9 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Vaginas

Besides the fact that they’re awesome, vaginas are tough and there’s so much that many people don’t know about them.
Sure, your vagina has been with you your entire life, but how much do you really know about it?
Whether you’ve been too shy to ask or don’t know where to look for information, chances are there are plenty of things that you’ve wondered about the area “down there.” From what to expect after childbirth to normal sexual functions and a lot more.
Read on to find out surprising facts you may not know about your lady parts.
1. The vagina has a self-cleaning mechanism:
Your vagina keeps itself clean. “It’s lined by a variety of glands that produce the fluids needed to both lubricate and cleanse the vaginal area,” says Lisa Stern, APRN, a nurse practitioner who works with Planned Parenthood in Los Angeles. Girls, step away from the soap and harsh cleansers, your body does a fine job of keeping the insides clean.
2. The vagina grows in size when aroused:
The average vagina is 3-4 inches long and can expand by 200% when aroused. However, many women still have pain during sex when their partner is on the larger side. Using plenty of lubricant and going slow is recommended.
3. Female ejaculation does exist:
Women in addition to men can ejaculate varying amounts of fluid during orgasm. Many women are able to produce very large amounts of fluid. There are glands around the urethra, the tube between the bladder and the outside world that probably secrete fluid, particularly when the anterior wall of the vagina (a.k.a. the G Spot) is stimulated. Beverly Whipple, PhD, RN, a sexuality researcher and professor at Rutgers College of Nursing, describes this area as ” ‘the female prostate,’ a collection of glands, blood vessels, nerves and spongy tissue that, when stimulated, seem to create fluid in some women.”
4. It’s not all about the G-spot:
The g-spot gets all the credit for giving women amazing orgasms, but there is another spot called the A-Spot that can be just as effective at giving a woman an earth shattering climax. The A-Spot is located deeper within the canal than the g-spot (right in front of the cervix) and it can be stimulated using the same come hither motion with your fingers that you would use if you were stimulating the g-spot. Just remember that since you’re going very deep inside a woman, you need plenty of good lubrication like Astroglide, and you need her to be aroused first so it’s not painful or uncomfortable.
5. The vagina can actually fall out:
Vaginal prolapse is when the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes or vagina (or a combination of all of these) moves downward from its natural place in the body. This condition is common following surgeries such as hysterectomies, but can also happen without any prior event. In severe cases, this medical condition will cause the inner tissues to protrude through the vaginal opening.
6. Your vagina can change dramatically after childbirth:
The vagina doesn’t so much look different as it feels different after childbirth. If you’re uncomfortable with the way your vagina has stretched and changed after childbirth, exercises like Kegels could really help.
7. Having sex can keep the vagina young and healthy
Like the rest of your muscles, the vagina needs to be used and exercised or it will become weak and brittle. During prolonged periods of abstinence, especially when a woman goes through menopause or reaches old age, the delicate tissues inside will thin and can begin to break down. Regular sex, however, will help keep a woman’s genitals in peak form. If you neglect your vagina for too long (no sex, no Kegel exercises, etc.), the vaginal walls can become fragile.
8. The vaginal muscles are extremely powerful:
All women have the ability to use their vaginal muscles also called the PC muscles during sex. These are also the same muscles a girl uses to stop the flow of urine, and they can be strengthened through exercises like Kegels. You might not think that these muscles would be very powerful, but they are! The world record holder for the strongest vagina is a Russian woman who was able to lift 14 kilograms with her vaginal muscles only.
9. Vaginal secretions contain a component found in shark livers:
Upon microscopic examination of the ingredients found in female vaginal secretions, scientists have noted that these secretions contain a component actually found in shark livers. This is called squalene, and can also be found in vegetable oils. It can be used in cosmetics, because it is an excellent moisturizer that doesn’t leave the skin feeling greasy! Squalene is most likely what makes natural secretions good for the health of the genitals, because it keeps the tissue moist and supple.

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