The male reproductive system is the part of a male’s body that allows him to have babies when he is ready for it.
The main parts of the male reproductive system are the testes, penis, and set of tubes. The testes are two small organs located in the scrotum, which is the sack-like structure below the penis. These testes have an important job—they make the sperm cells, which are tiny cells needed to fertilise the egg.
When a boy goes through puberty, his body starts producing a lot of testosterone, which is a hormone that helps him develop and look more and more like an adult. Testosterone also helps in producing sperm.
Once the body has made enough hormones, sperm begin to develop within a system of tiny tubes called seminiferous tubules inside your testicles. This is where the sperm mature and become capable of fertilising an egg. Sperm start as simple round cells that must mature and transform to their tadpole-like shape.
After the sperm have begun to transform, they move to another part of the male reproductive system called the epididymis to continue their development. The epididymis is another long tube-like structure in your scrotum, close to your testicles. When a man has sex, sperm comes out of the penis. The penis is the organ that allows urine to leave the body, but it also delivers sperm. The process of sperm coming out of the penis is called ejaculation. Producing a mature sperm takes a little over 70 days from start to finish.
If a sperm meets an egg as a result of having sex, it can fertilise the egg and start a pregnancy. The fertilisation happens in the female’s body, specifically in the fallopian tubes.
Understanding the male reproductive system is important for both male and female because it helps them know how bodies work, how they can contribute to growing a family, and what changes to expect during puberty.