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Anatomy and Function of the Vagina and Pelvic Muscles
Part 4 of 4

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Back to Part 3

Jump to Functions of the Vagina
Jump to Anatomy of Vagina
Jump to Nerves of Vagina and Pelvis
Jump to Blood Supply of Vagina
Jump to Developmental Anomalies
Jump to The Protective Vaginal Environment
Jump to Vaginal and Vulvar Fluids
Jump to Normal Vaginal and Vulvar Fluids (Photographs)
Jump to Sensitivity to Sexual Stimulation
Go to How to Sexually Stimulate the Vagina

Anatomy - Subject Index

Developmental Anomalies

The manner in which the internal female reproductive organs form during fetal development may result in some structural abnormalities that alter the appearance and function of the vagina:

The Protective Vaginal Environment

It may surprise you to know there is a vibrant and essential ecosystem within the vagina that helps protect women from disease. During early childhood, from the age of a few months until the age of eight to thirteen, the vaginal environment is relatively dormant, but with the onset of puberty that quickly changes.(4) The reason being, with puberty comes the desire to reproduce, to participate in partnered sex, which exposes a woman's vagina to body fluids and living organisms from her sexual partner(s). The onset of menstrual bleeding during puberty may also provide a food source for potentially harmful organisms. Our internal body, below the surface of the skin, has defenses against harmful invasions that cause disease, but it is much safer if the potentially harmful organisms are kept totally outside of the body, and this is the reason for the protective vaginal environment.

The vaginal and vulvar environment creates greater risk for women than men when it comes to sexually transmitted diseases, especially compared to uncircumcised men.(7) The reason being, during vaginal intercourse, if barriers to the transfer of body fluids aren't used, namely condoms and other safe sex practices, then body fluids (smegma and ejaculate) and skin cells from the body and penis, if her partners are male, and body fluids (vaginal and vulvar) and skin cell from the body and vulva, if her partners are female, are potentially deposited within the vagina. The vagina is a dark, warm, and moist environment that is suitable for microscopic organisms to live, and more importantly, reproduce and colonize. An army of one bacterium isn't much of a hazard, an army of trillions is. To ward off this invasion, the vagina develops a defensive army of it own, an army of beneficial bacteria. In the case of the vagina, "clean and sterile" is absolutely not of benefit. The last thing a woman should do, or feel compelled to do, is clean her vagina, as this is potentially harmful to her and her vagina.

The vaginal environment is normally acidic, but the level of acidity varies throughout the menstrual cycle:

"Vaginal pH varies a lot during the cycle too. At the start of menstrual flow, the pH is already increased, peaking at around 7.0. The pH then drops sharply to between 4.0 and 4.5 over the next three days and remains constant until day 21, although it may rise slightly with ovulation. Bacterial populations show great variations during the menstrual cycle; as would be expected, they are highest in the menstrual flow, possibly because menstrual blood acts as source of nutrition, or because of the rising pH associated with menstrual blood." [1]

The normally acidic vaginal environment is potentially harmful to organisms that enter the vagina, including sperm, which could pose a barrier to reproduction. To the healthy vagina and body, sperm are seen as a potentially harmful invader, as they are a living organism with DNA different from your own. To help overcome this, during sexual arousal the vaginal lubricant reduces the acidic level of the vagina, allowing sperm to survive as they travel through the vagina.[1] Women who experience sexual arousal on a frequent basis may have a less acidic vaginal environment than those who do not, because the vagina doesn't have time to return to a more acidic state between periods of arousal, which MAY expose women to increased risk for infection. "It can take up to eight hours after intercourse for the pH to return to normal; women who are very sexually active rarely possess a vaginal bacterial population characteristic of low (4.5) pH."[1]

Becoming sexually aroused a hundred times a day or engaging in partnered sex equally as often IS NOT a problem, AS LONG AS you don't expose yourself to disease in the process. Frequent sexual arousal, something you likely have no control over, isn't harmful, nor is frequent partnered sex with the same healthy partner, nor is masturbation. The increased risk results from exposure to pathogens. The greater the number of sexual partners, the greater the chances you will be exposed to disease.

This is why it is important to limit the number of sexual partners you have, and to be sure your partner, and objects that you insert into the vagina, are clean and disease free. Pathogens are microscopic, meaning you can't tell by looking whether your sexual partner has them. Condoms are a must, even if you are using another form of birth control. Condoms should be used because male ejaculate also reduces the acidity of the vagina, potentially increasing the chances for a vaginal infection following intercourse. You should also use reasonable care when masturbating, by keeping objects you insert into your vagina clean.

Notes:

Soap is potentially harmful to the vagina and vulva, when you use soap to wash your hands and objects you insert into your vagina, be sure to rinse them thoroughly with clean water. Don't use soap on the vulva or in the vagina, only rinse the vulva with clean water: the vagina cares for itself.

The vagina may be abraded, scratched, or cut when inserting a tampon applicator or during normal sexual activity, alone and with a partner, which may allow the body to be invaded by potentially harmful organisms. Toxic Shock Syndrome is an example of when the body's defenses are unable to ward off an invading organism inside the vagina. The injury doesn't cause the infection, rather it allows pathogens to more easily enter the body, IF they are present. Many potentially harmful organisms are normally found inside the vagina, but a healthy vaginal environment helps keep them from becoming sufficient in number to cause harm.

When the protective vaginal environment is out of balance, bacterial vaginosis (BV) may result. Symptoms of BV include abnormal discharge, odor, pain, itching, or burning. BV is the most common gynecological complaint.

Vaginal and Vulvar Fluids

There are several body fluids that may appear at the vestibule, especially with the onset of puberty, though some vaginal fluids are present throughout life. During the reproductive years the amount of fluid is normally increased, though the amount is dependent on medications and birth control methods prescribed by your doctor. Based on emails I receive, it appears some teens and young women are totally unaware of their normal daily vaginal fluids, at least until they engage in some new activity, like partnered sex, then fearing a negative consequence to that activity, they mistake their normal vaginal fluids for an indication of disease. At the onset of puberty girls should be made aware of the normal cycle of these fluids, so they will have a better understanding of how their body normally works, and wont mistake the normal for being abnormal.

Contributors to the vaginal and vulvar fluids [1]:

Indications of normal vaginal fluids:

"Depending on the time of the menstrual cycle, secretions make a clear, milky white, or faintly yellow discharge. Sometimes there is a stringy mucus. The discharge may be somewhat slippery or clumpy. Most women have small white or yellow stains on their underwear, varying with their menstrual cycles. Normal secretions also form small dry yellow-white flakes or clumps in the pubic hair surrounding the vaginal opening. Some women have enough normal secretions to make them feel wet all the time. What if you never notice any discharge? That's normal too. Your secretions probably remain in the vagina without appearing on the outside.

"The important thing is that normal secretions do not itch, burn, or irritate. Normal secretions do not have a bad odor, although secretions that stay on the underwear may develop a slightly sour smell. Normal secretions do not contain any blood, even in microscopic amounts.

"Some women complain of having too much vaginal discharge all the time, so heavy in fact that they feel they need to wear sanitary pads or tampons throughout their cycle. First of all, it's unwise to wear such protection continually, so please don't. Seemingly excessive discharge can happen when there are mucus producing cells from the endocervical canal on the cervix; more mucus is produced, which in turn contributes to increased discharge. Unfortunately, we do not have a good way to improve this annoying situation. If cultures for herpes, chlamydia, and gonorrhea—organisms that can infect the columnal epithelial cells of the cervical canal—are negative, if other parts of the evaluation show no abnormal findings, and if future pregnancy is desired, destroying the cells with heat or freezing may eliminate the excess mucus, which can impair fertility. But if testing has shown that the mucus or discharge is normal, women of childbearing age who experience this problem are best advised to put up with the wetness." [1]

See Table 1

Amount of Vaginal Fluid Throughout Menstrual Cycle [1]:

Average: 1.6 grams per eight hour period (1 gram equals 1/4 teaspoon)
Maximum: Day 14 Ovulation - 1.96 grams (almost 1/2 a teaspoon)
Minimum: Days 7 and 26 - 1.4 grams

Women on birth control pills experience less change in the amount of fluid produced, as a result of the pill regulating their hormone levels.

Normal Vaginal and Vulvar Fluids

Sebum: Produced by the oil (sebaceous) glands of the vulva.

Sexual Lubrication: In greatly varying amounts

From Cervix:

Menstrual:

Sensitivity to Sexual Stimulation

The reported sensitivity of a woman's vagina depends on factors like how the question is phrased and the method and context of the stimulation.

Additional information concerning vaginal sensitivity is available in the article about anal sex.

The outcome of that sexual stimulation varies from woman to woman as well.

References
Notes

Anatomy - Subject Index

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