Did you know... Some facts about female genitals
Etymology
The word "vulva" was taken from Middle Latin volva or vulva "womb, female genitals", probably from Latin volvere "to roll". Similar to Sanskrit ulva "womb".
Labeled picture of a human vulva.
Structures
In human beings, major structures of the vulva are:
- the mons pubis
- the labia, consisting of the
labia majora and the
labia minora
- the external portion of the clitoris and the clitoral hood
- the opening (or meatus) of the urethra
- the opening (or introitus) of the vagina
- the hymen and
- the perineum
The soft mound at the front of the vulva is formed by fatty tissue covering
the pubic bone, and is called is the mons pubis. The term mons
pubis is Latin for "pubic mound", and is gender non-specific. In human
females, the mons pubis is often referred to as the mons veneris,
Latin for "mound of Venus" or "mound of love".
Anterior view of an adult woman with pubic hair removed, showing labia majora.
Labia minora are hidden under labia majora.
The labia minora are two soft folds of skin within the labia
majora. While labia minora translates as "minor (or small) lips",
often the "minora" are of considerable size, and protrude outside the
"majora". Much of the variation between vulvas lies in the significant
variation in the size, shape, and color of the labia minora.
The clitoris is located at the front of the vulva... [continued inside]
Form of adult labia majora is rather individual. Often labia minora show up when pubic hair is removed.
Sexual arousal
Sexual arousal results in a number of physical changes in the vulva.
Arousal may be broken up into four somewhat arbitrary phases: Excitement, Plateau, Orgasm, and Resolution.
Excitement -
Vaginal lubrication begins first. This is caused as a result of the
vasocongestion of the vaginal walls. Increased blood pooling there causes moisture
to seep from the walls. These droplets collect together and flow out of the vagina,
moistening the vulva. The labia majora flatten and spread apart, and the clitoris and
labia minora increase in size.
Unlike in men, where sexual excitement produces large and readily apparent changes,
women are not necessarily aware that vaginal lubrication and blood engorgement of their vulva has occurred.
Plateau -
Increased vasocongestion in the vagina causes it to swell, decreasing the size of
the vaginal opening by about 30%. The clitoris becomes increasingly erect, and the
glans moves towards the pubic bone, becoming concealed by the hood... [continued inside]
Cultural attitudes
In some cultures, including modern Western culture, some women have shaved or
otherwise depilated part or all of the vulva. This is a fairly recent phenomenon in
the United States, but has been prevalent, usually in the form of waxing, in many eastern
European and Middle Eastern cultures for centuries, usually for the belief that it is more hygienic.
High-cut swimsuits compelled their wearers to shave the sides of their pubic triangles.
Shaving may also include all or nearly all of the hair. Some styles retain a "racing stripe"
(on either side of the labia) or "landing strip" (directly above and in line with the vulva).
Since the early days of Islam, Muslim women and men have followed a tradition to "pluck the armpit
hairs and shave the pubic hairs". This is a preferred practice rather than an obligation, and could
be carried out by shaving, waxing, trimming, or any other shaving method. This is a regular practice
that is considered in some more devout Muslim cultures as a form of worship, not a shameful practice,
while in other less devout regions it is a practice for the purpose of good hygiene... [continued inside]
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Vulva owners talk... 100+ Women describe their body, clitoris,
vulva, vagina in a special survey
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1. Happy with your body? If you're not, which part you don't like and why.
| % |
| I'm basically happy or very happy with my body | 51.6 |
| I'm too fat | 11.5 |
| I don't like my belly | 9.8 |
| My breasts are too small | 8.2 |
| I don't like my butt - too big | 3.3 |
| I am not in any way happy with my body | 2.7 |
| I don't like my nose | 2.5 |
| My breasts are too droopy | 2.4 |
| I don't like my labia - they're too small | 1.6 |
| I don't like my labia - they're different sizes | 1.6 |
| My breasts are unequal sizes | 1.6 |
| I'm too short | 1.6 |
| I don't like my labia - they're too big | 0.8 |
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2. How do you like the appearance of your vulva?
| % |
| I love it and think it's gorgeous | 44.6 |
| I like it most of the time | 28.0 |
| It's OK | 13.4 |
| Sometimes I like it; sometimes I don't | 7.9 |
| I hate it! | 6.1 |
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3. What do you think of the scent of your vulva?
| % |
| It's OK | 39.0 |
| I adore it! | 36.1 |
| Sometimes it's OK; sometimes it isn't | 20.1 |
| It grosses me out! | 2.4 |
| Bad | 2.4 |
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4. How often do you masturbate?
| % |
| 20 or more times a month | 37.8 |
| 11 - 19 times a month | 18.9 |
| 6 - 10 times a month | 14.6 |
| Less than once a month | 13.4 |
| 3 - 5 times a month | 10.4 |
| 1 - 2 times a month | 4.9 |
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5. How often do you reach orgasm when masturbating?
| % |
| 4 times out of 4 | 50.0 |
| 2 or 3 times in 4 or so | 25.6 |
| 1 time in 4 or so | 12.2 |
| Never | 7.3 |
| I don't know what an orgasm is! | 4.9 |
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6. How often do you have sexual intercourse?
| % |
| Not at all | 23.0 |
| 20 or more a month | 22.2 |
| 6 to 10 a month | 20.5 |
| 3 to 5 a month | 14.1 |
| 1 or 2 a month | 11.8 |
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7. What's your favorite sex position?
| % |
| Doggy style | 33.7 |
| Man on top | 31.2 |
| Woman on top facing partner | 17.9 |
| Side by side | 4.5 |
| Woman on top facing away from partner | 3.4 |
| Standing | 1.2 |
[continued inside]
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