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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Some interesting facts about the vagina...

213 replies

ResistanceIsNecessary · 26/06/2018 12:56

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 Smile

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SPOFS · 26/06/2018 14:53

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. Smile

BeyondFemaleElitist · 26/06/2018 14:52

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

BertrandRussell · 26/06/2018 14:51

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

ResistanceIsNecessary · 26/06/2018 14:17

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

Flowers Grin
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ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 26/06/2018 13:37

It comes from the Latin for sheath

Obviously named by a man Wink

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 26/06/2018 13:36

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 ]

BertrandRussell · 26/06/2018 13:33

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

WeirdScenesInsideTheGoldmine · 26/06/2018 13:33

It comes from the Latin for sheath

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 26/06/2018 13:32

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!

Cascade220 · 26/06/2018 13:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ResistanceIsNecessary · 26/06/2018 13:24

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.

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UpstartCrow · 26/06/2018 13:15

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

BeyondFemaleElitist · 26/06/2018 13:04

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