Most females are born with a hymen, a thin piece of skin that partially covers the vaginal opening (or introitus). The main purpose of the hymen is to protect the vaginal opening and the areas immediately surrounding the introitus during a female’s early developing years. Despite its biological function, many cultures place a significant amount of importance on the hymen…
Tag: vagina
Hysterectomy
A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure in which a female’s uterus is removed. In the United States, hysterectomies are very common, with 1 in 3 women undergoing the procedure by age 60.1 It is the second most common surgical procedure in reproductive-aged women.1 Hysterectomy rates vary in other countries, but the United States contains the…
Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis (trick-oh-mo-NEYE-ah-sis), or “trich,” is an infection in the vagina or the male urethra and prostate gland caused by the microscopic, single-celled protozoan called Trichomonas vaginalis.1 While this protozoan can affect both males and females, it typically affects females more. About 3.7 million people have the infection in the United States, while only 30% ever develop symptoms.2 The good news is…
Female Masturbation
Masturbation is the self-stimulation of the genitals with a hand, sex toy, vibrator, or other object for sexual pleasure. Masturbation can be done alone (solo masturbation) or at the same time as a partner (mutual masturbation). There are many methods of masturbating, as well as methods of arousal while masturbating. Some individuals enjoy fantasizing while…
The Menstrual Cycle
The menstrual cycle is an automatic and self-regulating process during which the female body undergoes physiological and hormonal changes over the course of 24 to 42 days. This process plays an integral role in to the overall health and function of the female reproductive system and fosters the growth of fertilized ovum into developing fetuses….
The Clitoris
The clitoris is a female sexual organ located at the top part of the vulva, or external female genitalia. The clitoris is an erogenous, highly sensitive zone that contains more nerve endings than any other body part. During sexual arousal, the clitoris becomes larger and firmer due to erection. Although stimulation of the clitoris is…
The G-Spot
The Gräfenberg spot (G-spot), named after German gynecologist Ernst Gräfenberg, is an erogenous area in the vagina, which upon proper stimulation may cause a person to experience sexual arousal that can lead to orgasm, and in some instances ejaculation. The G-spot is located approximately two to three centimeters inside the vaginal canal on the anterior (front wall) of the vagina and changes in size in response to physical stimulation. 1 Prior to stimulation, the…
Overview of the Reproductive System: People with Vaginas
Note: This article was previously titled ‘An Overview of the Female Reproductive System.’ We have changed the language from ‘female’ to ‘people with vaginas’ in the title and throughout the article to be more inclusive, as not all people who identify as women or female have vaginas and not all people with vaginas identify as…
Queefing Demystified
Most people have probably heard about or experienced the fart-like noise that can occur while having sex, commonly known as a “queef,” “vart,” “pussy fart,” or “fanny fart,” among other names. These names can be, and often are, very misleading. A queef is simply an expulsion of air from the vagina. It is usually odorless because…