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.
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