Sexual anatomy typically refers to the both the external sexual organs, like the vulva and penis, and the internal organs involved in reproduction, like the uterus and seminal vesicle.  We categorize this anatomy as either female or male, but not necessarily the person. A person’s anatomy doesn’t determine their gender.

Based on sexual anatomy, a person is typically assigned a sex at birth—female or male. This is the case even a person’s sexual anatomy isn’t characteristically male or female—what is called intersex. But again, this doesn’t determine a person’s gender.

Gender is shaped by social and cultural norms and expectations of behavior. A person’s gender identity—their own personal perception of themselves—as female, male, both, or neither—does not necessarily match their biological sex. A person expresses their gender in various ways, such as their name, pronouns, dress, hairstyle, and more.

So when we talk about sexual anatomy here, we talk about it in a binary way—male and female. But we are talking about biological sex, not gender identity or expression. So let’s learn about this part of the body and how it works.

The female reproductive system includes the ovaries, the uterus, fallopian tubes, the cervix, and the vagina. Hover over any of the blue dots on the diagram below with a mouse, or touch them with your finger on a tablet or mobile phone, for more information: