Perhaps the greatest variation between the vulvas of women occurs in the size and shape of their Labia Minora. The labia minora are also called Nymphae. While the name literally means 'minor lips', for many women, their labia minora are large and prominent. Much larger than what most anatomy and sexuality references portray or mention. In addition, the labia minora may not be totally concealed by the labia majora as the references also state. Many women who have explored their vulva have come to believe their vulva is somehow deformed, because of the shape of their labia minora. The illustrations by Betty Dodson, shown below, reveal the normal variations in labial size and shape. There are women who do not have labia minora, or who only have one. While some women do have the heart shape labia typically shown in anatomy books, many if not most, do not.
The labia minora are made up of soft spongy erectile tissue containing a dense concentration of blood vessels, the same tissue as that which surrounds the urethra in the penis. The labia minora are populated by many oil-producing glands, but are devoid of fat cells. They are usually very elastic, as one illustration reveals below. During sexual arousal, blood collects in them, causing them to swell and increase in size, as well as change color.
While the labia minora have many nerve endings, their sensitivity to stimulation varies considerably between women. Some women find them totally insensitive to sexual stimulation, others find sexual stimulation of their labia minora very pleasurable. When they become irritated, by infection, frictional irritation, or chemical irritation, they can become quite painful.
The illustrations shown above and below demonstrate the normal variations that occur in the size and shape of the vulva. They show the vulva of real women, women who posed for Ms. Dodson. As can be seen, the vulva comes in a multitude of shapes and sizes. No two are exactly alike. Each one is equally beautiful. For a woman to fully enjoy the pleasures of sex, she must love her vulva in its entirety. Betty's book is required reading for many reasons, these and other illustrations are just one of them.
The Clitoris is a very complex and specialized organ. It has only one purpose, to give women sexual pleasure. It is as important to a woman, as is a penis to a man. The clitoris is formed from the same tissues as is a penis, and for the most part, functions the same as a penis. The only major difference between the two appears to be that the female urethra does not pass all the way through the body of the clitoris. The tissue that transports urine and ejaculate through the penis is present though, in the form of the labia minora. While the average clitoris is smaller than a penis, some clitorises are just as large as a small penis. Many clitorises look very similar to a penis, which unfortunately makes some people feel uncomfortable.
Each labia minora attaches to the base of the clitoral glans. The point at which they attach is called the Frenum or Frenulum. The frenum indicates where the urethral outlet would have been located had the clitoris developed into a penis during fetal development. This attachment results in the clitoris being indirectly stimulated by the movement of the labia minora as the penis enters and exits the vagina during intercourse. For a small percentage of women, this stimulation is sufficient to produce an orgasm, when combined with the sensations caused by the penis caressing the vaginal wall. The frenum of the vulva and the frenum of the penis are not the same thing, "frenum" is simply the medical name for this type of anatomical structure. The tongue has a frenum as well, for example.
The labia minora also merge with the Prepuce or Hood. The prepuce covers the clitoral body and all or part of the clitoral glans. While the labia minora merge with the prepuce, they are not made of the same tissue. Unlike the second and third illustrations shown here, the prepuce usually conceals the clitoral glans unless it is manually retracted, but the clitoral glans of some women is always partially or completely exposed as shown. The prepuce protects the very delicate and sensitive clitoral glans from constant stimulation and irritation.
The information presented below on the prepuce is based on multiple articles about the prepuce of the penis. There is no detailed information available on the prepuce of the clitoris that I'm aware of. The information available on the prepuce of the penis is often vague and confusing, and at times, contradicting. I've done my best to make sense of the information presented in my references.
The portion of the prepuce that covers the clitoral glans is just like the foreskin of the penis. It is comprised of two separate layers of skin, an outer layer that is an extension of the tissue along the body of the clitoris, and an inner layer made up of mucous membrane. During fetal development the prepuce and the glans are fused together, they are one. Sometime during late fetal development or childhood, both the glans and prepuce shed their outer layers of cells resulting in their separation. The shedding of these skin cells occurs throughout life, even after separation of the glans and prepuce. Glands on the underside of the prepuce, within the mucous membrane, produce enzymes that attack bacteria and protect the glans and prepuce from infection. There are also oil-producing glands located on areas of the clitoral glans that lubricate the glans and prepuce. These oil glands are less active in childhood than after puberty.
The shedding of skin cells and the production of oil and enzymes results in the formation of smegma. Smegma is a white cheesy substance that may have a strong odor, in the female it is reported to be 'fishy' in nature. Because of the restricted space between the glans and hood, the smegma may collect under the prepuce in the form of small 'pearls' or kernels. Smegma, because of the oil and enzymes does not pose a health risk. It is recommended that while the prepuce and glans are fused together, that only smegma that has seeped out from under the prepuce be washed away with plain water. At some point the prepuce and glans should separate as the result of the skin cell shedding, masturbation, bathing, and bike riding etc. After separation occurs, the prepuce should be retracted so the glans can be washed with plain water. The use of soap appears to increase the likelihood of infection. If the prepuce and glans do not fully separate or if an infection develops between the glans and prepuce, adhesions may develop between the two. Parents should not forcibly retract the hood of their daughter's clitoris while bathing her vulva.
The size of the prepuce varies considerably from one woman to the next. Its size is not necessarily based on the size of the clitoris. A short thin clitoris may have a long fleshy prepuce and a long thick clitoris may have a short thin prepuce. It is believed that most women can retract their prepuce far enough to expose all or part of their clitoral glans. Some women have a prepuce that is so long and/or has such a narrow opening that their clitoral glans is always hidden. A small percentage of women have reported that their long thick prepuce has prevented or impaired their ability to experience orgasm, so they had it surgically trimmed or removed. The process of trimming or removing the portion of the prepuce that covers the glans is called circumcision. It is rarely necessary as there is no evidence to show the size of a woman's prepuce has any bearing on her ability to experience orgasm. It is more a cosmetic procedure that may have psychological benefits for some women.
The above illustration shows the entire clitoris with most of the surrounding tissues removed. The three main parts of the clitoris are shown, the Glans, Shaft, and Crura. Some feel the Vestibule Bulbs should be considered as part of the clitoris, referring instead to them as the "bulbs of the clitoris."
The clitoral glans is made up entirely of soft erectile tissue called corpus spongiosum. This is the same type of tissue that comprises the glans of the penis. When a woman experiences sexual arousal her glans fills with blood and becomes slightly larger, and usually more sensitive. It still remains soft to the touch even during sexual arousal, unlike the body of the clitoris. The surface of the glans is not covered with regular skin tissue, what is there is much like the mucous membrane of the adjoining prepuce. Tiny oil producing glands populate the surface of the glans, at least some areas of it. The oil they produce gives the glans its shiny appearance and allows the prepuce to glide effortlessly across the surface of the glans. If the glans dries out, undergoes cornification, it becomes dull and rough in appearance, as with a circumcised penis.
The average size of the non-erect glans is about 4 - 5mm ( 0.15 - 0.2in, a little less than a quarter inch ) in diameter, but ranges from 1 - 15mm ( 0.04 - 0.6in, a little more than half an inch ) in diameter. There is more information about the size of the clitoris on the page about clitoral and labial size.
The glans of the clitoris has just as many nerve endings as does the glans of the penis, just in a much smaller area. This results in the clitoris being extremely sensitive. The size of a clitoris does not determine how sensitive it is, as the number of nerve endings is reportedly always the same regardless of size. Many women find direct clitoral stimulation painful. There are a small percentage of women who cannot tolerate any form of clitoral stimulation, they experience intense pain not pleasure when it is touched, even indirectly. The prepuce serves to protect the glans from direct stimulation, and the natural oil present reduces the friction between the two. This is probably why women generally masturbate by massaging the prepuce rather than the clitoral glans. While the clitoris is usually very sensitive, some women report their clitoris is insensitive to stimulation. The cause of this is unknown, but it may be the result of disassociation from one's body, diseases or illnesses that attacks the nervous system, or lack of use. The sensitivity of any sensory organ varies from one person to the next, the clitoris is no different.
The body and crura (crus singular) of the clitoris are made up of two cylindrical shaped structures comprised of erectile tissue called corpora cavernosa. This erectile tissue is enclosed in a dense fibrous network of tissue. The body is the portion of the clitoris that hangs downward from the pubic bone, to which the glans is attached. In the body of the clitoris, the two cavernous bodies are joined to one another along their common side and the surrounding tissue makes it appear as if there is only one erectile structure. At the point where the body meets the pubic bone, the two cylinders separate and conform to the shape of the pelvic bones, forming an inverted "V".
The size of the body of the clitoris varies from zero to about two inches. The size of the average clitoral body is about three quarters of an inch, making the average body and glans an inch in length. This is the portion of the clitoris you will be able to touch and feel with your fingers, beneath the prepuce. The crus are each about three inches in length making the average clitoris four inches in length; a lot bigger than most people realize.
Due to the erectile nature of the body of the clitoris, the clitoris is capable of projecting outward from the body, becoming erect, when blood collects in it during sexual arousal. Smooth muscles within the corpora cavernosa relax during sexual arousal allowing blood to pool within its chambers as the result of chemical stimulation by nitric oxide. The degree to which the clitoris projects outward is dependent on the size of clitoris, and on the elasticity of the connective tissues, chordee, that normally keep the clitoris pointed downward. When the clitoris becomes engorged with blood, it feels firm to the touch. If you lightly grasp the body of the clitoris as a woman becomes sexually aroused, you will likely feel her clitoris become firm and erect. For some women with small clitorises, the only way to locate the body of the clitoris within the prepuce is by feeling it become erect while the surrounding tissues stays soft. A woman may be very aware of this change in her clitoris, and feel as if she has a "hard-on" because of its intensity.
Just prior to a woman experiencing orgasm an increased amount of blood collects in the body of the clitoris resulting in a firmer erection, which causes the glans to move upward toward the pubic bone. This gives the impression that the glans is retracting up under the prepuce when it is actually just straightening out as a result of the increased blood trapped within. Some incorrectly say this is protection mechanism of the exquisitely sensitive glans, saying the clitoris retracts to protect itself from direct stimulation that may be painful just prior to orgasm. The penis undergoes the same increased rigidity just prior to orgasm and it in no way protect the glans of the penis, it perhaps ensures the penis is at full length so the ejaculate is deposited as near the cervix as possible. Women who report experiencing waves of pleasure radiating outward from their clitoris during orgasm are perhaps feeling the pooled blood rapidly draining away from the clitoris in time with her orgasmic contractions.
The Bulbs of the Clitoris are two erectile bodies that attach to the body of the clitoris and lay beneath the labia minora. They are called "Bulbus Vestibuli" in the above illustration. The length of the bulbs varied from 3 - 7cm (1.2 - 2.75 inches) in one study. The bulbs of the clitoris correspond to the singular bulbus penis in the male. They are made up of the same erectile tissue as the clitoral glans, corpus spongiosum. These structures fill with blood during sexual arousal, but unfortunately it appears that no one knows for sure their exact function during sex and orgasm. Because of their erectile nature and location near the vagina, they may firm up the vaginal introitus in preparation for intercourse. A woman may also be aware of their firmness and congestion during sex.
The Vestibule is the triangle shaped area below the clitoris and above the vaginal introitus. The labia minora form the sides of the triangle. The urethral meatus is located within this area of the vulva.
The Urethral Meatus is the opening into the urethra, through which urine, female ejaculate, and fluids from the female prostate exit the body. The size and shape of the urethral opening varies considerably from one woman to the next. It may not be as large and prominent as shown above, though sometimes it is larger. The urethral meatus can be very sensitive to sexual stimulation, so sensitive in fact that a woman may mistake her urethral opening for her clitoris, if she does not visually examine her vulva, going solely by sensitivity. Some women masturbate by massaging the urethral meatus and by inserting objects into the urethra. Stimulating the urethra, through the vaginal wall, can result in female ejaculation and the release of fluids from the female prostate.
The Vaginal Introitus forms the mouth of the vagina. It is incorrect to say "vaginal opening" because unless there is something inserted into the vagina, the vaginal passage is closed. One problem with some of the illustrations on this page, and in anatomy books in general, is that the vaginal opening is always shown as a dark area, in affect indicating a dark empty space, a cave of sorts. The walls of the vagina are normally in contact with one another, the vagina is a potential space, not an opening as usually shown and portrayed. As the illustrations and discussion above reveal, its appearance is dependent on several factors.
During the early stages of fetal development there is no opening into the vagina from outside the body. The thin tissue membrane that conceals the vaginal canal is called the Hymen. Usually at some point during fetal development this tissue divides, exposing the vagina to the outside world. When the opening forms, some or most of the concealing tissue remains. The tissue that still conceals the vaginal opening after birth is what we commonly refer to as the hymen. The opening(s) into the vagina come in many shapes, illustrations showing the common variations can be found on the page about the hymen.
Sometimes the hymen does not separate during fetal development and a girl is born with an imperforated hymen, meaning there is no vaginal opening. A minor surgical procedure is required to create an opening in the hymen. If this opening does not exist prior to the onset of menstruation, menstrual fluid collects in the uterus and vagina resulting in severe abdominal pains and cramps until the fluid is drained.
Contrary to popular myth, the presence or absence of a hymen in no way indicates that a girl or women has or has not had vaginal intercourse. The hymen of some girls totally disappears prior to birth. The tissue of the hymen is very thin, it does not take much tension on the surrounding tissues to cause it to stretch open. Normal childhood activities like spreading the legs widely during gymnastics, riding a bicycle, playing on the jungle gym, and masturbating can result in the hymen disappearing prior to puberty. Later usage of tampons, and the insertion of fingers into the vagina may also stretch the hymen. Some hymen are elastic enough that when a penis is inserted slowly and gently, it may stretch versus tear, so that when the penis is removed, the hymen returns to it prior shape. It appears that about 50% of women experience bleeding when they first have intercourse. This explains the common practices of getting married while a girl is menstruating, inserting a fertilized bird's egg into the vagina, and the staining of the bed sheets with the blood from a chicken when proof of virginity was required.
The Fourchette is the area where the labia minora join together below the vaginal opening. It is the forward edge of the perineum.
The Fossa is the name given to the depression that exists between the perineum and hymen, below the vaginal opening.
