Some interesting facts about the vagina...

Birth, can we talk about birthing?

I loved giving birth.

Have another lovely, beautiful image of our lovely, beautiful bodies.

Many years of TTC and ivf have left me very familiar with my vagina.

Also, when I went to have a further check after a questionable smear test I was asked if I wanted to see my cervix. Very glad I said yes.

I’m forever saddened that I won’t get to experience birth. This is a greater loss to me than not having children, if that makes sense.

Beautiful, uplifting thread. Learning so much!

The wonder down under is a good instagram to follow - all about the wonder of the vagina. Run by two Scandinavian young women. It’s unapologetically and refreshingly upfront (like this thread)

www.instagram.com/wonderdownunder

They’ve got a book too:

The Wonder Down Under: A User’s Guide to the Vagina
www.amazon.co.uk/Wonder-Down-Under-Users-Vagina-ebook/dp/B06Y1YN75P?tag=mumsnetforum-21

As I've got older, I've also got to appreciate the aromas of the vagina. Always parodied, slated, and even, as smells, abused and targeted

Same here. I can tell a lot about my health just from the smell. To me it's a healthy musk smell. I also find wearing certain perfumes on my body seem to either compliment or not compliment that specific musk.

Another vote for the Natalie Angier ‘Intimate Geography’ book - it’s so readable, feminist and invigorating, I discovered it decades ago as a teen and still love it now.

I had vaginoplasty following injury. Works fine, our bodies are astonishing how they can heal. Nerve pathways took longer than actual tissue. (Personally I’m fine with the term vaginoplasty to describe building a neo vagina for a trans woman)

Gotta read the Hite Report, feeling inspired!

lovely thread

those dancing goddesses TheChampagneGalop

I'll be seeing them in my sleep tonight

Incredible book on female sexuality.

Explains why men feel the need to repress us.

It blew my mind. Proper science stuff. Well lets see what Babel thinks.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00DCCRBIW/ref=oh_aui_d_detailpage_o08_?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforum-21&ie=UTF8

In this headline-making book, Daniel Bergner turns everything we thought we knew about women's desire on its head. Drawing on extensive research and interviews with renowned behavioural scientists, sexologists, psychologists and everyday women, Daniel Bergner asks:

• Do women really crave intimacy and emotional connection?

Mucus

I can't help wondering sometimes if that is at the root of misogyny? Women are awesome, we can grow an entire new life inside our bodies. And then feed that life the perfect food again made entirely within our bodies. Evolutionarily are just sperm donors and far less important to the survival of the species as one man can father many children.

Where did someone make the point that for male evolution, they just had to grow the tube a bit from a cloaca, but women had to change enough to grow an entire life inside us

itsall that article is brilliant (apart from the menstruators/bleeders )
I use a cup and have been worrying about heavy flow but it is just normal! Yay!

Ive always believed the female body is the most extraordinarily outstanding work of evolution and nature. Sorry boys, but the male body just doesn't even come close.

Maybe i missed something, but that whole piece referred to “menstruators”. Not women.

You are right Apologies, I missed that because I was so interested in the science

www.bbc.com/future/story/20180531-how-womens-body-parts-have-been-named-after-men

The head of the clitoris has 8000 nerve endings, the entire head of the penis has only 4000, in something many times bigger.

The nerves that make up the clitoris extend up to 5 inches back into the body, forking down around the vulva. The parts of our body made for pleasure far outstrip those of men.

I strongly suggest you all go to the see The Vagina Monologues as soon as it’s on at a theatre near you (it tours often) I saw it the first time as a teenager, and twice since.

I want a lovely painting of a clitoris, they’re just so pretty and they hug you when they’re happy - how can a woman ever feel alone.

That's so beautiful.

DD and I talked the other day about how she already has all her eggs inside her (she wanted to know how she "grew" them). So she has been walking around noting that "she has eggs inside her and so does she, and so does she...but he doesn't, and he doesn't"

*It's slightly off topic, but this thread reminded me of a really interesting piece I read on why women seem to have much heavier periods than the "normal" 3-5 taps

rubycup.com/blog/how-much-blood-during-period-scientific-research/*

Maybe i missed something, but that whole piece referred to “menstruators”. Not women.

as they are present from the 20th week of gestation until menopause is reached

Don’t they remain post menopause? Are they all used up by that point or are any remaining reabsorbed?

This thread is amazing. Thank you to you all. :)

When I was pregnant with my ds, dd (age 2.5) asked me where are babies grown in the belly. I told her about the womb or woman's room as I explained to her. I talked about how once a month the woman's room bedding is changed, I thought it was a lovely way to explain periods etc.

when I was expecting DD, we had our 20 week scan a bit late and asked to know the sex. The sonographer said it's a girl and I asked 'are you sure, I know it can be a bit indistinct sometimes'. She said 'well, I'm looking at the eggs in her ovaries, so I'm pretty sure!'.

This has me crying. Beautiful thread.