RKMBs Forums .::Robegories::. Women Cosmo's Guide to the V-Zone

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The V-Zone: A Guide to Your Most Private Body Part
BY RACHEL GRUMMAN

Does every woman have a G-spot? Can a tampon really get stuck inside? And how much daily discharge is normal? Cosmo tackles everything you must know about your vagina.
You're fully aware that your vagina is capable of some pretty awesome feats ‑- such as blissing you out (as well as your man) with loads of sexual sensation and providing a passageway for a baby someday. But because this most intimate area of your anatomy is relatively low-maintenance and mostly hidden from view, you may not be one hundred percent clued in to how it works and what it needs to stay in shape. To give you a better understanding of this extraordinary organ, we've put together a list of 25 fascinating, need-to-know facts about your vagina. Read on to find out the surprising TLC it needs, where its secret lust trigger is located and why doing the deed on a regular basis is one of the best ways to keep it healthy.

1. Your vagina formed four months before you were born. All fetuses have genital tissue that develops into either male or female sex organs. At about 10 weeks, if DNA has destined the baby to be a boy, a penis and testes take shape. "If it's female, a vagina starts to form," says Susan Kellogg, Ph.D., director of sexual medicine at the Pelvic and Sexual Health Institute of Philadelphia.
2. Not all vaginas come sealed. If you didn't bleed when you lost your virginity, you may have broken your hymen ‑- the thin swatch of tissue that normally covers the vaginal opening ‑- while playing sports or putting in a tampon...or you may have been born without one. On the other hand, some women are born with a hymen so thick that it has to be surgically removed by a doctor before the woman can have intercourse and use a tampon.

3. It's only one part of your pubes. Many chicks think vagina refers to their entire pubic area. "Though your clitoris, outer labia and urethra are within an inch of one another, they are distinct body parts," explains Elizabeth Gunther Stewart, M.D., director of the Vulvovaginal Specialty Service in Boston and author of The V Book.

So what exactly is the vagina? It's the moist, muscular tube that begins at your inner lips and extends about three inches into your pelvis, ending at your cervix (the narrow opening to your uterus). Its purpose is to bring you sexual pleasure, allow you to menstruate...and serve as an exit strategy for a baby.

4. The first inch is the most sensitive. Although the upper two-thirds is an intense erogenous zone, it's not nearly as pleasure-receptive as the opening inch. "This is where the most nerve endings are," explains Patti Britton, Ph.D., a clinical sexologist in Los Angeles.

5. Getting busy is good for it. Whether you're knocking boots with your guy or flying solo, sexual stimulation keeps your vagina happy and more healthy. "Flexing your love muscles maintains tightness and tone," says Britton. "Also, the more moist your tissues are from lubricating when aroused, the less likely they are to become irritated."

6. It lubricates a lot...or a little. When you're excited, your vaginal walls become so "hot," they literally sweat out your natural lube, explains Gerson Weiss, M.D., professor and chair of the department of obstetrics, gynecology and women's health at the New Jersey Medical School in Newark. "Some women's vaginal walls sweat so much, they get very wet; others only notice a slight increase in dampness," says Dr. Weiss. "Both amounts are normal."
7. It's teeming with tons of bacteria. We're talking about beneficial bugs that help ward off infection. About 15 types of bacteria make their home in your vagina, keeping the environment acidic so harmful germs can't breed, says Kellogg.

8. You can produce two teaspoons of daily discharge. During ovulation, "your midcycle hormone surge causes discharge levels to reach about one to two teaspoons per day," says Kellogg. "The discharge originates from the cervix, taking out dead cells as it travels down the vaginal canal ‑- it's your vagina's way of cleaning house." The rest of the month, when you're not ovulating, about half a teaspoon comes out each day.

9. Few lips are a perfect pair. Just as one breast tends to be bigger than the other, one labia is often longer or plumper than its counterpart. "No matter how mismatched you think yours are, you are totally normal, and your size and shape have no effect on health or pleasure," says Kellogg.

10. But plastic surgeons can sculpt you a matching set. The newest under-the-knife trend involves reshaping the vagina to make it smaller, tighter and more symmetrical. In one operation, called labiaplasty, an M.D. uses a scalpel or laser to trim the labia. Because it's a strictly cosmetic procedure, few gynos recommend it. Another surgery, vaginoplasty, tightens muscles that have become loose with age or after multiple pregnancies. Gynos say this is only for moms whose vaginal muscles have seriously slackened. The operations run between $3,500 and $7,000.

11. It craves fresh air. Just like the rest of you, your vagina needs to breathe. "When you block it off by wearing tight jeans or synthetic panties, discharge and perspiration build up to create an ideal environment for developing an infection," explains Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., clinical professor of ob-gyn at Yale University School of Medicine and coauthor of A Woman's Guide to Reproductive Health.
12. It makes noise during nooky. Some chicks call them varts, others dub it queefing. Whatever moniker you prefer, that gassy sound that escapes from your vagina during sex is caused by your man's stroke style. "As a guy thrusts all the way in and then all the way out, air can become trapped in the vagina," says Kellogg. "When the air finally escapes, it sounds like a fart."

13. It can get a little itchy. Dry skin, sweat and too-snug clothes can all trigger your own personal itchy and scratchy show. "But a serious itch that lasts longer than a day or is centered inside your vagina could be a sign of other things, such as a yeast infection or sexually transmitted disease," Dr. Minkin adds.

14. There's a pleasure trigger deep inside. About an inch within your vagina is your G-spot. "To locate it, insert your finger until you hit upon a dime-size puckered spot along the top wall. Stroke it gently, and when you reach a heightened state of arousal, you'll feel a warm, flushing sensation that resonates through your entire body...and can result in an orgasm.

15. Hair surrounds it for a reason. "Hair around the vagina provides cushioning during sex and prevents friction," says Dr. Stewart. It's also an aphrodisiac...or at least it was in caveman times. Because hair can trap odor, the smell sends hormonal messages to attract a potential partner.

16. You need to give it spot checks. Every three months, grab a hand mirror and push apart your vaginal lips to check for new growths, tender areas and discolored patches. "Chances are, you won't find anything serious; many scary-looking bumps and lumps turn out to be pimples or razor rash," says Dr. Minkin. But if something appears suspicious, bring it to your gyno's attention ASAP.
17. Having a baby makes it five times bigger. Most of the time, your vagina is less than an inch in diameter. But when it comes time to deliver a kid, its superstretchy elasticity allows it to flex to four or five inches ‑- large enough for an infant to get through, says Dr. Weiss. Don't panic: Six weeks after birth, the vagina will have shrunk back to (or close to) its prepregnancy size.

18. It can handle a supersize member. As your ecstasy level rises, your vagina grows. "The walls are pleated like a skirt, so during arousal, they swell to two to three inches in diameter," says Dr. Stewart. Meanwhile, the vaginal canal elongates to about six inches in length. Unless a dude is freakishly large, your V should be able to accommodate any size penis comfortably, especially if you take your time and use lots of lube.

19. Skip the scents. Fragrant soaps and perfumed detergent can aggravate vaginal tissue. "Exposing it to additives can result in a rash," warns Dr. Minkin. Instead, wash your vaginal opening only with water, sans soap. And stick to undyed toilet paper, unscented tampons and fragrance-free detergent.

20. Men love the way it feels. Ever wonder what a man thinks about being inside your V? Guys generally say that they go crazy for the warm, slippery sensation and they feel really contained, totally surrounded by your soft flesh.

21. You don't bleed much. Although you probably assume you're gushing a pint per period, only a few tablespoons of blood pass through your vagina when your red tide rolls in.
22. Some women don't have one. One out of every 4,000 to 5,000 female babies are born without a vagina...and usually without a uterus as well. Luckily, women with this rare condition can use a dilator or have surgery to construct a vagina and experience a relatively normal sex life.

23. It loves working out. Regular sweat sessions at the gym keep your abs, butt and thighs in shape. So it should come as no surprise that exercises exist to keep your vagina toned as well. "Called Kegel exercises, they isolate the pubococcygeus muscles in your pelvis, the ones that contract when you have an orgasm or stop your urine flow," says Britton. "Repeatedly doing Kegels for at least a few months can boost sexual sensation and tighten your grip during sex."

24. Things can get stuck inside. Don't be alarmed if a tampon, diaphragm or condom gets "lost" in your vagina. It won't float into your uterus or any other body cavity; your V is a cul-de-sac, not a two-way road. If you can't retrieve it while squatting or standing up and inserting two fingers inside, check in with your gyno. And you shouldn't be embarrassed ‑- they're used to fishing out foreign thingamajigs.

25. It's supposed to have a smell. A healthy vagina emits a slightly different odor depending on your diet, your own individual body chemistry and where you are in your cycle. Other stench sources include sweat, garlic, asparagus and even your man's semen when it mixes with your fluids.

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Part of the ongoing Cowgirl goal to educate and enlighten.

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Pig Iron said:
CJ, I could have told you all that...and explained through first hand demonstration all of the physiological parts of your vaginal area. I could also educate you to the varying degrees and differences between oral pleasure and pleasure from male shaft insertion. Anytime you want a tutor just let me know... You also always need to brush up on your pelvic muscle excersises...practice makes perfect..

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Pig Iron said:
CJ, I could have told you all that...and explained through first hand demonstration all of the physiological parts of your vaginal area. I could also educate you to the varying degrees and differences between oral pleasure and pleasure from male shaft insertion. Anytime you want a tutor just let me know... You also always need to brush up on your pelvic muscle excersises...practice makes perfect..

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Ch'ps Ahoy said:

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Pig Iron said:
CJ, I could have told you all that...and explained through first hand demonstration all of the physiological parts of your vaginal area. I could also educate you to the varying degrees and differences between oral pleasure and pleasure from male shaft insertion. Anytime you want a tutor just let me know... You also always need to brush up on your pelvic muscle excersises...practice makes perfect..

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Is desperate for nuts.

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queen snarf said:

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Pig Iron said:
CJ, I could have told you all that...and explained through first hand demonstration all of the physiological parts of your vaginal area. I could also educate you to the varying degrees and differences between oral pleasure and pleasure from male shaft insertion. Anytime you want a tutor just let me know... You also always need to brush up on your pelvic muscle excersises...practice makes perfect..

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You sound more desperate than me before I went gay.

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Pig Iron said:

While I agree that my post was stupid ...How is that desperate? It is the internet (is this real life?).

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Pig Iron said:
CJ, I could have told you all that...and explained through first hand demonstration all of the physiological parts of your vaginal area. I could also educate you to the varying degrees and differences between oral pleasure and pleasure from male shaft insertion. Anytime you want a tutor just let me know... You also always need to brush up on your pelvic muscle excersises...practice makes perfect..

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It would have been a pretty darn short lecture, wouldn't it?

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Cowgirl Jack said:
For the record, I asked Grimm if I should post the article or not. Direct your complains to him!

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Cowgirl Jack said:
Originally posted at Cosmo's website

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blahblahblah

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Part of the ongoing Cowgirl goal to educate and enlighten.

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rex said:

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Cowgirl Jack said:
Originally posted at Cosmo's website

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blahblahblah

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Part of the ongoing Cowgirl goal to educate and enlighten.

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Here's my drunken rant on cosmo.

They are completely looney. They try to seel this impossilbe image of men that is comple tely unrealistic. Smae thing with women. From what I reemeber of the article it says that all men and women are compatlbe. Tahts not true. Some men are too big for some women. Its also goes on about a lot of feel good crap. A vagina is not a beautiful place. Its where pee and other grody stuff comes out. Best keep it clean and unsmeely. Pay more attenton to other parts of your body intead. csmo has always been conmplete crap. You're better of listering to love live. They are much more reralisteic in what is going on.

end rant.

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what in the fuck are you talking about you drunk fool.