The hymen is another external structure that has been assigned great significance about women's virginity status. It should be noted that its absence is not a reliable indicator that a woman is not a virgin, as the hymen may be broken during athletic activity or other normal activities. Breasts, buttocks, hair, and eyes also contribute to sexual arousal for both males and females. Breast self-examinations are very important, especially as women grow older. Women who give themselves breast examinations or who have their partners examine them are more likely to notice unusual changes in their breasts and receive medical attention as early as possible.
Many people assume that the male sexual anatomy is simpler than female anatomy.
One reason for this incorrect assumption is that we are more familiar with the appearance of the male's external genitals, which are more easily visible. Complex sexual structures and functions characterize both men and women. Both the penis and scrotum are visible external genitalia in men. The testes secrete sex hormones within the interstitial cells and produce sperm within the seminiferous tubules. Because the testes cannot produce viable sperm at the normal body temperature of 98.6 degrees F, the average scrotal temperature is about 5.6 degrees F lower than that of the body.