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Your “vagina” is actually the vulva and here is what you need to understand about its anatomy

Did you know that what you refer to as the vagina is actually the vulva, and that it has many external sex organs nesting in it? If not, read this.
anatomy of vagina
An overview of your vagina is a must for all women. Image courtesy: Shutterstock
Published by Nikita Bhardwaj
Updated On: 9 Apr 2020, 03:48 pm IST
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We would all like to believe that we know our vaginas really well. After all, there isn’t that much to know right? And yet, do you know that according to a survey, over 50% of women in the UK don’t know where their vaginas are. Given the poor state of sex education in India, we’re sure Indian women aren’t too far in joining their British sisters in this statistic. 

Thankfully though, there is no time like the present to really get to know your nether regions. And if you really are aware of what you’ve got going, down under–think of this as a refresher course. So let’s begin

For starters, what you call “vagina” is actually the vulva
The thing that’s visible to you is not your vagina-it’s the vulva. The vulva has external sex organs, including the labia (folds of skin we know as vaginal lips) and clitoris. It also houses the urethral opening and vaginal opening. 

See, we told you-you to need to dig deeper to find your V-spot (pun intended). Now, let’s get down to anatomy to understand it better:

1. Pubic hair
You know it hurts to wax it off, but if you think your pubic hair is unnecessary, then let us tell you: they have a purpose. These hairs act like a cushion and protect your skin from abrasion. Plus, they also work as a protection shield and guard your vagina from the attack of bacteria and other pathogens.

2. Urethral opening
Now here’s a heads up: don’t confuse the urethral opening for the vaginal opening, as they both are different. While it sits right in front of your vaginal opening, the urethral opening is where you pee from. And your vagina has nothing to do with it.

symptoms of uti
Do you know, holding your pee is harmful for your bladder? Image courtesy: Shutterstock

3. Vaginal opening
Now let’s look at the other hole down there, which is the vaginal opening. This is the hole from where your menstrual blood is secreted and where babies come from. Not to mention, the vaginal opening is used for penetration during sexual intercourse. This is also where you shove tampons and menstrual cups.

4. Clitoris
Did you know, the word clitoris comes from the ancient Greek word “kleitoris,” which means “little hill”? Clitoris is your sex buddy as it is full of nerve endings which help you feel pleasure upon stimulation.

When you are sexually charged, the clitoris swells up with blood and makes you feel orgasms. You can locate your clitoris easily as it is right next to the urethral opening.

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5. Labia minora
All you millennials out there, even if you don’t know what the labia is, we’re sure you’ve heard Samantha call out to the “lawrence of her labia” in Sex And The City 2. And now is the time to get to know this part of your vulva better.

Labia minora are the folds of skin which protect the clitoris, urinary opening, and vaginal opening. It is believed that it facilitates female ejaculation.

6. Labia majora
The big sister of labia minora, this is also called vaginal lips. A pair of rounded skin folds, labia majora act as shields for the vulva.

So while the labia minora is a bubble wrap for your vulva, labia majora is the sturdy carton and public hair is the gift wrap that protects your sex organs from infections and injuries.

So, now that you know–do your fellow sisters a favour and help spread the word. Share this ‘Vikipedia’ with them and let us know your comments below. 

About The Author
Nikita Bhardwaj
Nikita Bhardwaj

Six-pack abs are all that Nikita needs, along with her daily dose of green tea. At Health Shots, she produces videos, podcasts, stories, and other kick-ass content.

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