Vagina: top five facts

For most of us, it’s the route during on the first trip of our lives: the vagina. It can squeeze up tight or stretch as wide as a baby’s head. In this edition of Top Five Facts: what is vagina confidence? Does everyone have a G-spot? And more...
  1. Smell, discharge and wetnessMany women are worried that they smell 'down there' or notice a discharge and wonder if that's something to worry about. It’s normal for your vagina to have a certain smell. Don’t use soap, douches or perfumes to cover up your natural odour. They can irritate your vagina.Discharge – a yellow or white fluid that comes out of your vagina – is also perfectly normal. But get a medical check-up if you notice changes in smell, colour and consistency of your discharge. It could be as sign of a sexually transmitted infection.And when you’re aroused, it’s perfectly normal for your vagina to get wet. It needs to. It's a natural lubricant making it easier for the penis to slip inside.
  2. Vagina confidenceWomen who feel confident and comfortable about their vaginas have more intercourse and oral sex, a US study found. But being vagina-confident is not just about pleasure. It can save your life, too! Vagina confident women are more likely to see their gynaecologist regularly. This could help to diagnose and treat serious health conditions such as cervical cancer early.Find out how vagina confident you are here. And don't forget to schedule your next check-up!To know more about your vagina and other body parts, watch our animated video here!
  • Skin colourWith vaginal fairness creams flooding the market, you might ask yourself if your vagina is fair enough. But it’s normal and healthy for the skin of your vulva to be darker than the surrounding skin. The skin of your labia is very thin and elastic, making it look darker. Trying to lighten your naturally dark skin with fairness creams can cause unnecessary irritation. So try to ignore the commercials telling you that fairer is better and embrace your natural colour – be vagina confident!
  • The G-spotFor some, finding the G-spot is like the quest for the Holy Grail. But scientists still argue about whether it really exists.The G-Spot is an area the size of a coin, three to five centimetres inside the vagina, on the front wall. It’s named after gynaecologist Ernst Gräfenberg, who was the first person to describe it in the early 1950s.The G-spot can be aroused using fingers or in some positions during intercourse. But it seems only some girls have one. For some people it can give an even more intense sensation than the clitoris. For others, it doesn’t give any special feeling at all.
  • Squirting and female ejaculationStimulating the G-spot or other practices like the Central African sexual technique 'kunyaza' can even make women ejaculate.It seems there are two types of fluid that can come out. Some women find about a teaspoonful of milky fluid comes out – it’s similar to male semen.But for women who experience ‘squirting orgasms’, it’s more than any teaspoonful that comes out. Some researchers say that more than half a litre can come gushing out of you! This fluid is more watery. But there’s still debate about what the fluid is and where it comes from. One study found the liquid did come from the bladder and is a bit like very dilute pee.

    • Stay healthy

    Be aware of sexual transmitted diseases such as Syphilis