Biological factors
In terms of sex, men have various sexual characteristics that differentiate them from women. Just as in women, the sex organs of a man are part of the reproductive system. The secondary sex characteristics are involved in attracting a mate or in defeating rivals. But these secondary traits are also often related to reproduction in some manner. In contrast to women, men have sex organs that are mostly considered to be external, although many parts of the male reproductive system are internal as well. The study of male reproduction and associated organs is called andrology. Most, but not all, men have the karyotype 46,XY.
In general, men suffer from many of the same illnesses as women. However, there are some sex-related illnesses that occur only, or more frequently, in men.
Biological factors are usually not the sole determinants of whether a person considers themselves as man or is considered a man or not, for example, several men have been born without a typical male physiology (that is, they are transgendered or transsexual men; estimates range between 1:2.000 and one in 100,000), or some men can have an abnormal hormone or chromosomal difference (such as androgen insensitivity syndrome), or another intersex condition; some of those intersex people who have had a female sex assigned at birth sought to reassign their sex later in their lives (or vice versa). (See also gender identity, gender role and transman.) Additionally, some 20% of males, particularly among infants in the US, have experienced circumcision which seeks to alter the male genitalia from its natural state.
In general, men suffer from many of the same illnesses as women. However, there are some sex-related illnesses that occur only, or more frequently, in men.
Biological factors are usually not the sole determinants of whether a person considers themselves as man or is considered a man or not, for example, several men have been born without a typical male physiology (that is, they are transgendered or transsexual men; estimates range between 1:2.000 and one in 100,000), or some men can have an abnormal hormone or chromosomal difference (such as androgen insensitivity syndrome), or another intersex condition; some of those intersex people who have had a female sex assigned at birth sought to reassign their sex later in their lives (or vice versa). (See also gender identity, gender role and transman.) Additionally, some 20% of males, particularly among infants in the US, have experienced circumcision which seeks to alter the male genitalia from its natural state.
