Vulvas, Vaginas and Various Other Womanly Things

Part 1

The female body is often a mysterious thing. In so many cultures and for many years it has been seen as something that needs to be covered up. Over the last few decades this has changed and we are seeing the naked female body on display like never before. However, in North America we seem to still have lots of guilt and shame attached to female nudity, most likely due to our puritanical roots and its recent resurgence. One of the consequences of this is both men and women have many misconceptions and false information when it comes to what is going on "down there".

I say "down there" because that is a term that many women use to describe their genitals. The proper terms are just too brazen for some to say aloud or even to themselves. Many women find any acknowledgement of their sexuality to be a filthy thing and subsequently think of their genitals as filthy too (even though their sexual elements are just one part of their function).

Thankfully, many people have tried to bring the female genitals into public discourse. The book Our Body, Ourselves (first published in 1970) suggested that women get naked and look at themselves in a mirror. More specifically, their genitals. Many photographers have taken pictures of women's outer genitals to show their diversity in shape, size, and colour. Eve Ensler wrote a play about women's genitals, called the Vagina Monologues, which explores various women's relationships with them. This play started a whole political movement against female genital mutilation, as well as a more social one of being able to more freely discuss female genitalia without shame and disgust.

When it comes to men and what they think of female genitals, I think things start off with feelings of curiosity about the unknown. Unfortunately, if the first and only images you have seen of a grown woman's genitalia is of shaved porn starlets with small and perfectly symmetrical lips, then the reality will be a bit of a shock. First off, as adults we grow pubic hair. Depending on the person it can end up all over the place, from your stomach area all the way to your bum - men and women alike. Next, we have the actual colour of the outside of the genitals. From a pale rosy-ness to deep, dark purple (and most anything in between), there is a lot of variety. Same goes for the size and shape of the genitals. No two are exactly alike. I think most people understand this, but I have known many a man and many a woman to freak out when they see a "hairy beaver" or a "meaty pussy". For goodness sake, you cannot alter your genitals without any drastic and invasive measures. Sure you can shave the hair, but the size and shape - you basically get what you are born with or rather what you have naturally developed.

Like I said before, a good way to get over all the negative perceptions of female genitalia is to inform yourself. So, let's take a trip down memory lane to your biology class and go over the basics.

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Part 2

The vagina. Often people mistakenly call female genitalia the vagina when in fact the vagina is just one part of it. The inside part to be precise. The vagina is a tubular, muscular organ that extends upward and inward towards the small of the back. It is located behind the urinary bladder and urethra and in front of the anus and rectum. It is approximately 3-5 inches in length. It can expand in size and shape during sexual arousal and its walls are also able to expand enough to accommodate childbirth. Only the outer third of the vagina has sensory never endings.

Usually when people say vagina they are usually referring to the outside part of the female genitalia called the vulva. The vulva refers to the exterior sex organs. Its structures include:

• The mons veneris. This is the area over the pubic bone that is naturally covered with pubic hair in an adult female. It consists of a pad of fat that lies between the skin and pubic bone. There are numerous nerve endings in this area and can make caressing it a pleasurable experience.

• The labia majora. These are the outer lips. They lie close together and extend back from either side of the mons. Toward the bottom, they taper and come together at the perineum.

• The labia minora. These are the inner lips. They begin as the hood like covering of the clitoris and then they extend back until they join with the labia majora.

• The vestibule. This is the area between the labia minora. You can find the urethra, the vaginal opening, and two sets of glands there (the Bartholin's glands, which correspond to the Cowper's glands in the male, secrete a small amount of fluid during sexual arousal).

• The perineum. This is the area that extends between the vaginal opening and the anus. It contains nerve endings and is sensitive to touch and pressure.

• The clitoris. The clitoral shaft is located at the top part of the vestibule where the labia merge. It is covered by the labia minora fold known as the clitoral hood or prepuce. The clitoris is composed of a small mass of erectile tissue that is richly supplied with nerve endings. Although much smaller than the penis, the clitoris has as many nerve endings as the penis and is formed of the very same tissues. Beneath the skin the clitoral shaft separates in wishbone fashion into two legs called the crura. They are about 3 inches long and found on either side of the vaginal opening. Its only function is sexual pleasure.

illustration courtesy of Scarleteen

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Part 3

Now that we have had our anatomy review, let's go to health class. Keeping your vagina and vulva healthy plays a vital role in your sexuality. Of course, sexually transmitted infections like Herpes, HPV, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Syphilis and the other STI's have grave affects on the female and male reproduction systems, but there are other non-disease related issues that can arise.

The vagina has several features that help prevent infection. Infection fighting antibodies that are secreted by the vagina is one of them. Another is the normal acidity of the vaginal secretions, aided by beneficial vaginal bacteria. However, this acidity exists in a delicate balance and a number of things can throw it out of whack (and subsequently causing yeast or bacterial infections). When the vagina does develop an infection it is often the result of one of the following factors - diabetes, pregnancy, poor nutrition (especially a diet high in sugar), douching, antibiotics, birth control pills, moist vaginal environment (i.e. wet bathing suit, tight synthetic clothing) - and the introduction of semen into the vagina. Yes, unprotected sex can affect the balance. This can happen with new partners as well as monogamous partners.

The two types of infections that can result from these situations are yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis.

Yeast Infections (also called Candida) can be treated with over the counter medications, but it is wise to see a doctor to confirm that it is indeed a yeast infection before treatment. Symptoms include burning and itching and a thick white discharge.

Bacterial Vaginosis is typically treated by prescription medication such as metronidazole. A proper diagnosis is required so a woman should see her doctor if she experiences the symptoms (a frothy discharge accompanied by a fishy odour - especially after intercourse or exercise). It should be noted that both these infections can be seen in men. Yeast infections can be sexually transmitted; while it is believed that bacterial vaginosis is not.

Urinary tract infections can occur with both men and women, but it is more common for women because the urethra is shorter in women making it easier for bacteria to reach the bladder. Symptoms include frequent, burning, or painful urination; chills; fever; fatigue; and infrequently, blood in the urine. To prevent infection it is important to keep the vulva clean. Wiping from front to back helps keep intestinal bacteria from traveling from the anus to the urethra (and the vagina which is important for preventing Bacterial Vaginosis as well). Being thoughtful during anal sexual activities is also important. Never introduce fingers, hands, toys or a penis into the vagina if it has been in your anus. Change condoms or clean the item/body part thoroughly. Urinating immediately after sex, drinking lots of water, and consuming cranberry juice (or tablets) also are extremely helpful things to do to keep urinary tract infections at bay.

OK, enough of that scary stuff! The thing to keep in mind is that a woman's genitals are a place of pleasure (oh, all those terrific nerve endings!!!) and if you keep it healthy, it will make you happy!

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