... VAGINA FACTS: 10 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Lady Parts

This vagina of the woman is
gorgeously complicated and full
of surprises.
Here are just a few.
1. During arousal, your lady parts act like his
man parts. You know about the clitoris "joy
button" becoming more, but you may not be
aware that the labia minora also contain
erectile tissue that gets slightly stiffer when
things heat up. The reasons for this go back
to when you were a fetus with androgynous
parts. "We all start out with the same tissues
in that area," says Shelly Holmstrom, MD,
associate professor of obstetrics and
gynecology at the University of South Florida
at Tampa.
2. Even the most mild-mannered among us
have something in common with sharks.
Vaginal lubricant and shark liver oil both
contain an organic compound called squalene.
Squalene derived from sharks is sometimes
added to mosturizers and skin creams where
it acts as an emollient.
3. Silicone lubricants may be right for you but
not for your toys. Gynecologists recommend
silicone-based lubricants over water-based
ones because they feel more natural, last
much longer and don't usually contain
propylene glycol, which is a potential irritant.
4. Menstrual blood may be a lifesaver. For
years, scientists have been trying to find a
medically helpful use for menstrual blood,
which contains stem cells that have the
ability to regenerate. The latest most exciting
research: cells from this all-too-readily-
available blood are currently being tested to
see if they can help patients with heart failure.
5. Shaving and waxing the bikini area can
cause micro-trauma, even when it doesn't
hurt. The process of hair removal causes tiny
nicks and abrasions that can allow bacteria to
get under the skin and cause infections,
explains Susan Taylor, MD, a Philadelphia-
based dermatologist. The micro-trauma
caused by Brazilian waxes, especially, can
boost the risk of a pox-like viral infection
called molluscum contagiosum. Don't share
razors and consider holding off sexual contact
until a day or two after a wax (longer if you
have visible bumps or wounds).
6. Sex can also cause micro-trauma even when
it feels great. A normal, enjoyable bout of sex
can still result in small scrapes or tears to the
internal tissue, says Holmstrom.
"Unfortunately for us, that's why women are
so much more likely than straight men to get
STIs," she says. Condoms are your best
protection against STIs (besides abstinence,
obviously).
7. Sweating down there isn't only normal; it
provides a necessary function. Just below the
skin of the labia and clitoral hood are
hundreds of tiny glands that secrete oil and
sweat, says Holmstrom. This can protect your
delicate areas from friction and overheating.
8. It's normal for premenopausal women to
have daily discharge. The vagina can produce
an average of a teaspoon of discharge a day,
and it's often white or transparent and
odorless. Just before the ovulation phase of
your menstrual cycle, this discharge will
probably be more watery and elastic, and
there will seem to be much more of it. If it
bothers you, try a sanitary pad (and if you
notice anything unusual, odor, discomfort, etc.
talk to your doctor).
9. Hair down there really does tend to be the
same color as hair up there, but it will never
be as long. The growth phase of pubic hair is
much shorter than that of hair on your head,
says Taylor. "It's not programmed to grow
that long," she says and even if it were,
friction from undergarments and ordinary
movement causes frequent breakage.
10. Just as petals range in size from buttercup
to orchid . The length of the inner labia, or
labia minora, can be between 3/4 inch and 2
1/3 inch (a much broader range than most of
us realize), according to a classic study
published in the early 1900s in the journal
American Gynecology, and every gynecologist
we've ever talked to says there's no good
medical, hygienic or aesthetic reason to be
self-conscious of yours. Really.