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 Your Body

Healthy Sexuality means taking care of your body, practicing safer sex, being comfortable with yourself, and your relationships.

Every body is unique and the resources below can help you to take the best care of you!

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Sexual and Reproductive Anatomy

Your sexual and reproductive anatomy includes your body parts that relate to sex and/or reproduction. Everyone’s body is unique and so are their genitals.

 
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For most people, their gender and their biologic sex (the sexual organs they had at birth) correspond. They have either a penis and scrotum and identify as a man, or a vulva and identify as woman. This is called cisgender.

For some people, the sex organs they have at birth and their gender don’t correspond. This is called transgender. Some Indigenous people use the term two spirit to describe a person who is transgender, gender-variant or has fluid gender identity.

For some people, their sex anatomy doesn’t fit the typical definition of either female or male. This is called intersex (or DSD). Intersex refers to the biology of a person, not their sexual orientation. There are many different combinations of naturally occurring sex hormones, chromosomes, and sexual body parts possible under the intersex umbrella.

 

 

 

When it comes to sex, not just the sexual and reproductive organs are involved. Any body part can be sensual and/or sexually arousing. Being touched on the breasts or neck may be arousing for one person, and not at all for someone else. Some people like to be kissed, others don’t. The parts of your body that make your feel aroused when they’re touched are called “erogenous zones”, and everyone’s are unique.

Healthy Sexuality means taking care of your body, practicing safer sex, being comfortable with yourself, and your relationships.

 
 
 

Female (Cisgender) Reproductive System

Vulva is all the external genitalia including: the mons pubis, labia majora, labia minora, clitoris, vaginal opening and urethral opening.

Mons pubis covers the pubic bone. It’s made up of fatty tissue and is covered in pubic hair after puberty.

Labia are the lips of the vagina. The labia minora are inside the labia majora, and the area between them is called the vestibule. The labia majora are usually covered in public hair after puberty. The normal shape and size of labia vary a lot between people.

Clitoris is covered in nerve endings and the source of pleasure for many people. The tip of the clitoris (glans) is covered by the hood created where the labia minora meet. The clitoris extends inside the body (shaft) and splits into two wishbone shapes that curve back, around and down (crura).

Vagina is also known as the birth canal. The walls are of the vagina are flexible, muscular and can be the source of pleasure for many people during sex. The vagina extends into the body up to the cervix. It is the route a baby travels in birth and where menstrual blood leaves the body during menstruation.

G-spot (Grafenberg Spot) is a small lump about 1/3 up the anterior (front) wall of the vagina. The g-spot is a source of pleasure for some people during sex.

Cervix is at the bottom of the uterus. It dilates (opens) during childbirth, but is closed the rest of the time.

Ovaries At birth, the female ovary contains about 350,000 egg cells. Beginning in puberty, and continuing until menopause, a single egg is released in each menstrual cycle (about 400 times in a lifetime).

Fallopian tubes Each menstrual cycle, one mature egg will be released from one of the ovaries into one of the fallopian tubes. Over about one week, the egg travels along the fallopian tube to the uterus. During this time, if vaginal sex occurs, a sperm can travel to the fallopian tube and fertilize the egg. If fertilization occurs, the egg cell will develop into an embryo as it travels to the uterus.

Uterus Each menstrual cycle an egg will travel from an ovary through a fallopian tube to the uterus. If that egg is fertilized by a sperm and develops into an embryo, it will implant into the wall of the uterus, resulting in pregnancy. If the egg is not fertilized, then the lining of the uterus and the egg will break down. The blood and tissue are released from the uterus trough the vagina over a few days. This is known as a period or menstruation.

Urethral Opening is part of the urinary system. It is located between the clitoris and the vaginal opening. Urine leaves the body from the urethral opening.

Anus is part of the digestive system. It can be a source of pleasure for some people during sex.

Bartholin’s Glands are near the vaginal opening. They release a natural lubricant during sex.

Skene’s Glands are on either side of the urethral opening. They release fluid during female ejaculation.

Hymen is a thin tissue that stretches across some or all of the vaginal opening. The hymen can tear and bleed the first few times you put something inside your vagina. Once it is torn, it won’t grow back.

 

Male (Cisgender) Reproductive System

Scrotum is the sac that holds the testes behind the penis. A strong muscle (Cremaster) attached to the scrotum moves the testes closer to the body if they get too cold and father from the body if they get too warm. The skin on the scrotum is usually wrinkly, can vary in colour and be covered by some or a lot of hair after puberty. It is common for one side of a person’s scrotum to be larger than the other.

Testes (Testicles) are oval shaped organs inside each side of the scrotum. Testes are responsible for hormone (testosterone) and sperm production. The normal shape and size of testes vary a lot between people.

Epididymis is a series of small coil tubes on the testes where sperm mature before being released through the vas deference.

Vas Deference is the tube that carries sperm from the epididymis to the seminal vesicles.

Seminal Vesicles produce semen, the fluid that sperm travel in.

Ejaculatory Duct connects vas deference to the urethra.

Penis is external genitalia that contains the urethra. The penis is made of layers of spongy tissue that fill with blood when erect. All penises are a different size and look a little different. Some are uncircumcised (still have foreskin) others are circumcised (foreskin has been removed). Some curve when they’re erect, others are straight, but they all have the same basic parts (glans, foreskin, shaft, frenulum)

Glans is the tip of the penis where the urethral opening is. This is where pre-ejaculate (precum), semen (cum) and urine leave the body. It is the most sensitive part of the penis for many people. The shaft extends from the tip to the body. The foreskin covers the head of the penis. It pulls back when the penis is erect (hard). Some people have their foreskin surgically removed as a baby (circumcision). The frenulum is the v shape just below the head of the penis. This is a very sensitive area for many people.

Prostate Gland makes a fluid that helps sperm to move.

Cowper’s Gland makes a fluid called pre-ejaculate that prepares the urethra for ejaculation.

Urethra is the tube that carries pre-ejaculate, ejaculate, and urine through the penis.

Anus is part of the digestive system. It can be s source of pleasure for some people during sex.

 
 
 

Intersex Bodies

People with intersex bodies are born with a reproductive and/or sexual anatomy that doesn’t fit the typical definitions of female or male. They have some biological characteristics that are considered “female” and others that are considered “male” in their chromosomes, hormones, internal sex organs and/or external genitalia. Intersex is a naturally occurring variation in people and most often isn’t a medical problem. The medical term used to describe variations in reproductive anatomy is “Disorder of Sex Development (DSD)”, however some controversy exists about the use of this term and most people living with these reproductive and/or sexual body variations refer to themselves as intersex.

 
 

 

Menstruation (Your Period)

A period, also known as menstruation is caused by changing levels of hormones in the body. Most people who have a uterus will get a period each month from puberty until menopause. These hormones cause the lining of the uterus to develop, for a fertilized egg to implant, and develop into a fetus. If the egg is not fertilized, the uterine lining and egg break down. The blood and tissue are released from the uterus trough the vagina over a few days. This process repeats in a cycle about every 28 days.

 
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Sexual Reproduction

Reproduction is the creation of a new human by combining the genetic information (in the sperm and egg) from two people. Sex between two people is most often how sexual reproduction happens, but with advancements like in vitro fertilization, it is possible to combine a sperm and an egg without intercourse.

 

Sperm Fertilizing Egg

First Week After Fertilization

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PROTECT YOURSELF FROM AN STI

If you’re sexually active, it’s important to protect yourself and your partners from Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) with regular testing, condoms, and immunization.

 
 

Taking Care of Your Body

It is important to take care of your body. Regular checkups and screening for STIs and cancers that affect breasts and genitals can make a big difference in your health. Most illnesses and infections can be treated or even cured if you find it early and get treatment.

Taking Care of Your Breasts

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Taking Care of Your Vulva, Vagina & Cervix

Nearly all cases of cervical cancer are caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), passed from one person to another during sex. HPV can cause changes in the cervical cells which can develop into cervical cancer if left untreated. The HPV Vaccine prevents nine types of the virus types which cause genital warts or cancers of the mouth, nose, throat, anus, penis, cervix and/or vagina. A Pap Test (Papanicolaou test) is a simple screening done by your health care provider to test for changes in cervical cells. A speculum is gently inserted into the vagina so cells can be taken from the cervix and examined under a microscope at a laboratory. Every person with a cervix should have a Pap test done every two years. Once you have had three normal results in a row, your health care provider may test every three years until you are 69 years old. Your first Pap test should be done when you are 21 years old or three years after becoming sexually active, whichever happens first.

 
 
 

Taking Care of Your Penis and Testes

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If you have testicles, you should check them for changes monthly. One at a time, hold the testicle between your thumbs and fingers and roll it gently.

Book an appointment with your family doctor if you notice:

  • hard lumps

  • changes in size, shape or hardness in your testicles

  • unusual discharge from your penis

  • sores on your penis

  • burning pain when you pee

Even if you have no symptoms and your monthly self exams are normal, it is still important to see your family doctor for a check-up of your penis and testicles, and STI testing once per year.

 

Taking Care of Anus & Throat

Every sexual activity carries some risk of getting an STI, but most often STIs are passed though unprotected sex. When you have regular STI screening, it’s important that your health care provider swabs all the parts you’re using when you have sex. If you have had anal sex or oral sex, swabs of your anus and/or mouth should be done to test for STIs.

If you have any sores or pain on your anus or in your mouth, you should make an appointment with your family doctor.

Pelvic Floor Disorders

Urinary incontinence (leaking urine) and vaginal prolapse are very common conditions. These pelvic floor disorders are not life-threatening, but they may affect your quality of life. Talk with your healthcare provider about your symptoms and ask about treatment options or a referral to the Saskatchewan Pelvic Floor Pathway.

 

NEED A DOCTOR?

 
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 Puberty

Puberty is a time when your body develops from a child to an adult, getting ready for sexual reproduction. There are lots of changes in the body during puberty. Every person’s experience of puberty is unique, but most people go through the same basic changes.

 

 Menopause

Menopause is a time whean your body changes as the reproductive period ends. There are lots of changes in the body during menopause. Every person’s experience of menopause is unique, but most people go through the same basic changes.