Question: I think I've read pretty much everything on your site and it has been really really REALLY helpful. I actually didn't know where my clit was 'till I looked through your site. My question doesn't have to do with my clit, though. When I was between 7-10, I found out that if I, well, I call it standing on my neck, but that may be disturbing to picture to some people. I think it's also referred to as the bicycle position or something like that, but I lay on the floor and hold my back up with my arms and my legs are in the air and my body is pretty much vertical. Anyway, I found that if I did that, I could suck air into some hole "down there." I thought it was my anus, but I recently realized it was my vagina. I stopped doing that pretty soon after I learned I could do it, but I've found that air goes in there even when I'm not in that position, which can be really embarrassing, because it does make a sound when it comes out. This usually happens to me when I wake up in the morning, which is awful when I'm spending the night at a friend's house. Also, when I take a bath, I get out and water is dripping out! I have to wear a pad after I get out or else it will get everywhere! I read about that other woman who seemed to only experience this during intercourse. I'm a virgin to all things male, but I've used a brush and sometimes air gets stuck in there when I'm masturbating too. Is there any way to make this stop?? Will kegel exercises help any?

Answer: I have a book on women's health and sexuality that shows a woman in the position you describe using when you were 7-10 years of age, and they actually call it "sucking air." (See illustration shown below) They recommend this position when women want to ensure medication coats the entire vagina. This means what you were doing and experienced was not unexpected or harmful in anyway.

The vagina is a potential space so the walls are normally in contact with each other. It is not this big empty space. There is really no place for more than a little water to go or get trapped. If this were not true, menstrual blood, menses, would not flow out.

Is the water actually coming from your vagina or is it just trapped in your pubic hair? If the water is actually coming from your vagina, use your pelvic muscles to push it out. Imagine that you are urinating and want to stop the flow. You can practice stopping the flow of urine from your bladder each time you urinate. This is the same as doing Kegels. If nothing else, jump up and down a couple times. Do not use a pad. Your body needs to be able to breath. Only use a pad when you are menstruating.

I am not sure why air is going into your vagina while you sleep but I would guess it is a combination of your vagina relaxing and contracting while you sleep, and wet dreams. Both boys and girls have wet dreams. Wet dreams occur when a person has a sexual dream and they become sexually aroused, and sometimes experience orgasm. Your vagina is likely very active while you sleep, especially if your hormones are at high levels during puberty. You are likely having sexual dreams even if you do not remember them, especially in the time period just before you wake up in the morning.

Your vagina and cervix are most likely producing fluid, or mucus, that is thick and sticky at times. If you takes some of this between your thumb and index finger you will notice that it stretches like gum. Depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle, the mucus will be clear to milky in color and watery to sticky in consistency. Your scent will change throughout your menstrual cycles as well. The consistency of your vaginal fluids will likely affect when and how much air becomes trapped in your vagina; it acts like a seal.

You may be able to release the air when you wake by slowly slipping your finger into your vagina. Lubricate your finger with saliva first. You can probably do it discretely when you spend the night at a friend's house. You can also cough when you contract the muscles, to conceal the noise made by the air escaping your vagina.

I do not believe you can or should want to stop all this from occurring. Your body is working just as it should. Just because people do not talk about it does not mean it is not normal. Your female friends are likely experiencing similar things but are afraid to discuss it with you.

I passed your e-mail along to a friend and this is what she had to say:

"This is normal. Many young women's bodies are preparing for intercourse. My guess is your friends have not talked about it with you as they are embarrassed also. This happened to me. As far as the water leaking, do you urinate after bathing? Do you know how to do Kegel exercises? That may help you gain the pelvic floor strength to push the water out of your vagina. You might want to consider a good lubricant, like Slippery Stuff, and insert your finger into the vagina to help the air release. I would advise trying to expel the water and bypass the pad, as that may set you up for unhealthy muscle tone as you get a little older, and yeast thrives on wet also."

I hope we have answered your questions and help you feel better about your body. If you still have questions please feel free to write back.

Her Reply: The water is definitely in my vagina, and I have no trouble squeezing it out, but I don't want any water in there in the first place! Will I grow out of this? Can I work on my muscles more so this won't happen to me, or is it just something I'm going to have to live with?

My Reply to Her: Here is what one woman had to say when I asked women about their experiences with getting water in their vagina.

"In reference to the gal with water in her vagina after bathing, it may be that she's got great stomach muscles. I used to pull water in intentionally, by sucking in my stomach muscles, to sort of cleanse myself internally simply with the muscles, and then expel the water. It's probably the 'exact' same thing she's doing as she's climaxing, as I experienced the air as well. But it all boils down to wonderful stomach muscles and she should be glad. Nothing to worry about in my opinion. "

As in this case, all the women have had positive feelings about this. I honestly feel the problem is not your body or the water getting into your vagina but rather your expectations and believes. There is nothing wrong or bad about getting water in your vagina but you believe there is, why?

It is possible the water is being drawn into your vagina when you get out of the tub, since you likely use your stomach muscles to do so. It may not be the sitting in the water that does it, but the use of your muscles to get in or out. See if you can use your arm muscles to raise your bottom out of the water while you keep your stomach relaxed.

The woman's comments above suggest that perhaps the best way to get an understanding of why water is getting in your vagina is to do it intentionally. Fill the tub with warm water, jump in, experiment with tightening and moving your pelvic muscles, and see what happens. If you can draw water in, see if you can squirt it out. Experiment and have fun. I would not recommend doing this with soapy water or water that you just had bathed in.