Throughout the world, people hold strong beliefs about the importance and impli­cations of altering male genitals through a variety of procedures. These rituals and customs have been chronicled through the ages (Aggleton, 2007). (Female genital modification is also widespread, as discussed in Chapter 3.) The most common genital alteration is circumcision, the surgical removal of […]

We begin with discussions of the various structures of the male sexual anatomy. Descriptive accounts are organized according to parts of the genital system for easy reference. Later in this chapter (and in Chapter 6) we will look more closely at the way the entire system functions during sexual arousal. The Penis The penis consists […]

and Physiology Sexual Anatomy What are the major external and internal male sex structures, and what functions do they serve? Why is it important to conduct regular genital self-exams, and what should a man look for? Male Sexual Functions What physiological processes cause an erection? How do psychological and physiological factors interact to influence erections? […]

Certain risk factors that increase or decrease a womans chances of developing breast cancer are outlined in ■ Table 3.2. Some researchers believe that 40% of breast cancers in postmenopausal women may be prevented by lifestyle factors. Hormone use, alcohol consumption, high coffee consumption, weight gain, and lack of physical activity contrib­ute significantly to the […]

Three types of lumps can occur in the breasts. The two most common are cysts, which are fluid-filled sacs, and fibroadenomas, which are solid, rounded tumors. Both are benign (not cancerous or harmful) tumors, and together they account for approximately 80% of breast lumps. In some women the lumps create breast tenderness that ranges from […]

Breast self-examination and routine clinical breast exams by your health-care provider are important screening tools. Another such tool is mammography (ma-MAWG-ruh-fee), a highly sensitive X-ray screening test to help detect cancerous breast cells and lumps. Mam­mography uses low levels of radiation to create an image of the breast, called a mammo­gram, on film or paper. […]

A breast self-examination (BSE) is an important part of self-health care for women, especially for women at high risk for breast cancer (Doheny, 2009). This exam can help a woman know what is normal for her own breasts. She can do the breast exam herself and can also teach her partner to do it. Ninety […]

Breasts are not part of the internal or external female genitalia. Instead, they are sec­ondary sex characteristics (physical characteristics other than genitals that distin­guish males from females). In a physically mature woman, the breasts consist internally of fatty tissue and mammary (MAM-uh-ree), or milk, glands (I Figure 3.7). The glandular tissue in the breasts responds […]

Some medical problems may require a woman to undergo a hysterectomy (his-tuh — hysterectomy REK-tuh-mee), surgical removal of the uterus, or an oophorectomy (oh-uh-fuh-REK — Surgical removal of the uterus. tuh-mee), surgical removal of the ovaries, or both. Such problems include bleeding °°Phorectomy Surgical removal of the ovaries. disorders, severe pelvic infections, and the presence […]

The Pap smear is an essential part of routine preventive health care for all women, including sexually active adolescents and postmenopausal women. During this screen­ing test for cervical cancer, cells are taken from the cervix. The vaginal walls are held open with a speculum, and a few cells are removed with a cervical brush or […]