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 mons pubis separates into two folds of skin called the labia
majora, literally "major (or large) lips". The cleft between the labia
majora is called the pudendal cleft, or
cleft of Venus, and it contains and protects the other, more delicate
structures of the vulva. The labia majora meet again at a flat area
between the pudendal cleft and the anus called the perineum. The
colour of the outside skin of the labia majora is usually close to the
overall skin colour of the individual, although there is considerable variation.
The inside skin and mucus membrane are often pink or brownish. After the onset
of puberty, the mons pubis and the labia majora become covered by
pubic hair. This hair sometimes extends to the inner thighs and perineum.
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...[continued inside]
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...[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...[continued inside]
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100+ Women describe their body, clitoris,
vulva, vagina
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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?[continued inside] |
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