Male

The anogenital distance is longer in the male, which has a more prominent genital papilla.

Penis

Os penis lies within the tissue of the penis.
- Supporting bone is the Baculum.
  - Baculum consists of two lateral prongs and a dorsal prong.

Two large testes in an external scrotum.
- Retained in the scrotum by a pad of fat in the inguinal canal.
Chinese Hamster:
- Testes remain internal.

Ovaries are oval in shape, situated dorsolateral to the kidneys.
- Completely enclosed in a fat-filled ovarian bursa.
- Uterine artery provides a major blood supply to the ovary.
- Coils of the ovarian and uterine arteries anastoamose close to the ovary.
Oviduct is long and tighly coiled.
Duplex Uterus
- Two seperate cervices.
- Uterine horns remain divided until uniting in a single vagina.
The urinary opening is cranial and the anus is caudal with the vaginal opening in between.
Vagina has a pair of vaginal pouches.
- Extend caudally, terminating at the level of the vaginal orifice.

Spontaneous ovulator.
- Ovulation occurs ~ 12 hours after the LH surge, usually resulting in the release of ova at night (hamsters are nocturnal).
Seasonally polyoestrus
Oestrus every 5-7 days
- Secretes copious white vaginal discharge during oestrus.
  - Changes consistency from stringy to waxy over the 3 day oestrus period.
Post-partum oestrus

Lasts 30 minutes.
Mating may be confirmed by the presence of a 'copulatory plug'.
- A creamy, gelatinous plug formed from secretions of the male accessory glands.
Pseudopregnancy can occur after an infertile mating.

Syrian (Golden) hamster
- Sexually mature at 6-8 weeks
- Gestation period: 6-8 days
- Litter size 5-9: offspring
- Weaned at 21-28 days.

Russian Hamster
- Sexually mature at 6-8 weeks
- Gestation period: 6-8 days
- Litter size: 4 offspring
  - Will cannabilise young if disturbed.
- Weaned at 16-18 days.

Chinese Hamster
- Sexually mature at 7-14
- Gestation period 7-14 days
- Litter size: 4 offspring
  - Will cannabilise young if disturbed.
- Weaned at 21 days.