Vagina
The vagina is a tube-like sex organ? in girls? and women located inside the body starting at the middle of the vulva and moving up in the belly. The word vagina is from Latin, meaning "sheath" or "scabbard". Its entrance is the vulva and it is about 12-18 cm (5-7 inches) long. At the end of the vagina, inside the body, there is the cervix? leading to the uterus. The vagina is a private part.
The vagina is used for penis-in-vagina sex and for birth?. The vagina is lined with sensory nerves, so that if it is touched it can result in sexual pleasure and maybe eventually orgasm. When a woman is sexually aroused her vagina can secrete natural lubrication to prevent friction from harming the vagina during sexual intercourse. This is where wetness can come from if you get sexually aroused.
There is no need to clean inside the vagina because it is self-cleaning. How great is that? That said, the vagina has a sensitive ecology and it is possible for it to get infected with different things. The oft-joked about fishy smell is really the result of an infection. Clean the outside of it carefully and thoroughly with hot, soapy water, and remember to dry it carefully as well. See also the articles on bacterial vaginosis and yeast infection? for other infections in the vagina.
I am told occasional gross, mucousy things can be emitted from the vagina, so if that happens to you apparently that's normal. I've also read that the vagina can emit acidic liquids, enough to bleach coloured underwear white. I've even heard that vaginal discharge can burn holes into underwear. For that you should see a gynecologist.
There's probably a lot more useful or needed information about the vagina, but I don't have it currently. Maybe the two links under "External links" will help.
Slang and euphemisms
- Pussy (probably because the vulva is naturally covered with thick, curly hair like an animal's fur)
- Box
- Snatch (don't use this one)
- Cunt (rude, don't use this one)
- Hoohaw or hoohoo (a bit silly)
- Muff
- Beaver
- Cookie (vulgar)
- Kitty (probably vulgar)
- Twat (also vulgar)
- Cooch or coochie
- Probably many more
External links
- Mama Doctor Jones' Youtube channel
- Healthy Hooha science and personal experience-based site on the vagina and vulva