We are filled with lots of questions about our v*gina and we feel shy to inquire about it to the doctor even. Here are 20 facts you’ll definitely want to know.
1. You’re not even using the right word.
The v*gina is actually the muscular, elastic canal that is present from your cervix to your hymen.
Technically, the vulva is the term we should use to refer to the external female s*x organs, including the clitoris, urethra, the labia majora and minora, and the pubis.
2. Your clitoris and penis are alike.
The clitoris has twice as many nerve endings as the penis. The clitoris has 8,000 nerve endings while the penis has just 4,000, and has the highest concentration of nerve endings in the entire human body.
Like most organs, size and shapes vary, but an average clitoris is less than one cm in length.
3. Your hymen may even prevent normal development.
After an embryo forms, the hymen develops, a thin fold of mucous membrane around the v*ginal opening.
If a hymen is not opened or partially opened, women may have regular hormone cycles but not menstruate. But it can be fixed with minor surgery.
4. Your v*gina may change in size and shape at the time of arousal.
The v*gina averages around three to four inches in length, but during arousal, it may get relaxed and increased in length. The uterus is pulled upward, which changes the position of the cervix, allowing the v*gina to become longer.
5. Many women don’t climax from v*ginal penetration.
Many women do not climax out of v*ginal penetration. If you’re not satisfied with v*ginal penetration, experts suggest that adding clitoral stimulation would work wonders.
6. Your pubes have a purpose.
The pubic hair serves as a protective barrier to genital tissues, particularly the sensitive v*ginal opening. Along with providing a protective barrier, it also acts as a buffer against friction.
7. Discharge is usually normal, but not always.
The quality and quantity of your cervical fluid changes throughout your cycle, and our responses to the hormonal transitions that prepare your body for ovulation.
Cervical fluid is opaque, whitish, and creamy in your early phase, nearing the start of your cycle. It increases in quantity, wetness, transparency, and stretchiness as you approach ovulation.
Cervical fluid reaches peak characteristics of fertility around the day of ovulation, which includes a wet, clear, and stretchy texture.
8. Your v*gina is self-cleaning.
Various glands are present in the lining of the v*gina that release fluids meant to cleanse and lubricate the v*gina. If you use soap, it will change the v*gina’s natural flora, which can upset the body’s pH balance and cause infections.
9. Your v*gina does change, especially after childbirth.
The cervical opening may change slightly in appearance, but it is still closed and fulfills the same purpose. The v*ginal tissue stretches during labor, but it returns to its same size.
10. Kegels are basically can keep your v*gina intact.
Every woman can practice Kegel exercises after v*ginal birth, once they have a doctor’s clearance.
To properly locate the muscles, pretend that you’re in an elevator, and you need to pass gas, but you are trying to prevent it. That way, you’ll activate all of the muscles in the pelvic floor, she says.
11. Women get blue balls.
‘Blue balls’ is a feeling of discomfort resulting from s*xual frustration. 47 percent of women mistake it for an STI or infection. But there’s nothing dangerous about it.
12. Orgasms can actually relieve menstrual cramps.
If you’re one of the 47 percent of women who didn’t know that, you can involve yourself in masturbation during your cycle and period s*x.
13. After birth, v*ginas need a rest.
Whether you are had a v*ginal birth or a C-section, doctors advise women to avoid penetration for six weeks after giving birth, as the v*gina needs that time to heal.
14. Your v*gina is placed at a 130-degree angle.
The v*ginal canal rests at an angle in your body, so rather than inserting up and in, point the direction of the tampon toward your back for easier insertion.
15. V*ginas are pH balanced.
V*ginas have an acid environment with a pH level of 4.5, that allows sperm to survive once inside.
16. They come in all different colors.
The color of labia can range from light pink to dark brown. During s*xual arousal, the color of your labia can temporarily deepen as blood rushes to the area.
17. No two v*ginas smell the same.
Every woman smells a slightly different thanks to her diet, the fabric she wears, her gland secretions, level of hygiene and her personal blend of internal bacteria.
18. V*gina means sheath.
The word “v*gina” dates back to the 17th century, and in Latin, “v*gina” means sheath.
19. That ingrown hair may not actually be an ingrown hair.
You should probably go to the doctor if you see something that looks like an ingrown hair just to make sure it’s nothing more serious.
20. Your Doctor Can Suggest Even More V*gina Facts.
If you prefer talking to obstetrics and gynecology, that’s totally up to you. But 88 percent of women don’t know they can also totally talk to their general physician about this stuff.
