How much do you recall about your sex-ed classes in school or your biology lessons that explained the male and female reproductive systems? It is amazing just how many people misuse or are afraid to use the word ‘vagina’ and other female genitalia terms. Knowing what the different words mean and understanding the terminology is important, so you can better understand the different functions and how to take care of your body and recognize what is a problem and what is normal.
Vagina – It is OK to Say This Word!
The female body has always been a taboo topic that people find it embarrassing to talk about but being able to communicate properly with each other means that we can share and discuss our problems better and not have to feel uncomfortable about asking important questions. If you can better understand what is ‘normal’ down there, then it is easier to know when you should be concerned. With such stigmatism around female genitalia, it is no surprise that some women still don’t know what’s what, or even how to find a vagina.
Where is the Vagina?
The word vagina is often misused to describe what is actually the vulva, so there can sometimes be confusion. Before reading any further, why don’t you test yourself and try and find the vagina on this diagram?
The outermost part is actually the vulva and the vagina is the interior canal, which is usually hidden by the labia, the folds of skin that help to protect the vaginal opening. Getting to know what is going on down there will help you when seeking advice and recognizing problems. There is no right or wrong when it comes to appearance, as long as you can distinguish the different parts and know what their functions are.
The Reproductive System
The external parts that you can see and recognize are the labia minora and majora and the clitoris, but the internal parts consist of the vagina, cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes and the ovaries. You cannot “lose something inside the vagina”, as while there is an opening to allow for insertion and penetration, it is not a black hole! The entrance from the vagina to the cervix is incredibly tiny and will only open when you give birth. The cervix leads to the uterus where the fertilized egg will develop into a baby. Eggs are released in your monthly cycle from the ovaries and travel down your fallopian tubes and into the uterus, where they will wait to be fertilized by sperm or are released along with the lining of your uterus as part of your menstrual cycle.
Another myth for young women is that you pee from your vagina! The vagina does not connect to your bladder and is only used for sexual and reproductive purposes. You urinate from a different hole, your urethra, which is located between the clitoris and the vaginal opening, so while men only have two holes, women have three.
Hopefully, this has cleared up a little confusion and dispelled a few vagina myths, so you should all know how to find the mysterious vagina. Getting to grips with what you’ve got down there will help you to better take care of yourself and make informed decisions about your body. Don’t be afraid to grab a mirror and take a better look for yourself!
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