Overview
In males, the testes produce sperm and testosterone. Sperm mature in the epididymis, travel through the vas deferens and mix with fluid from the seminal vesicles and prostate before leaving through the urethra. The 3D body shows the male organs.
In females, the ovaries release an egg about once a month and produce estrogen and progesterone. The uterine tube catches the egg; fertilization usually happens in its ampulla. The uterus provides a lining for implantation and the muscle for labor. The female organs and the breast are shown in their own 3D studies from a female reference model.
Main functions
- Production of sperm and eggs (gametogenesis)
- Production of sex hormones: testosterone, estrogen, progesterone
- Fertilization and implantation
- Support of the fetus during pregnancy and delivery
- Lactation through the mammary glands
Key structures
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Testes
The male gonads, which make sperm and testosterone.
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Prostate gland
A walnut-sized gland below the bladder that adds fluid to semen.
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Uterus
The hollow muscular organ where an embryo implants and a fetus grows.
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Ovaries
The female gonads, which release eggs and produce estrogen and progesterone.
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Uterine (fallopian) tubes
The tubes that carry the egg from the ovary to the uterus, where fertilization happens.
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Breast (mammary gland)
Glandular tissue on the chest wall that produces and delivers milk.
The menstrual cycle
A typical cycle lasts about 28 days. In the follicular phase, FSH stimulates a follicle that produces estrogen, which rebuilds the uterine lining. A surge of LH triggers ovulation around day 14.
In the luteal phase, the empty follicle becomes the corpus luteum and secretes progesterone, which keeps the lining ready for implantation. Without pregnancy, progesterone falls and menstruation begins. If pregnancy occurs, hCG from the embryo keeps the corpus luteum active, which is what pregnancy tests detect.
Nursing assessment
- Take a sensitive history: last menstrual period, obstetric history (gravida and para), contraception, sexual health and symptoms.
- Teach breast self-awareness and report lumps, skin dimpling, nipple retraction or discharge.
- Teach testicular self-exam monthly after a warm shower; most testicular cancers occur in young men.
- In pregnancy, measure fundal height (in cm, roughly equal to weeks of gestation from 20 to 36 weeks).
- Ask men about urinary stream, nocturia and erectile function.
Common conditions
| Condition | What happens | Key signs | Nursing priorities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ectopic pregnancy | Implantation outside the uterus, most often in the uterine tube | Missed period, one-sided lower abdominal pain, vaginal spotting; rupture causes shoulder pain and shock | Emergency: monitor for hemorrhage, prepare for methotrexate or surgery |
| Preeclampsia | New hypertension after 20 weeks of pregnancy with organ involvement | BP 140/90 or higher, proteinuria, headache, visual changes, epigastric pain | Monitor BP and reflexes; with magnesium sulfate watch respirations, reflexes and urine output; calcium gluconate is the antidote |
| Postpartum hemorrhage | Excessive bleeding after birth, most often from uterine atony | Boggy uterus, heavy bleeding, tachycardia | Fundal massage first, empty the bladder, give uterotonics as prescribed |
| Benign prostatic hyperplasia | Non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate | Weak stream, hesitancy, frequency, nocturia | Monitor for retention; after TURP watch for bleeding, clots and bladder spasms |
| Breast cancer | Malignant growth in breast tissue | Hard painless lump, skin dimpling, nipple changes | Screening teaching, post-mastectomy care, lymphedema prevention |
| Testicular torsion | Twisting of the spermatic cord cuts off blood supply | Sudden severe scrotal pain, swelling, nausea | Surgical emergency: the testis can be saved only within hours |
Labs and normal values
| Test | Typical adult range | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| hCG (pregnancy test) | Negative when not pregnant | Detectable in urine about 10–14 days after conception |
| PSA | Below 4 ng/mL (age-dependent) | Raised in prostate cancer, BPH and prostatitis |
| Hemoglobin in pregnancy | 11 g/dL or higher | Physiologic anemia from blood volume expansion |
| Rh factor and antibody screen | Documented in every pregnancy | Rh-negative mothers receive Rho(D) immune globulin at 28 weeks and within 72 hours after birth of an Rh-positive baby |
Reference ranges differ between laboratories and textbooks. Use the values your program and facility use.
Exam tips
- First action for a boggy uterus after birth: fundal massage.
- Magnesium toxicity signs: respiratory rate below 12, absent deep tendon reflexes, low urine output; antidote calcium gluconate.
- Naegele's rule: first day of the last menstrual period, minus 3 months, plus 7 days, plus 1 year.
Practice questions
8 NCLEX-style questions on the reproductive system. Pick an answer to see the rationale.
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One hour after delivery, the nurse finds a boggy uterus and heavy bleeding. What is the first action?
Show the answer and rationale
Answer B: Massage the fundus. Uterine atony is the most common cause of postpartum hemorrhage; fundal massage stimulates contraction.
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A client receiving magnesium sulfate has a respiratory rate of 10 and absent reflexes. What should the nurse anticipate?
Show the answer and rationale
Answer B: Stop the infusion and prepare calcium gluconate. These are signs of magnesium toxicity; calcium gluconate is the antidote.
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Where does fertilization usually take place?
Show the answer and rationale
Answer C: Ampulla of the uterine tube. The egg is usually fertilized in the ampulla, the widest part of the tube.
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Using Naegele's rule, what is the estimated due date if the last menstrual period started on April 10?
Show the answer and rationale
Answer B: January 17. April 10 minus 3 months is January 10, plus 7 days is January 17 of the next year.
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After birth, the fundus is firm but displaced to the right of midline. The nurse should first:
Show the answer and rationale
Answer B: Help the client empty her bladder. A full bladder pushes the uterus aside and can prevent it from contracting well.
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Which teaching about testicular self-exam is correct?
Show the answer and rationale
Answer B: Perform it monthly after a warm shower. Monthly exams after a warm shower, when the scrotum is relaxed, help detect testicular cancer early.
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Which hormone surge triggers ovulation?
Show the answer and rationale
Answer B: LH. A mid-cycle LH surge causes the mature follicle to release the egg.
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A client at 7 weeks of pregnancy reports sharp one-sided pelvic pain and right shoulder pain. The nurse suspects:
Show the answer and rationale
Answer B: Ruptured ectopic pregnancy. Shoulder pain suggests blood irritating the diaphragm from a ruptured tubal pregnancy, an emergency.