This is not a vagina

Vulva, vagina, labia, vestibule… There’s still quite a bit of confusion when it comes to our intimate area. Time for a “bottom-up” approach. Grab a mirror and take a look! It might feel a little awkward, but you’re definitely not the first person to do this.

Let’s take it step by step. The mons pubis is a small pad of fat located on the pubic bone that contains hair follicles. The amount, color, texture, and other characteristics of the hair differ from person to person and vary with age. It acts as a soft buffer between you and your surroundings.

The area between the mons pubis, the groin, and the anus is called the vulva. It is not the vagina, as many people mistakenly believe. The vulva refers to the external female genitalia and includes the outer labia (labia majora), the inner labia (labia minora), the clitoris, and the vestibule, which surrounds the opening of the urethra as well as the opening of the vagina (introitus).

The outer or “labia majora,” though not always “larger,” are two folds of skin composed of fatty tissue and covered with pubic hair. They protect the opening of the vagina and the inner labia. Large, small, short, long… the labia majora vary from person to person. They are sensitive to hormones and sexual stimulation and can swell during sexual arousal.

The inner labia run from the clitoris to the back of the vagina. They, too, are unique. Their color varies depending on the woman’s skin tone, age, or hormonal status. The labia minora are thinner than the labia majora because they do not contain fatty tissue. They may be wrinkled or smooth and often contain sebaceous glands and papillae.

The clitoris looks like a small bump that bears a strong resemblance to the penis. But make no mistake: most of the clitoris is located inside your body, behind the labia and around the entrance to the vagina. In fact, it was recently discovered that the G-spot at the entrance to your vagina is also part of the clitoris. The clitoris ranges in size from 3 to 8 millimeters and becomes firmer during sexual stimulation.

The vagina is the canal that runs from the cervix to the outside of your body. The canal is elastic and surrounded by connective tissue, smooth muscle tissue, blood vessels, and nerves.

When examining the vulva and perineum, the three openings are usually clearly visible. Did you know that there are actually seven openings, even though they are often not immediately visible? The Skene’s glands open along the urethra at the 1 and 11 o’clock positions, and the Bartholin’s glands open along the vagina at the 5 and 7 o’clock positions.

Both glands secrete fluid and play a role in sexual activity. Whether Skene’s glands are responsible for the female orgasm remains a subject of debate. Although these glands primarily play a positive role, they can also become very painful if a gland becomes blocked.

Not only is there a significant difference between the vulva and the vagina, but the skin of these two genital areas is also quite different. For example, the skin of the mons pubis and the outer labia closely resembles the skin on the rest of our body. The inner labia and the skin around the vaginal opening, on the other hand, consist of mucous membranes. The vaginal skin is a complex composition of mucous membrane, elastic fibers, and smooth muscles that is strongly influenced by hormonal status.

The intimate oil spray from shinncare safe care for the vulva or external genitalia. Our oil can be applied to the outer and inner labia, the clitoris, and the skin around the vaginal opening. Our formula is pH-neutral and does not affect the vaginal bacterial flora. That is why our product can be safely applied along the vagina.