Facts About The Vagina

There are many things women don’t know about the vagina. From being called “down there” to “vajayjay”, no matter what you call it, you should know that our vagina is a very fascinating part of our body. We mean, come on, a tiny human can be pushed out right from the vagina! If that’s not impressive enough, we don’t know what is! 

 Read on for some 10 interesting facts about the vagina you should know! 

1. Labias come in all shapes, sizes, colours and textures

If you’re wondering if your labia (or lips) is normal, let’s just say they all come in various shapes, sizes, colours as well as textures. Like how no two snowflakes are alike, the same can be applied to vagina. It may also have asymmetrical lips which means one of your labia is bigger than the other. Fret not, it’s completely normal and there’s nothing to worry about! 

2. Not every woman is born with a hymen

A hymen is a stretchy collar of thin tissue located at the entrance of the vagina. People believe that the hymen indicates a person’s virginity. However it’s a misconception because here’s the interesting fact though, not every woman is born with a hymen. Some are born with so little hymenal tissue that may look like they don’t have it at all. 

Even if you were born with one, playing sports or any activities as a kid and inserting a tampon can “break” it naturally. It doesn’t mean that just because your hymen is stretched or “broke”, you have already had sex before!

3. The vagina cleans itself

The vagina cleans the inside itself by secreting natural discharge or mucous. The mucous plays an important role in keeping the vagina healthy. It helps to wash away blood, semen, bacteria and vaginal discharge from the vagina as well as keeps the vagina at an optimum pH level.

Only use mild, scent-free soap and clean water to wash between the labia folds. So let your vagina do its own thing! Using perfumed soaps might disrupt the pH level of the vagina and cause irritations. 

4. The scent ‘down there’ can change throughout the month

If you need to know, no two vaginas smell the same! There are many factors that play a role in the scent of the vagina, from what you eat, what you wear, your gland secretions and the level of hygiene.

For instance, the smell might be more noticeable after working out due to the sweat glands. Having a slight scent is totally normal. However, if the smell gets bad like a strong fishy smell accompanied with an unusual vaginal discharge, it’s probably time to visit a doctor. 

5. Discharge changes throughout your cycle

Having vaginal discharge is normal and changes throughout your cycle depending where you are in your menstrual cycle, thanks to our reproductive hormones estrogen and progesterone. During ovulation, the discharge might look more clear, thin and stretchy.

After your period, you might see a brown discharge as your vagina is cleaning out the old blood. Any unusual discharge like a green-ish or yellowish discharge may indicate an infection especially if it comes with a foul smell. Be sure to visit your gynecologist if this happens!

6. Your vagina is slightly acidic

Just like a glass of wine, our vagina is slightly acidic – between pH 3.8-4.5. Having an acidic vaginal environment is important for it to stay healthy. The acidity protects the vagina from infections and keeps the growth of bad bacteria as well as yeast in check.

It also helps to keep things balanced. If you’re thinking of using feminine hygiene products, you might want to think again! Best to be more careful when using them as they can disrupt and upset the vaginal pH balance causing unwanted irritation. 

7. Thousands of nerves are packed into your clitoris 

Did you know that there are thousands of nerves packed into your clitoris which are way more sensitive than a penis? It’s so super sensitive, it has about 8000 nerve endings making it twice as many nerve endings as the penis! Yup, you heard that right!

Also, just like the penis, your clitoris can grow larger when you’re aroused or sexually excited as more blood flows into the clitoris.

8. Your pubes have a purpose

Wondering why women have pubic hair? They actually have a purpose “down there”. Your pubes play a role as a protective barrier, preventing dirt, debris and harmful bacteria from entering the vagina. Besides that, they also help in reducing friction during activities such as sexual intercourse or any other physical activities. 

It’s a personal decision whether to remove the pubic hair or not. It completely depends on the individual as some prefer to have some removed and some prefer to have everything removed. Shaving can leave some tiny wounds on the skin which opens up for pathogens to enter and cause infections. Be sure to choose the right hair removal method as your skin may be sensitive to certain types of hair removal method be it shaving, waxing or using a special laser treatment. 

9. The vagina always has a little yeast in it

It’s normal to have a small amount of this fungus in the vagina. A healthy vagina means there’s a good balance of good bacterias as well as unhealthy bacteria. It becomes an infection when there’s an overgrowth of yeast in the vagina. When there’s a vaginal itch with a cottage cheese-like discharge, that’s when you know there’s a yeast infection. 

10. Strengthening your vagina can improve orgasms

You have probably heard of kegal exercises but did you know that strengthening your pelvic floor muscles by doing kegal exercises can help you have better sex and more intense orgasms? Doing kegal exercises regularly can strengthen the muscles surrounding the urethral and vaginal openings, helping you to achieve better orgasms!