# Are the male and female genitalia "the same" in every respect aside from their shape? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 9, 2013, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-male-and-female-genitalia-the-same-in-every-respect-aside-from-their-shape/665794 "2013-08-09T11:55:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![donnie\_darko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@donnie\_darko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/donnie_darko)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-male-and-female-genitalia-the-same-in-every-respect-aside-from-their-shape/665794/1 "2013-08-09T11:55:51Z")
Science seems to suggest so. Women are now known to have a “prostate” that contributes to ejaculation, the penis is understood to be an externalized clitoris, and both of these organs are made of the same tissue. The ovaries and testes are essentially the same aside from the gametes they produce. The Mullerian duct which creates the internal female genitalia exists in a rudimentary form in men. It seems like the only difference between male and female junk is their shape! ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-male-and-female-genitalia-the-same-in-every-respect-aside-from-their-shape/665794/2 "2013-08-09T12:48:50Z")
Viva la difference! ---
**Author:** ![donnie\_darko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@donnie\_darko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/donnie_darko)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-male-and-female-genitalia-the-same-in-every-respect-aside-from-their-shape/665794/3 "2013-08-09T17:33:35Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > Viva la difference! It actually kind of bothers me in a philosophical sense that they are so similar. I guess I’m probably thinking about it too much. :dubious:😃 ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-male-and-female-genitalia-the-same-in-every-respect-aside-from-their-shape/665794/4 "2013-08-09T17:37:44Z")
Given that all embryos start as female, and only develop male characteristics as an option, it really should seem reasonable. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-male-and-female-genitalia-the-same-in-every-respect-aside-from-their-shape/665794/5 "2013-08-09T17:45:47Z")
Guys, if you walk around in hot weather all day and then put your hand down your pants and grab your junk, you will find your hand smells not merely sweaty, but a bit . . . **fishy.** ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-male-and-female-genitalia-the-same-in-every-respect-aside-from-their-shape/665794/6 "2013-08-09T17:53:28Z")
Moved to General Questions from Great Debates. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-male-and-female-genitalia-the-same-in-every-respect-aside-from-their-shape/665794/7 "2013-08-09T18:04:58Z")
Male and female genitalia are exactly the same, except for the parts where they aren’t. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-male-and-female-genitalia-the-same-in-every-respect-aside-from-their-shape/665794/8 "2013-08-09T18:16:43Z")
As long as men have nipples, I’m not sure why any other similarity is surprising. 🙂 One difference, though: I haven’t heard of any male structure that mirrors the uterus, even in a vestigial way. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-male-and-female-genitalia-the-same-in-every-respect-aside-from-their-shape/665794/9 "2013-08-09T18:32:23Z")
> [@donnie\_darko](#): > > It actually kind of bothers me in a philosophical sense that they are so similar. I guess I’m probably thinking about it too much. :dubious:😃 Just in a philosophical sense? The resemblance of the clitoris to a tiny penis really squicks me out. And male nipples? What is that shit? Once I’ve saved up enough cash, I’m having mine surgically removed. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-male-and-female-genitalia-the-same-in-every-respect-aside-from-their-shape/665794/10 "2013-08-09T18:39:53Z")
> [@dracoi](#): > > One difference, though: I haven’t heard of any male structure that mirrors the uterus, even in a vestigial way. Part of the Mullerian ducts becomes the uterus and vagina in females. In males, it atrophies away. ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-male-and-female-genitalia-the-same-in-every-respect-aside-from-their-shape/665794/11 "2013-08-09T18:45:10Z")
> [@Martian Bigfoot](#): > > Just in a philosophical sense? The resemblance of the clitoris to a tiny penis really squicks me out. You have it backwards- your penis is a giant clitoris. also, your nipples contain milk glands. Add a little bit of hormones, and you’d lactate. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-male-and-female-genitalia-the-same-in-every-respect-aside-from-their-shape/665794/12 "2013-08-09T18:45:42Z")
> [@Martian Bigfoot](#): > > And male nipples? What is that shit? Once I’ve saved up enough cash, I’m having mine surgically removed. Preach it Brother. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-male-and-female-genitalia-the-same-in-every-respect-aside-from-their-shape/665794/13 "2013-08-09T18:46:42Z")
Organs that have the same embryological origins are homologues. Here’s the Wikipedia article on human genital homologues- > **[List of related male and female reproductive organs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_homologues_of_the_human_reproductive_system)** > > This list of related male and female reproductive organs shows how the male and female reproductive organs and the development of the reproductive system are related, sharing a common developmental path. This makes them biological homologues. These organs differentiate into the respective sex organs in males and females. > The external genitalia of both males and females have similar origins. They arise from the genital tubercle that forms anterior to the cloacal folds (proliferating mesenchymal... ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-male-and-female-genitalia-the-same-in-every-respect-aside-from-their-shape/665794/14 "2013-08-09T18:47:58Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Part of the Mullerian ducts becomes the uterus and vagina in females. In males, it atrophies away. Ah, OK. Well, that fits with what I would have expected. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-male-and-female-genitalia-the-same-in-every-respect-aside-from-their-shape/665794/15 "2013-08-09T18:53:23Z")
> [@aNewLeaf](#): > > You have it backwards- your penis is a giant clitoris. > also, your nipples contain milk glands. Add a little bit of hormones, and you’d lactate. Not helping! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-male-and-female-genitalia-the-same-in-every-respect-aside-from-their-shape/665794/16 "2013-08-09T18:57:21Z")
Furthermore, a uterus is a baby-delivery organ, you don’t need one to grow a baby. (an embryo will implant pretty much anywhere, the inside wall of the abdomen is a nice location.) You- or any man- could have an embryo implanted, carry it to term, deliver it by c-section and then nurse it. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-male-and-female-genitalia-the-same-in-every-respect-aside-from-their-shape/665794/17 "2013-08-09T18:57:53Z")
The urethra does not emerge through the clitoris so the analogy there is a bit weak. > [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Guys, if you walk around in hot weather all day and then put your hand down your pants and grab your junk, you will find your hand smells not merely sweaty, but a bit . . . **fishy.** And you do this…a lot? ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-male-and-female-genitalia-the-same-in-every-respect-aside-from-their-shape/665794/18 "2013-08-09T19:06:07Z")
Urethras move around as the baby develops- not every male pees out the end of his penis. (Don’t google hypospadius if you are squeamish.) ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-male-and-female-genitalia-the-same-in-every-respect-aside-from-their-shape/665794/19 "2013-08-09T19:07:30Z")
> [@Martian Bigfoot](#): > > Not helping! :eek: Probably you shouldn’t [click this link, then](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiXp_See_Bs). ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-male-and-female-genitalia-the-same-in-every-respect-aside-from-their-shape/665794/20 "2013-08-09T19:08:45Z")
> [@donnie\_darko](#): > > Science seems to suggest so. Women are now known to have a “prostate” that contributes to ejaculation, the penis is understood to be an externalized clitoris, and both of these organs are made of the same tissue. The ovaries and testes are essentially the same aside from the gametes they produce. The Mullerian duct which creates the internal female genitalia exists in a rudimentary form in men. > > It seems like the only difference between male and female junk is their shape! When you get right down to it, the only difference between anything and anything else is their shape (well, and size). It is all just protons, neutrons and electrons, differently arranged.🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-male-and-female-genitalia-the-same-in-every-respect-aside-from-their-shape/665794.md?page=2)