The-Clitoris.com - Anatomy of the Vulva: Detailed Description of the Vulva, Part 1

First a note about the illustrations contained on this web page: The shape and appearance of the female genitals vary considerably from one woman to the next. A woman's vulva is as unique in appearance as is her face. A person should not take the position that all women's genitals should look similar to those shown. Only a very small percentage of women will have genitals that look like those portrayed. I will use multiple illustrations to provide some indication of just how varied in appearance the vulva can be. Many of the illustrations are taken from life, most anatomy and sexuality books show what the author or illustrator felt was the correct or ideal shape. Few women's genitals are as symmetrical as those shown in these books. As such, they are usually inaccurate for the majority of women. Based on some anatomical illustrations, you have to wonder if the illustrator had ever actually seen the vulva of an adult woman, at least a living one.

Locating detailed descriptions of the anatomy and biology of the female sexual organs appears to be almost impossible. Almost every book I used as a reference, nearly ten, presented the same information, almost word for word. Each anatomical structure is usually described in a single sentence, or at most, a brief paragraph. The information published one hundred fifty years ago seems to be the basis for the information presented in books printed today. When new research is published, it is usually presented in medical journals, using medical terminology, which the average person cannot read or comprehend. This goes to show how little effort has gone into researching the anatomy and function of the female sexual organs.

The external female sexual organs, genitals, are collectively know as the Vulva. The vulva is comprised of many different anatomical structures and is much more complex than most people realize. The reason so many people have no idea as to the anatomy of the female genitals is that we as a society have reduced women's sexual anatomy down to nothing more than their vagina. We say girls and women have a 'vagina' instead of saying they have a 'vulva', which is both inappropriate and inaccurate. We have made the vagina the center of female sexuality when in fact, for the majority of women, their vulva is. Since most sex education classes are more about reproduction than sex, the anatomy of the female genitals is often times not taught in school. Reportedly, very few men can identify all the different parts of a vulva when shown a picture of one. I suspect the majority of women are just as unaware of their own anatomy. Hopefully the information presented below will help people to become more aware of female sexual anatomy, and as a result, increased numbers of women will find sex more enjoyable and satisfying.

The above illustration shows what the adult female genitals may look like when the labia majora are at rest, that is, not spread open. The visible structures are the, mons veneris, labia majora, pudendal cleft, perineum, and anus. While not depicted in this illustration, a significant percentage of women will have labia minora that are always visible as they project out between the labia majora. Sometimes the clitoris or clitoral hood is always visible as well. Illustrations showing vulvas with these characteristics can be found below and on the web page about clitoral and labial size. This illustration depicts what the illustrator, a doctor, determined was an average vulva, based on his research of European and North American women. The original is life size. The black outline shows the placement of the pelvic bones that create the pelvic outlet, or birth canal.

The Mons Veneris is a pad of soft fatty tissue that covers the pubic bone. It is usually covered by a thick growth of hair after the onset of puberty. "Mons veneris" means "mound of Venus" in Latin. Venus was the name given to the Roman Goddess of love. Hence, "mons veneris" has come to mean, "Mountain of Love." It is so named because the fatty tissue located here is sensitive to estrogen, with the onset of puberty estrogen levels increase causing a distinct mound to form. It is often very visible when a woman is naked or wears tight clothing. It is thought to provide a protective cushion between the pubic bones of a woman and her partner during sexual intercourse, when penetration is from the front.

The skin covering the mons veneris contains many nerve endings. As a result, a woman may enjoy having this area caressed, as well as having the hair that covers it stroked and tugged on gently. Some women find they are able to experience orgasm when their mons veneris is massaged, or when they press it against a firm surface while masturbating. This is partly due to the clitoris being located beneath its lower boundary. A woman may find this area more sensitive to stimulation when it is clean-shaven, as the skin is no longer protected by a layer of hair.

The Labia Majora are two folds of skin, in some cases they are more like mounds than folds, that define the pudendal cleft, and conceal and protect the more delicate structures of the vulva. The front portion of each labia majora is usually thicker than the rear, tapering down and merging with the perineum. The above illustration shows each labia majora having this triangle shape.

The outer surfaces of the labia majora are sometimes of a different color than that of the surrounding tissue, and may be smooth or wrinkled in appearance. The skin may have the same wrinkled appearance as that of the male scrotum, their male counterpart. After the onset of puberty the outer surfaces are usually covered with hair. When a woman is sexually aroused, the labia majora may become bright red in color because of the increased blood flow to the area.

The inner surfaces are smooth and shiny. The skin on the inner surfaces is highly populated with oil and sweat producing glands, and nerve endings. The oil and sweat glands are responsible for the smooth shiny appearance and helping to keep the vulva clean and healthy. The color of the inner surfaces is often pink in color, but may be other colors as well, such as brown and blackish-brown. Between the inner and outer skin surfaces is a collection of fat and smooth muscle. Smooth muscles are those we do not have conscious control over.

The size and shape of the labia majora vary considerably from one woman to the next. The labia majora of young girls are usually flat and smooth, having the same color as that of the surrounding tissue. With the onset of puberty and the subsequent increase in body fat, the labia majora often times become more prominent. Women with low percentages of body fat may have small flat labia majora and women with high percentages of body fat may have well defined rounded labia majora.

The flat area between the pudendal cleft and the anus is called the Perineum. Some references state that the perineum is hairless, this is not true for all women. The skin of the perineum is populated by numerous nerve endings so some women may enjoy having this area caressed and massaged during sex. Anatomy references, versus sexuality references, say that the perineum extends from the anus up to the urethra, so there is some conflict in what actually constitutes the perineum.

The Anus is the opening into the rectum and lower intestine through which feces passes during a bowel movement. The anal tissues are rich with blood vessels and nerve endings. Many women find their anus to be very sensitive to stimulation. The sensitivity being the result of a protection mechanism intended to keep foreign objects out, to prevent injury and disease. Two sets of muscles encircle the anus just under the skin. The involuntary contraction of these muscles can make anal sex and intercourse painful or impossible. For many women their anus is an important part of their sexual anatomy, sometimes being even more sensitive than their clitoris and vagina.

The above illustration shows what the vulva of a virgin may look like when the labia are drawn open to expose the inner genital structures. The illustration shown below reveals what a woman's vulva may look like following pregnancy and vaginal delivery. The visible structures in these illustrations are the, labia minora, prepuce, clitoral glans, frenum, vestibule, urethral meatus, vaginal introitus, fossa, fourchette, and hymen. They demonstrate how a woman's genitals may change in appearance throughout her live. There are several events in a woman's life that will likely affect the appearance of her vulva.

At birth an infant girl's vulva and breasts may appear to be swollen or enlarged. This is the result of her having been exposed to her mother's increased levels of hormones while in the womb. After a short period of time the girl's vulva, labia minora and majora, and breasts will shrink in size as the affects of the maternal hormones slowly wear off. At birth, a girl's clitoris is proportionally larger than it is likely to be during the remainder of her life. From the time a girl is one year of age until about the age of eight her genitals should not undergo any significant change in appearance, other than growing in proportion to her body. If they do, a doctor should be consulted.

The next major changes to the vulva occur during puberty. The genital tissues are highly sensitive to hormones. As a girl's ovaries and other endocrine glands start producing increased levels of hormones, male and female, her vulva will likely undergo a major change. The thin tissues of the vulva will become thicker and more elastic. Their coloration is likely to change as well. The structures of her vulva are likely to become larger and more pronounced. This includes her labia majora and minora, as well as her clitoris and hymen. Since pubic hair also develops at this time, a girl may not be aware of all the changes that take place. Teaching your daughter to examine her genitals with a mirror at a young age will make her more comfortable with her vulva, and perhaps more aware of these changes.

Masturbation and non-penetrative sex can have a minor affect on the appearance of the female genitals. Since the average girl does not start masturbating until she is in her late teens, these changes are not likely to occur until after puberty. When a girl or woman is sexually aroused her genitals fill with blood, resulting in their temporary increase in size. If the engorgement with blood occurs frequently, the affects of this engorgement may become permanent. As with all other organs of the body, the more you use it, the larger it becomes, to a point. Daily masturbation and/or sex play may result in a slight increase in the size of the erectile organs of the vulva, labia and clitoris. This is normal and healthy. A doctor will not be able to tell if a girl or woman masturbates, even if this does occur.

The appearance of the entrance to the vagina, introitus, is likely to change when a woman starts having vaginal intercourse, or inserts fingers or other objects into her vagina. Using tampons should not have any significant affects on the appearance of the vulva or vagina. If a woman has a hymen, depending on the force applied to it when objects are inserted into the vagina, it will either stretch or tear. Over time the hymen may slowly disappear as it is repeatedly stretched open. If a woman has a hymen, it usually does not disappear completely until she delivers a baby vaginally. As the vaginal entrance becomes more elastic, surrounding folds of tissue may become more developed. If the vaginal muscles become stronger and more developed this too is likely to change the appearance of the vulva. Of course if the vaginal muscles become weak or torn, this to will change the appearance of the vulva as well. If a woman's introduction to vaginal penetration is slow and gentle, the changes to her vulva are likely to be gradual and perhaps unnoticeable.

When a woman becomes pregnant, the blood supply to her reproductive and sexual organs becomes greatly increased in order that they may be able to support the developing baby. As a result, a woman's vulva may increase markedly in size, her labia and clitoris may become much larger. Blood vessels may become more prominent and visible. The sensitivity of her vulva may become greater, this can be pleasurable or irritating for her. When a woman delivers a baby vaginally, her vagina and vulva must stretch to accommodate the baby's head, 9.5cm (3 3/4 inches) across. This can result in tears to the vaginal opening, labia, and clitoris. A doctor may make an incision at the vaginal opening, an episiotomy, to prevent tearing of the vagina and vulva, the resulting scar tissue changes the appearance of the vulva. Some of the changes that occur during pregnancy and delivery are likely to be permanent.

The next major change to the vulva occurs during menopause. During this time period, the level of hormones in a woman's body decrease, and as a result, the tissues sensitive to hormones, the labia and clitoris, usually decreases in size, but not to their preadolescent size. The reverse of what occurred during puberty occurs during menopause. This can make sex more of a challenge, but does not necessarily eliminate the need or desire for it. If a woman continues to masturbate or engage in sex regularly, the changes are not as great, and sex is likely to be easier to accomplish and enjoy.

Continued in Part 2