Question: I know that when women get sexually aroused their vaginas lengthen to prepare for intercourse. My question is, if I am not aroused, should I be able to feel my cervix with my fingers? If I am not aroused, my middle finger actually hits the back of my vaginal wall. I have begun to wonder if I am normal, and whether or not my boyfriend will wonder if I am normal as well. Especially considering he is eight inches long. Logic tells me intercourse will be a problem. I guess my real question is, exactly how much does the vagina lengthen in preparation for intercourse?

Answer: When not aroused, the front wall of the vagina is about 2.98 inches (7.57 cm) on average in length, with a range of 2.28 to 3.66 inches (5.8 to 9.3 cm) and the rear wall is about 3.46 inches (8.8 cm) in length on average, with a range of 2.83 to 4.17 inches (7.1 to 10.6 cm). The width of the vagina, which is normally a closed "H" shaped potential space, is 1.35 inches (3.44 cm) on average, with a range of 0.83 to 1.97 inches (2.1 to 5.0 cm). As can be seen, there is quite a size variation between women.

It is normal then to be able to touch your cervix with your fingers, especially if you bear down. Your cervix will feel the same as when you touch the tip of your nose, having the same firmness.

The vagina has been found to have "four different shapes: parallel sides, conical, heart and slug shaped."

During sexual arousal the vagina lengthens up to about 50%, resulting in a length of perhaps 4 1/2 inches (11.4 cm). This last observation is debatable, as a study done in 1991 using MRI found only the front wall of the vagina increased in length, and then only by 1 cm (0.4 inches) The uterus' position "hardly changed," supporting this observation.

This length does not take into account the depth of your vulva, the distance between your outer labia and vagina, commonly called the introitus. The depth of the introitus is about 1 inch (2.5 cm) on average, ranging from 5/8 to 1 3/4 inches (1.6 to 4.4 cm). This increases the total depth to about 5 1/2 inches (14 cm). A gap will exist between you and your partner's bodies, that distance being determined by the position of your bodies. This all allows for the insertion of the average 6 inch (15.2 cm) penis.

Different sexual positions allow for more or less penetration. The man on top less, the woman kneeling with man entering from behind more. You will want to be on top to control the amount of penetration. Some women enjoy deep penetration others find it painful. When you explore intercourse with your partner go slow and use additional lubrication.