Various perceptions of the vagina have existed throughout history, including the belief it is the center of sexual desire, a metaphor for life via birth, inferior to the penis, unappealing to sight or smell, or vulgar. [205] [206] [207] These views can largely be attributed to sex differences, and how they are interpreted. David Buss, an evolutionary psychologist, stated that because a penis is significantly larger than a clitoris and is readily visible while the vagina is not, and males urinate through the penis, boys are taught from childhood to touch their penises while girls are often taught that they should not touch their own genitalia, which implies that there is harm in doing so. Buss attributed this as the reason many women are not as familiar with their genitalia, and that researchers assume these sex differences explain why boys learn to masturbate before girls and do so more often. [208] a b Zimmern PE, Haab F, Chapple CR (2007). Vaginal Surgery for Incontinence and Prolapse. Springer Science & Business Media. p.6. ISBN 978-1-84628-346-8. Archived from the original on July 4, 2019 . Retrieved December 3, 2017. If you’re looking for an explosive orgasm, the squatting position is the one to try. Squatting makes it easier for you to locate your G-spot, which is about 2 to 3 inches inside your vaginal canal. Pitts-Taylor V (2008). Cultural Encyclopedia of the Body. Greenwood Publishing Group. p.525. ISBN 978-0-313-34145-8. Archived from the original on July 4, 2019 . Retrieved August 10, 2017. a b Ferri FF (2012). Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2013. Elsevier Health Sciences. pp.1134–1140. ISBN 978-0-323-08373-7. Archived from the original on March 26, 2015 . Retrieved October 27, 2015.

Vagina - Wikipedia

During an episiotomy, a surgical incision is made during the second stage of labor to enlarge the vaginal opening for the baby to pass through. [44] [141] Although its routine use is no longer recommended, [172] and not having an episiotomy is found to have better results than an episiotomy, [44] it is one of the most common medical procedures performed on women. The incision is made through the skin, vaginal epithelium, subcutaneous fat, perineal body and superficial transverse perineal muscle and extends from the vagina to the anus. [173] [174] Episiotomies can be painful after delivery. Women often report pain during sexual intercourse up to three months after laceration repair or an episiotomy. [169] [170] Some surgical techniques result in less pain than others. [169] The two types of episiotomies performed are the medial incision and the medio-lateral incision. The median incision is a perpendicular cut between the vagina and the anus and is the most common. [44] [175] The medio-lateral incision is made between the vagina at an angle and is not as likely to tear through to the anus. The medio-lateral cut takes more time to heal than the median cut. [44]

Blood supply

a b Sloane E (2002). Biology of Women. Cengage Learning. pp.32, 41–42. ISBN 978-0-7668-1142-3. Archived from the original on June 28, 2014 . Retrieved October 27, 2015.

Wash Your Vagina: 15 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow How to Wash Your Vagina: 15 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow

Fletcher, S, Grotegut, CA, James, AH (December 2012). "Lochia patterns among normal women: a systematic review". Journal of Women's Health. 21 (12): 1290–4. doi: 10.1089/jwh.2012.3668. PMID 23101487. a b c Edmonds K (2012). Dewhurst's Textbook of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. John Wiley & Sons. p.423. ISBN 978-0-470-65457-6. Archived from the original on May 6, 2016 . Retrieved October 27, 2015. a b c Jones RE, Davis KH (2013). Human Reproductive Biology. Academic Press. p.127. ISBN 978-0-12-382185-0. Archived from the original on July 3, 2019 . Retrieved August 1 an adventitial (fibrous) layer, providing additional strength and structural support to the vagina, merging with the bladder (anteriorly) and rectum (posteriorly),

Histology

Zenilman J, Shahmanesh M (2011). Sexually Transmitted Infections: Diagnosis, Management, and Treatment. Jones & Bartlett Publishers. pp.329–330. ISBN 978-0-495-81294-4. Archived from the original on March 12, 2017 . Retrieved August 20, 2020.

Vagina Parts | a Diagram and Guide of Female Anatomy

As the body prepares for childbirth, the cervix softens, thins, moves forward to face the front, and begins to open. This allows the fetus to settle into the pelvis, a process known as lightening. [88] As the fetus settles into the pelvis, pain from the sciatic nerves, increased vaginal discharge, and increased urinary frequency can occur. [88] While lightening is likelier to happen after labor has begun for women who have given birth before, it may happen ten to fourteen days before labor in women experiencing labor for the first time. [89] See also: Vaginal support structures Pelvic anatomy including organs of the female reproductive system Taormino T (2009). The Big Book of Sex Toys. Quiver. p.52. ISBN 978-1-59233-355-4. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015 . Retrieved October 27, 2015.

Gross anatomy

a b Ginger VA, Yang CC (2011). "Functional Anatomy of the Female Sex Organs". In Mulhall JP, Incrocci L, Goldstein I, Rosen R (eds.). Cancer and Sexual Health. Springer. pp.13, 20–21. ISBN 978-1-60761-915-4. Archived from the original on December 16, 2019 . Retrieved August 20, 2020. a b Daniels R, Nicoll LH (2011). Contemporary Medical-Surgical Nursing. Cengage Learning. p.1776. ISBN 978-1-133-41875-7. Archived from the original on July 3, 2019 . Retrieved December 14, 2017.

How to Masturbate for Women: 28 Tips for Positions, Orgasms

Women, especially those who are older and have had multiple births, may choose to surgically correct vaginal laxity. This surgery has been described as vaginal tightening or rejuvenation. [177] While a woman may experience an improvement in self-image and sexual pleasure by undergoing vaginal tightening or rejuvenation, [177] there are risks associated with the procedures, including infection, narrowing of the vaginal opening, insufficient tightening, decreased sexual function (such as pain during sexual intercourse), and rectovaginal fistula. Women who undergo this procedure may unknowingly have a medical issue, such as a prolapse, and an attempt to correct this is also made during the surgery. [178] a b Knight B (1997). Simpson's Forensic Medicine (11thed.). London: Arnold. p.114. ISBN 978-0-7131-4452-9. For women of childbearing age, it is recommended to receive cervical screens ( Pap smear tests and HPV vaccines). Cervical cancer can be prevented if caught early enough through cervical screening or prophylactically by HPV vaccines. It is recommended for women to begin Pap smear tests starting around 21 years old until 65 years of age, with frequency varying from 3 to 5 years depending on age, genetics, or environmental factors. Vaginal cancer is a very rare condition that is related more to old age, and its symptoms include abnormal vaginal bleeding or vaginal discharge. The smooth muscular layer within the vagina has a weak contractive force that can create some pressure in the lumen of the vagina; much stronger contractive force, such as during childbirth, comes from muscles in the pelvic floor that are attached to the adventitia around the vagina. [34] Vaginectomy is surgery to remove all or part of the vagina, and is usually used to treat malignancy. [171] Removal of some or all of the reproductive organs and genitalia can result in damage to the nerves and leave behind scarring or adhesions. [176] Sexual function may also be impaired as a result, as in the case of some cervical cancer surgeries. These surgeries can impact pain, elasticity, vaginal lubrication and sexual arousal. This often resolves after one year but may take longer. [176]

Functions

Nunn KL, Forney LJ (September 2016). "Unraveling the Dynamics of the Human Vaginal Microbiome". The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine. 89 (3): 331–337. ISSN 0044-0086. PMC 5045142. PMID 27698617. This article will explore the gross and histologic anatomy of the vagina and its functions while also reviewing related clinical conditions. Flattened squamous cells are more resistant to both abrasion and infection. [42] The permeability of the epithelium allows for an effective response from the immune system since antibodies and other immune components can easily reach the surface. [44] The vaginal epithelium differs from the similar tissue of the skin. The epidermis of the skin is relatively resistant to water because it contains high levels of lipids. The vaginal epithelium contains lower levels of lipids. This allows the passage of water and water-soluble substances through the tissue. [44]