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 by
Shana Duthie
All women that I know personally and those
whom I have met and chatted with have at one time wondered
if their genitalia are normal. Is my vagina too big?, are
my lips too long? do I smell bad? — the list goes on.
The purpose of this article is to address some of these issues
and to help put those of us who are self-conscious about our
genitalia and its appearance at rest.
The Female Anatomy
Once we are past puberty, it is assumed that we know what
our genital area looks like and how it functions. I have found
in my experience that not all women are comfortable with their
genitalia. Somehow our private parts seem so mysterious; perhaps
because our genitalia is hidden, whereas a man's is so prevalent
outside of his body. For those of you "in the know,"
the following can be considered a "refresher course",
and for those of you who did not pay attention in health or
biology class you may learn something new. If we know the
parts of our anatomy and their functions, then it is easier
to devise ways to bring them pleasure—which is what LadyBliss.com
is all about.
The following is a list of the major components of a woman's
genitalia:
Vulva
Mons veneris
Labia majora
Labia minora
Clitoris
Corpora
Cavernosa
Prepuce
Vestibule
Urethral opening
Vaginal opening
The external female organs are collectively called the vulva,
not to be mistaken with "Volvo"! The vulva consists of the
mons veneris, labia majora, labia minora, clitoris, and the
vagina.
The mons veneris is a fatty deposit (doesn't that sound sexy)
located over the pubis bone above the clitoris and below the
belly button. The mons veneris helps to cushion the pubis
bone for the woman and man during sexual intercourse, otherwise
we would both be bony. This area is usually covered with pubic
hair after puberty. The pubic hair helps to catch and retain
the female secretions during sexual intercourse to aid in
lubrication, so therefore, if you dare to go bare, your secretions
are going to be running...
The labia majora are the outer lips of the vulva and vary
in shape and size from woman to woman and can even be two
different sizes on each side. This is normal and is what makes
each woman unique. The word labia means "lips" in Latin. The
function of the labia majora is to protect the inside parts
of the vulva, such as the labia minora, urethra and the clitoris.
The labia majora may become engorged when aroused.
The labia minora are inside the labia majora and surround
the vagina and start at the clitoral hood. These can also
be of varying sizes depending upon the woman and vary in color
from a soft pink to a soft brownish/black and a range of colors
in between. These parts are extremely sensitive. During sexual
stimulation the labia minor become swollen with blood causing
them to thicken and become darker.
The sexual organ whose only known function is to receive and
transmit sexual pleasure belongs to women...it is the clitoris.
The penis on the other hand has functions other than pleasure,
but like the penis the clitoris becomes erect when aroused.
The clitoris is located below the mons veneris and above the
labia minora. Inside of the clitoris, aside from the many
nerve endings, are two corpora cavernosa. The corpora cavernosa
are sponge-like tissues that swell with blood, which causes
the clitoris to become engorged when aroused. A hooded fold
of skin called the prepuce protects the clitoris. The clitoris
has 8,000 nerve endings in it making it to sensitive to touch
directly for some women and can also cause it to become numb
from direct stimulation from a vibrator.
Urine passes through the urethral opening. It is located above
the vaginal opening and below the clitoris, between the labia
minora. It can be hard to spot so look directly below your
clitoris if you are having a hard time finding it. Contrary
to some people's beliefs, we do not pee through our vaginas
(although sometimes it can appear that way)!
The vaginal opening is what connects a woman's outer sexual
parts, the vulva, with her inner reproductive organs, the
cervix and the uterus. The vagina is also where we allow that
penis to go, if we feel like it, during sex. This is also
where we lucky women get to bear our children.
Vaginal Discharge
The discharge from the vagina varies from woman to woman and
will vary in consistency and odor during different times of
the month. Many women are disturbed by this but in general
terms, unless the discharge is spotted with blood, is greenish
in hue, smells terrible or makes you itch, it is probably
normal.
The pH balance of a vagina is acidic and this discourages
infections. The healthy vagina uses discharged secretions
to cleanse and regulate itself and thus interference with
this delicate balance such as douching can set up an environment
in the vagina that is optimal for infections.
Some women worry that if they don't seem "wet", their partner
may not think they are aroused. Menopause, hormonal changes,
birth control medications, and other normal factors may cause
some women to experience thick or minimized discharge, which
may cause painful intercourse. Don't be afraid to use a lubricant—it's
a great way to make sure you both have a good time. Other
women have the opposite concern—lots of discharge!
The bottom line is that vaginal discharge is perfectly normal
and healthy and is what keeps your vagina ready for pleasure.
If you think your discharge isn't normal, see your doctor
for an evaluation.
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