Vulva, Vulva, Vulva
September 2023
Hi there Caddyshackers,
Have you been reading our blogs for a while? We know we have some die-hard blog fans (thank you!). But if you are new here - welcome to our little sex positive corner of the internet!
You might be interested to know that one of our most viewed blogs is V is for Vulva from July 2021.
Here it is if you missed it or are up for a reread or a refresh on the difference between a vagina and a vulva.
There is a lot of terminology to break down and understand when it comes to this topic, so we thought we could kick this blog off by explaining a few things.
People who are assigned female at birth (AFAB) have vaginas.
The only anatomical consideration which defines your gender at birth is if you have a vagina or a penis.
People who are AFAB and identify as women are known as cisgender women.
Some transgender men and non-binary individuals may also have been AFAB.
Some intersex individuals may have cervixes too, though to the eye there may not be an obvious vagina or vulva.
Some transgender women and non-binary individuals who aren’t AFAB choose to have gender-affirming surgery called a vaginoplasty. A vaginoplasty constructs a vagina and vulva using various methods, most commonly using a person’s genital skin.
Do you follow us on instagram? If your answer is ‘not yet’ - we would love to have you join our sex positive community on instagram! Follow along with all the things we are loving right now and join in, we love hearing from you!
We asked our instagram followers to participate in a little interactive vulva myths and facts quiz.
Dive into the data and read on to see what our instagram followers answered. Some of them might surprise you!
The vulva & vagina are not the same thing
Let’s start with the title of the blog.
From our participating Instagram followers, 17% said this is a myth with 83% correct in that it is a fact!
The vagina is a 3- to 6-inch-long muscular canal that runs from the cervix, the lower part of the uterus, to the outside of the body. The vulva is all the outer stuff — including the labia, urethra, clitoris, and vaginal opening.
Most people can orgasm from vaginal penetration alone
What do you think about this one, myth or fact?
Most of our Instagram followers, 88% were correct that it is a myth.
A little over 18% of vagina owners say they can reach orgasm from penetration alone. For the other 80%, the key orgasmic ingredient is the clitoris.
Not all people with vaginas are women
Ok so for those of you who are playing along at home, there is a cheat sheet in the beginning of this blog. Go on, scroll up for a re-read.
Of our Instagram followers, 91% selected fact, and they are correct!
Genitalia is not an indicator of gender and it can be harmful to assume so. There are many people who have a vagina who aren’t women. They may identify as a man or non-binary.
You can lose a tampon — or anything — in your vagina
We have all heard the horror stories shared at sleepover parties. But it’s a myth! 76% of our Instagram followers got this one right.
At the deep end of your vagina is your cervix, the bottom portion of your uterus. During childbirth, your cervix dilates — opens up — as the baby passes through. But the rest of the time your cervix stays closed, so you can’t really get anything accidentally lost or stuck in there.
Vaginas don’t really tear during childbirth?
This is a myth which 78% of our Instagram followers got correct.
This can be a normal part of childbirth and your body is designed to bounce back. Upwards of 79% of vaginal deliveries include tearing or require an incision.
The clitoris is the size of a pea
Well done to the 59% of our instagram followers who got this one right. It is a myth!
The clitoris is like the tip of an iceberg. Reaching 10 centimetres tip to tip, it’s shaped like a four-pronged wishbone.
There’s heaps of clit inspired jewellery out there now if you’d like some clitoris earrings. No affiliate commercial links on this blog but have a google.
Vaginas are supposed to have a smell
Yep, they are. 86% of our Instagram followers said this is a fact and they were correct!
The vagina contains highly specialized bacteria that work around the clock to keep your vaginal pH healthy and balanced.
Being ‘wet’ means you’re sexually aroused
What do you think about this one? 65% of our Instagram followers were correct in that this is a myth!
Hormones cause cervical mucus to be excreted daily. The vulva has a high concentration of sweat glands. Also, vaginas can automatically produce lubrication when they’re touched, regardless of arousal.
Remember: Vaginal wetness should never be considered a sign of consent.
Vaginas get deeper when the person is turned on
This is an interesting on. From our Instagram followers, 57% said myth and 43% said fact.
It’s a fact!
After arousal, the upper portion of the vagina elongates, pushing the cervix and uterus slightly deeper into your body to make room for penetration.
The vagina requires cleansing products to keep it fresh
We are having a proud moment with 90% of our Instagram followers saying myth, and they are correct!
The vagina is self-cleaning. It’s totally normally to see discharge — which may be thin or thick, clear or whiteish — in your undies at the end of the day. This is the result of your vagina’s cleaning efforts.
In some cases, “cleaning the vagina can actually cause more harm than good, with perfumes, cleanses and washes impacting the natural pH levels which may then lead to irritation or thrush.
How did you go? Hope you learnt something new!
Here’s another easy cheat sheet… Vagina is IN & Vulva is OUT.
What we are loving right now
Keeping on theme for this months blog;
The Smile Makers, Vulva Talks
In a blog earlier this year, P is for Pleasure we introduced The Smile Makers.
Based in the UK, their Vulva Talks is a one stop shop for pleasure based sex education and we can highly recommend their free online course.
Comfortable in my own skin, flip through my flaps
Closer to home, we love Ellie Sedgwick’s campaign (for want of a better word) Comfortable in my own skin.
You may have heard the term Designer Vagina (again wrong terminology…Vagina = IN remember) or labioplasty. This is a surgical procedure that aims to decrease the size of the labia minora (inner tissues of the female genitalia) so that it is flush with the labia majora (outer part of the female genitalia).
It’s important to remember what the inner labia do and what it can mean to ‘trim’ them. Because the inner labia have a sexual function. They’re full of nerve endings and it feels good to touch them. When you cut the labia, you’re removing an important and sensitive part of the genitals, and all surgery involves risk. In some countries this is referred to as female circumcision and is conducted against the persons will.
Ellie educates people contemplating surgery due to a lack of knowledge on vulvas and has created a fantastic website with the section Flip through my Flaps showing how all vulvas are unique, like eyebrows or bellybuttons.
The Wonder Down Under
In this book, The Wonder Down Under, Norwegian authors Ellen Støkken Dahl and Nina Brochmann provide all the deets to help us understand how different types of contraception work in the body, what a "normal" vulva looks like and how wearing socks can change your sex life.
Ellen and Nina are medical doctors who have worked for several years as health workers and teachers advising young people, refugees and sex workers on matters of sexual health.
As we always like to say “knowledge is power”.
Until next time,
Peace, Love & Protection
x