Conception

To understand about conception and pregnancy, it helps to know about the male and female sexual organs. This information is useful in pregnancy too, when you want to ask questions and be clear about what you are told.

The Man’s Sexual Organs

Vas deferens The Man's Sexual Organs
This tube carries sperm from the testes to the prostate and other glands. These glands add secretions which are ejaculated along with the sperm.

Scrotum
This is the bag of skin which hangs outside the body and contains the testes. It helps to keep the testes at a constant temperature, just below the temperature of the rest of the body. This is necessary for sperm to be produced. In heat, the scrotum hangs down, away from the body, to keep the testes cool. When it is cold, the scrotum draws up closer to the body for warmth.

Urethra
The urethra is a tube running down the length of the penis from the bladder, through the prostate gland to an opening at the tip of the penis. Sperm travel down the urethra to be ejaculated.

Penis
The penis is made of erectile tissue. This tissue acts like a sponge and, when it becomes filled with blood, the penis becomes hard and erect.

Testes
There are two testes. These are where sperm are made.