The Sexual Anatomy Of Women

(A) (B)


External View: The Vulva



 (A) External View, closed
 (B) External View, open and flushed.

The Vulva is the external sexual organ of women. The above view
(A) shows the external view of the female vulva as normally seen
when the woman is standing up. View (B) shows the vulva when it
is opened, and from the top down one can clearly see the Veneris
Mons, clitoral hood, clitoris, and labia minora. There are many
questions about the vulva on alt.sex, and this FAQ will begin to
attempt to answer some of these.


The Vocabulary of the Vulva

 Vulva
 The external female genitals are collectively referred to as The 
 Vulva. All of the words below are part of the vulva.


 Mons Veneris.
 The mons veneris, Latin for "hill of Venus" (Roman Goddess of love)
 is the pad of fatty tissue that covers the pubic bone below the
 abdomen but above the labia. The mons is sexually sensitive in
 some women and protects the pubic bone from the impact of sexual
 intercourse.


 Labia Majora
 The labia majora are the outer lips of the vulva, pads of fatty
 tissue that wrap around the vulva from the mons to the perineum.
 These labia are usually covered with pubic hair, and contain
 numerous sweat and oil glands, and it has been suggested that
 the scent from these are sexually arousing.


 Labia Minora
 The labia minora are the inner lips of the vulva, thin stretches
 of tissue within the labia majora that fold and protect the vagina,
 urethra, and clitoris. The appearance of labia minora can vary
 widely, from tiny lips that hide between the labia majora to large
 lips that protrude. The most common metaphor for the labia minora
 is that of a flower. Both the inner and outer labia are quite
 sensitive to touch and pressure.


 Clitoris
 The clitoris, visible in picture (B) as the small white oval between
 the top of the labia minora and the clitoral hood, is a small
 body of spongy tissue that is highly sexually sensitive. The
 clitoris is protected by the prepuce, or clitoral hood, a covering
 of tissue similar to the labia minora. During sexual excitement,
 the clitoris may extend and the hood retract to make the clitoris
 more accessible. Some clitori are very small; other women may
 have large clitori that the hood does not completely cover.


 Urethra
 The opening to the urethra is just below the clitoris. It is not
 related to sex or reproduction, but is instead the passage for
 urine. The urethra is connected to the bladder. Because the
 urethra is so close to the anus, women should always wipe themselves
 from front to back to avoid infecting the vagina and urethra with
 bacteria.


 Vagina and Hymen
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E)

The above illustrations show the area between the labia minora.
From top to bottom can be clearly seen the clitoris, urethral opening,
and vaginal opening. A, B, and C show vaginal openings with a normal
hymen, a membrane that partially covers the opening. The hymen is
the traditional "symbol" of virginity, although being a very thin
membrane, it can be torn by vigorous exercise or the insertion of
a tampon. Illustration D shows an imperforate hymen that completely
closes the vagina; this rare condition requires surgical intervention
to provide for a normal flow of blood once mentruation begins. Illustration
E is of a vagina in a post-partum woman (one who has given birth).


 Perineum
 The perineum is the short stretch of skin starting at the bottom
 of the vulva and extending to the anus. The perineum in women
 often tears during birth to accomodate passage of the child, and
 this is apparently natural. Some physicians may cut the perineum
 preemptively on the grounds that the "tearing" may be more harmful
 than a precise scalpel, but statistics show that such cutting
 in fact may increase the potential for infection.


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Female Internal Sexual Anatomy




 Vagina
 The vagina extends from the vaginal opening to the cervix, the
 opening to the uterus. The vagina serves as the receptacle for
 the penis during sexual intercourse, and as the birth canal through
 which the baby passes during labor. The average vaginal canal
 is three inches long, possibly four in women who have given birth.
 This may seem short in relation to the penis, but during sexual
 arousal the cervix will lift upwards and the fornix (see illustration)
 may extend upwards into the body as long as necessary to receive
 the penis. After intercourse, the contraction of the vagina will
 allow the cervix to rest inside the fornix, which in its relaxed
 state is a bowl-shaped fitting perfect for the pooling of semen.
 

 At either side of the vaginal opening are the Bartholin's glands,
 which produce small amounts of lubricating fluid, apparently
 to keep the inner labia moist during periods of sexual excitement.
 Further within are the hymen glands, which secrete lubricant
 for the length of the vaginal canal.


 "G-Spot"
 The word is in quotes because there is still some debate as to
 the existance or purpose of the G- spot. In the illustration
 above, what is indicated as the g-spot in fact points to a region
 known as the Skenes glands, the purpose of which are unknown.
 Despite the controversy, one fact remains-- there are many women
 who claim that pressure on this region of the vagina is extremely
 pleasurable. Usually, two fingers are used, and because the spot
 is deep within the tissue, some pressure may be needed. Also,
 because the Skenes glands are alongside the bladder, some women
 may found that the increased pressure makes them feel as if they
 need to urinate.


 Cervix
 The cervix is the opening to the uterus. It varies in diameter
 from 1 to 3 millimeters, depending upon the time in the menstrual
 cycle the measurement is taken. The cervix is sometimes plugged
 with cervical mucous to protect the cervix from infection; during
 ovulation, this mucous becomes a thin fluid to permit the passage
 of sperm.


 Uterus
 The uterus, or womb, is the main female internal reproductive organ.
 The inner lining of the uterus is called the endometrium, which
 grows and changes during the menstrual cycle to prepare to receive
 a fertilized egg, and sheds a layer at the end of every menstrual
 cycle if fertilization does not happen. The utereus is lined
 with powerful muscles to push the child out during labor.


 Ovaries
 The ovaries perform two functions: the production of estrogen and
 progesterone, the female sex hormones, and the production of mature
 ova, or eggs. At birth, the ovaries contain nearly 400,000 ova,
 and those are all she will ever have. However, that is far more
 than she will need, since during an average lifespan she will
 go through about 500 menstrual cycles. After maturing, the single
 egg travels down the fallopian tube, a journey of three or four
 days-- this is the period during which a woman is fertile and
 pregnancy may occur. Eggs that are not fertilized are expelled
 during menstruation.


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Frequently Answered Questions


What is the G-Spot?

The Grafenberg spot, or G-spot, is an area located within the anterior
(or front) wall of the vagina, about one centimetre from the surface
and one-third to one-half way in from the vaginal opening (see illustration
and text). It is reported to consist of a system of glands (Skene's
glands) and ducts that surround the urethra (Heath, 1984). Some
authors write that you must press "deeply" into the tissue with two
fingers to reach it with any effectiveness.

The significance of the G-spot is that some women (about half) report
that it is a highly sensitive area that under the right conditions
can be very pleasurable if stimulated. For some women, it can be
a primary source of stimulation leading to orgasm during intercourse.
Other women report no particular stimulation, and some say that it
feels as if they need to urinate.

The G-Spot has been linked to the phenomenon known as female ejaculation.
To date, there is little data about female ejaculation, although
there is some speculation that it is the product of the Skene's glands.


What is Toxic Shock Syndrome?

Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) is a rare but serious illness which can
occur in men, women and children. About half the number of cases
reported are associated with using tampons and affect a tiny number
of women every year-- only about 1 out of every 1.5 million women
who have periods. TSS can occasionally be fatal.

Toxic Shock Syndrome can be treated successfully providing it is
recognised quickly, and most young people make a full recovery.
Younger people may more at risk from the bacteria which are believed
to cause this rare condition, because their immune system may not
be fully developed.

In the unlikely event that you have these symptoms during your period-
-a high fever (over 102F or 39C), rash, vomiting, diarrhoea, sore
throat, dizziness or fainting - you must remove your tampon and consult
your doctor immediately. These symptoms can be early warning signs
of TSS, which can develop very quickly and may seem like flu to begin
with.

Do not worry about wasting the doctor's time and remember to say
you have been wearing a tampon. Do not use tampons again without
checking first with your doctor.

By using tampons correctly and following the advice below, you will
reduce the risk of developing TSS.


REMEMBER

 Always wash your hands before and after insertion and removal of
 a tampon.
 Always remove the used tampon before inserting a new one.
 Always remember to remove the last tampon at the end of your period.
 
 Never use 2 tampons at once.
 Tampons should only be used when you have a period.