Seven Things You Probably Didn’t Know About the Vagina By: Sexis

Seven Things You Probably Didn’t Know About the Vagina


 

By: Sexis (View Profile)

Vaginas. If you’ve ever spoken to another human being, watched television, read a book, or turned on the radio, you know are magical entities, enshrouded in mystery and curlicued hairs. They are a panacea, they are the bearers of curses, and they’re the perfect antidote to a bear attack (early Russian culture stipulated that a marauding bear could be easily be fended off by the display of a single vagina). Fortunately, most of us aren’t in danger from bear attacks these days, so that’s one myth we won’t be putting to the test anytime soon.

However, in the years since The Great Vagina vs. Bear Wars of ancient Russian lore, the vagina has continued to present itself as a vexing marvel of natural engineering. So, let’s play “Did you know?” with your friend and ours—the humble vagina.

1. The vagina is a self-cleaning organ. Its own lubrication ensures that it stays clean and healthy, with little outside assistance. The addition of a douche can actually imbalance the natural ph of the system so much that irritation and odor can may result. And while we’re at it, you don’t need to use soap inside your labia at all—washing the outer labia with a gentle soap and letting running water and a gentle cloth take care of the inside bits will keep them sweet and peachy, without the irritation and skin damage that soaps can cause.

2. The female orgasm is a powerful painkiller (because of the release of endorphins), so headaches are in fact a bad excuse not to have sex. Having an orgasm relieves menstrual cramps because the vigorous muscle action moves blood and other fluids away from congested organs. Extra points: According to the Hite Report, candles are the artificial device used most frequently by women when masturbating.

3. The G-spot is named for Dr. Ernest Gräfenberg, who “found” it and alerted us all to its potential boon to our sexuality. G-spot stimulation can be intense or gentle, hard or soft, orgasmic, ejaculatory, or none of the above. Most women report (at the very least) pleasant sensations from having their G-spot worked over; for some women, G-spot play can kick off amazing orgasms (especially when in conjunction with clitoral or anal stimulation), and for others it can leave them all aquiver in ejaculatory glory. Everyone responds differently, so taking some time to explore this valuable physical landmark is definitely something to put on your to-do list.

4. The clitoris and the penis start out as the same bundle of tissue. Ditto for the testicles and ovaries. Clitorises have hoods; penises have foreskins, just to hammer the point home. In fact, it’s not until sometime after the sixth week of gestation that the “sex cells” begin to differentiate based on what our chromosomes look like. And it’s even later that the body actually forms the penis or clitoris. So, even if we don’t want to admit that we have as much in common with our male brethren, we can’t deny that our bits started out in the same way.

5. Yeast infections aren’t really infections. They’re simply the overgrowth of the yeast in the vagina and vulva. These are usually caused by a system that’s out of whack, when it comes to the usual vaginal flora—things like poor diet, antibiotics, and wearing fabrics like nylon that trap moisture can all cause the yeast to proliferate in your system. The best preventatives for this are limiting sugar and bread in the diet, adding acidophilus and yogurt to your regular food intake, and wearing cotton underwear as often as possible (or even going without!).

6. Did you know about the A-Spot? This handy little spot, which has only recently been written about, was initially described in the 1990s. The “A” stands for Anterior Fornix Erogenous Zone (it’s also called the AFE zone—very sci-fi, no? Don’t worry—there’s no Stargate lurking here). It’s a tender bit of tissue at the end of the vagina, just in front of the cervix: If you’re aiming for the G-spot, then follow along the upper wall of the vagina almost to the cervix—and you’ll be hitting it right on the head; pun totally intended. Word on the street from the Sexerati is that hitting this spot can produce lubrication and orgasmic contractions. The recommended technique is to stimulate it, along with the G-spot, in long strokes on a regular basis to build up the response in the area. We aren’t so sure about it, but any excuse to spend more time during foreplay with the hope of even stronger orgasms is just fine with us.

7. A healthy vagina shouldn’t smell offensive—which means that when the odor is up, it’s a great way to tackle health issues before they become major. A stronger-than-usual smell can be an indicator of dehydration, impending yeast infections, or even that you’re taking too much in the way of vitamin supplements. Any ongoing odors that don’t respond to regular health improvements should prompt an appointment with your personal Cooch-doctor, to make sure everything is in healthy working order. Extra points: The food you eat can affect your personal aroma. (Asparagus doesn’t just make your pee smell funny.)

Originally published on Sexis

First published August 2009