Some interesting facts about the vagina...

[ResistanceIsNecessary]

Inspired by this thread on twitter which had some good vagina info. It's amazing how many people know so little about the female anatomy so here are some more interesting facts!

• The walls are very elastic to allow it to stretch and then shrink back again after vaginal childbirth delivery. It does not require manual dilation to keep it open or maintain its shape, unless as a result of side effects from other medical procedures (such as some female-occurring cancer treatments).

• It is self-cleaning and has a naturally acidic environment until the time around ovulation, when the PH changes to make it more accommodating for sperm, to promote fertilisation. It does not require daily artificial cleaning products or lubricant to keep it healthy.

• The walls of the vagina (the vaginal vault) are made up of two layers of muscle tissue, which allow for expansion and contraction - which can often be felt as 'ridges', which lessen with age or post- vaginal delivery childbirth. The walls contain no glands.

Feel free to add your own facts

Place marking for now. Biology is fascinating, female biology especially so.

The vagina is lined with mucus membrane, which make it self cleaning and self lubricating.

Yes - great point.

It was originally thought that mucous and lubrication came from the Bartholin's glands in the labia and also from the cervix. However later studies found that the mucuous seeps from the vaginal membrane lining the walls of the vault.

The vagina is amazing (although I am even more amazed by the cervix).

I am still in awe at how you can push a baby through it!

It comes from the Latin for sheath

There isn't a name for the lubricating stuff it produces. Which is really, really wierd.

If anyone fancies a poke around this is a good guide:

www.ourbodiesourselves.org/health-info/self-exam-vulva-vagina/

Some good stuff about cervixes (cervices?) here:

beautifulcervix.com

Our bodies really are incredible [grin ]

It comes from the Latin for sheath

Obviously named by a man

Do we all need to gather round in a circle to do some womanhood affirmation?

Anyone old enough to remember the days when we bought our own speculums and looked at our cervixes with mirrors?

Cunt otoh, has a disputed etymology but the suggested sources are all a tad more feminist than "sheath" (ie thing to put sword in)

I'm not sure that you're allowed to say the v word on Mumsnet. It may be offensive. Best call it a "front hole" to avoid offense.

www.matthewhunt.com/cunt/

There isn't a name for the lubricating stuff it produces. Which is really, really weird.

That is so weird. I was going to say unbelievably weird, but I have no trouble believing it unfortunately.

What I want to say about the vagina would get me a strike.

Anyone old enough to remember the days when we bought our own speculums and looked at our cervixes with mirrors?

Me! Me! Me!

When studying the Wife of Bath's tale at Uni, our tutorial group was told that "cunt" was Chaucerian and originates from the word "quaint".

Anyone old enough to remember the days when we bought our own speculums and looked at our cervixes with mirrors?

I remember reading about this in Spare Rib back in the 70s. One writer had told her doc she was doing this, the doctor was very cross and said "you shouldn't be putting anything that's not sterile in your vagina".

Cue much hilarity about how to sterilise a penis, was boiling better than a hot oven etc!

Funny how I still remember that.

Vaginas are self-cleaning. It's not only unnecessary to use douche-type products, it's also worse to use them than just leave it to its magical, wonderful self.

The walls are pink! I'm genuinely surprised how often it's expected that it's a dark and dank place (and that's without addressing the v. dentata angle).

I know we're talking about vaginas but can I just derail slightly for this beautiful image of the clitoris? Look at it! Gorgeous!

Arran - and that is across races too. Making #notallvaginasarepink a tad confusing...

The walls go a darker bluish colour during pregnancy as the blood vessels dilate.

Truly the human body is really amazingly intricate when you think about it!

@LangCleg that looks like an iris! Or an orchid!