6 fascinating facts about your vagina

For most of human history, vaginas have been a hush-hush topic. Researchers didn’t have a medical term for vaginas until the late 1600s. Researchers didn’t include women in clinical trials until 1994. 

Yet, even as vaginas mystified medicine, we’ve compiled some pretty interesting facts about them throughout the years. 

When we say vagina, we usually mean vulva

"Vagina" refers to the muscular, elastic canal that extends from your cervix to your vaginal opening. We’ve used the term “vagina” to reference all parts of the female genitalia. But all the stuff you can see on the outside is your “vulva.” The vulva includes the clitoris, urethra, the pubis, and the labia majora and minora (outer and inner vaginal lips). 

There’s no standard for how a labia should look 

Media, porn, and society have given women complexes about their labia (outer genitalia). We’re conditioned to think it should look a certain way — and by that, we mean not like the one we have. 

But, like bodies in general, the labia looks different. Your labia may have: 

• Asymmetric inner or outer lips
• Curved outer lips
• Dangling outer lips
• Protruding inner lips
• Small closed lips 
• Small open lips

No matter what it looks like, your labia is perfectly normal and beautiful. 

The clitoris is bigger than we think 

We’re taught that our clitoris is a small bean-shaped pleasure center that peeks out from our labia. But the majority of the clitoris is inside the body, wrapped around both sides of the vagina. If you measure the internal parts of the clitoris, women have about as much erectile tissue as a non-erect penis with over 8,000 nerve endings — that’s a lot of pleasure to be had!  

The vagina can change when you're turned on

Your vagina is naturally small and compact, measuring about three to four inches in length. When you become aroused, your body gets ready for vaginal intercourse, relaxing the tissue, so sex is comfortable and pleasurable. 

This happens when the uterus pulls upward, changing the position of the cervix, so the vaginal canal lengthens. If you find vaginal intercourse a bit painful or uncomfortable, you may need to spend a little more time performing foreplay to prepare your body for intercourse. 

Vaginas all smell different 

Your vagina has a smell. It isn’t flowers or baby powder — and it’s unique to your body. Your vaginal odor will change based on what you eat, your glands’ secretions, hygiene, and natural bacteria. Vaginal odors may be musky, sweet, sour, slightly fishy, or earthly. 

Other things affect your vaginal scent in your menstrual cycle, whether you’ve gone through menopause, any medications you’re taking, or the medical complications you’re facing. If your vaginal odor is overwhelming and accompanied by itching, burning, excess discharge, or sores, you should talk with your healthcare provider. 

Pubic hair is there for a reason 

Pubic hair works as a protective barrier that buffers against friction and supports delicate vaginal tissue prone to infection. It’s perfectly fine to remove your pubes but do so safely. Use proper hygiene, plenty of moisture, and products that will not harm your skin.