10 Things You Didn't Know About Vaginas

Think you know all there is to know about sex and the vagina? Think again. There are many facts about the vagina that may surprise you. The vagina is a tender, supple, flexible muscular passageway that connects a woman’s uterus to the world.

The major functions of the vagina include sexual intercourse and childbirth. The vaginal tract consists of a canal that extends from the vulva to the uterus and ends at the cervix. The vaginal tract is very sensitive and in some women also prone to vaginal infections. There is much to know about the vagina, including how this anatomy is employed during sex and how to sexually satisfy a woman. If you think you know everything, take note, these 10 facts may astonish you.

READ How Safe Is Vaginal Beautification?

Relieve Pain With An Orgasm

Not in the mood because you’ve got a headache? You may be surprised to learn that the best thing you can do to counteract that headache is to just go for it. Having an orgasm can rid your body of pain. Believe it or not, the big “O” can work as well as most over the counter meds to free your body from common pain. It seems that stimulation to the G-spot can increase your threshold for pain.  While the pain relief probably won’t last for very long, it is definitely worth a try. So next time you've got some minor aches and pains, skip the Aspirin and go for the orgasm instead.

Research proves that masturbation appears to maintain pleasurable genital sensitivity but increases pain sensitivity, with lower genital pleasurable sensitivity and higher vulvar vestibular pain sensitivity when orgasm occurs. Findings suggest that enhancing stimulation pleasurableness, psychological sexual arousal and lubrication mitigate normative increases in pain sensitivity during sexual activity.[1]

Move Over G-spot

While we may not have found it, we’ve certainly all heard of the G-spot.  Typically, it’s the G-spot that’s attributed to mind-blowing orgasms in women, but there is another spot, the A-spot, that can be even more earth-shattering. The A-spot is located inside the vagina, further back than the G-spot, in close proximity to the cervix. Because the A-spot is deeper, it’s important for the woman to be fully aroused and well lubricated before navigating toward the A-spot. A good position to try for A-spot stimulation is the woman on top or missionary position.

Ejaculation: It’s Not Just for Men

Skeptics don’t believe it, and many say it is urine, but despite their disbelief, it is true...women can ejaculate. Female ejaculation, also lovingly termed “squirting” does exist. During an orgasm, it is possible for a woman to ejaculate fluid. The amounts of ejaculate vary greatly from woman to woman, but fluid that is released from the paraurethral ducts during an orgasm is considered female ejaculation. This highly debated topic will undoubtedly remain a source of controversy, but truth be told, female ejaculation is possible.[2]

Sex: Your Vagina’s Fountain of Youth

You've certainly heard the term “use it or lose it” at some point in your life, but did you ever think that you’d be applying this principle to your vagina? The vagina, like other muscles in your body, must be utilized, or it can become dry and atrophied, meaning that the muscles will deteriorate. If you don’t have regular sex or engage in masturbation, the vagina will not receive enough blood flow, therefore, it may weaken and lead to sex becoming painful. This fact may be especially true as a woman ages or reaches menopause. Regular use and avoiding long intervals of abstinence will help to keep your vagina in prime shape.

Besides, Kegel exercises are commonly recommended and research proves that women who suffered from urinary incontinence and who performed the Kegel exercises showed an improvement.[3]

Physical Attributes Of The Vagina

The Clean Machine

Many women often wonder about the best way to keep their vagina clean, from douching to feminine washes and other methods, the choices can be daunting. The question arises...are those items really necessary?

Believe it or not, the answer is NO. The vagina has the unique ability to clean itself, it has a normal vaginal discharge that varies from clear to whitish, so a simple cleanse along the outskirts with water will generally do the trick. You can use soap, if you think it is necessary, just make sure it is unscented and mild. So why no feminine products or soap? Soap can act as a drying agent, opening you up to infection. Douching can rid your body of much needed “good” bacteria that help to prevent infection. The vagina has the ability to self-clean after your period, as well as after sex, so forget the douching and trust your vagina; she knows how to take care of herself.[4]

The Secret to The Scent

The vagina has a natural scent. This scent should not be strong or powerful, in fact, a pungent smell may indicate that an infection is brewing, however, this is not always the case. We’ve all heard the term “you are what you eat”; well this applies to the scent of your vagina as well. Certain foods that we consume can alter the scent or even the taste of a woman’s vagina. For example, a diet rich in sweet fruits like pineapple will give the vagina a sweet odor and taste, while veggies like cabbage can make the scent less than inviting.

On the other hand, a few investigations have already proven that the use of probiotic lactobacilli to prevent infection makes sense, as the vaginal odor is often connected to infections, for example, bacterial vaginosis is one of the most spread. The use of probiotic lactobacilli has an excellent safety record.[5]

Don’t Lose Your Vagina

Sure, we've all misplaced our purse or cellphone, but lost our vaginas? All kidding aside, vaginal prolapse is a real disorder. Certain conditions or surgical procedures, such as a hysterectomy, can cause vaginal prolapse. Vaginal prolapse occurs when portions of the female reproductive tract, such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus or any combination, begin to move from their natural position and slip down and sometimes even out of the vaginal opening. Severe vaginal prolapse can be serious, and may need surgery to correct.[6]

Vaginas Grow

Typically, vaginas vary in size and length. Some are small, while others are longer. The average length of a vagina when a woman is not aroused is 3 to 4 inches. This number can just about double in size when the woman is fully aroused.  Note to men, be sure your lady is in full arousal mode before you engage, you will achieve a deeper state of penetration and she will be much more comfortable.

The size of a vagina, of course, variates among women. Factors that play role in its size are age and height.[7]

Vaginas and Shark Livers

Yes, you read that correctly. Believe it or not, a woman’s vaginal secretions contain some of the same components that are found in shark liver. This compound, called squalene [8], was discovered after researchers viewed vaginal secretions under a microscope. Squalene is also found in vegetable oil and is often used in the making of cosmetics and moisturizers. Squalene allows the skin to remain moisturized without that greasy feeling. Squalene is the natural way for your vagina to remain healthy, moist and pliable.

The Vagina Has Muscles

Vaginal muscles, also called PC muscles or pelvic floor muscles, can be very powerful. Like other muscles, they can be exercised. Training the vaginal muscles through exercises like Kegels can make those muscles stronger and more powerful.[3] Strong vaginal muscles make for better sex for you and your partner. If you can’t find these muscles, pretend that you are stopping the flow of urine; those same muscles that are clenched to stop urine flow are the correct ones. Astonishingly, there is a world record held by a woman from Russia, who lifted 31 pounds with her vaginal muscles!

So now you have been enlightened. If you thought you knew your vagina inside and out, you were probably surprised to learn about some of these facts. Now that you know all these secrets about the vagina, you can let your vagina be all that it can be. You can use these tips to your advantage or pass them on to your partner for a lesson in vaginas that won’t soon be forgotten.