examined by health providers by doing a rectal exam. In this exam, the doctor or health provider puts a gloved finger into the anus. The prostate can be felt under his or her finger.
Seminal Vesicles - these glands produce some of the semen that comes out when a man has an orgasm.
Vas deferans - this tube connects the testicles with the urethra and carries sperm.
Testes (also called the testicles) - These are the 'balls' inside the scrotum. Their purpose is to make sperm and to produce the male hormone, testosterone.
Epididymis - This is the area on top of the testicle that collects sperm and connects with the vas deferans. If some STDs such as gonorrhea or chlamydia are left untreated, the germs can get into the epididymis and cause them to swell up and become tender.