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Vagina Science: 7 Things to Know about Your Lady Garden

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Come on, ladies – we’ve all wondered whether something was “normal” down there at one time or another. Chances are, we’ve had a mother or a trusted friend (or even a doctor) who we could ask. But in case you didn’t (or couldn’t get up the nerve), read on to find out 7 vagina facts that could clear a few things up.

First up, not all vaginas are the same. Not at all. If you want proof, you can check out the Labia Library, which may or may not change your life. I mean, people telling you all vaginas are different and actually seeing the proof are two different things, so definitely pop on over there.

Now, on to the list of ways your lady garden may differ from the ones around you:

#7. Lips

Women’s Health reported that a study by Dr. Brook McFadden of Ohio State University, which looked at a 168 women, found that the “left labia minora was an average of 2.1 centimeters wide, with a range of 0.4 to 6.4 centimeters. The right was an average of 1.9 centimeters wide, with a range of 0.3 to 7.0 centimeters.” That’s an insane range. And that doesn’t even include length, which averages about 4 cm, but can have up to a tenfold difference. Plus, the left and right weren’t even, which I think is pretty common knowledge.

Oh, the outer lips? They were an “average of 8.1 centimeters long (about the size of a bottle of nail polish), with a range of 4.0 to 11.5 centimeters.” That’s still a threefold difference.

#6. Clit Placement

It’s easy to assume the clit is so damned obvious and easy to find if yours is, but it turns out that’s not the case for everyone. Not only can they be placed further or closer to the opening, which may affect how likely you are to orgasm during intercourse, but, again, the size is really different.

McFadden’s research found that “clitoral width ranged from 0.2 to 2.5 centimeters with an average of 0.8. Participants had a clitoral length of anywhere from 0.4 to 4.0 centimeters, with an average of 1.6 centimeters (a bit smaller than the button on your jeans).”

#5. Inside

MacFadden’s research isn’t out on this yet, but she modeled hers on Jillian Lloyd’s study “Female genital appearance: ‘normality’ unfolds,” which, according to Women’s Health, found that the “average length of a vagina is 9.6 centimeters (about the length of a tube of lip gloss), while the range is between 6.5 and 12.5 centimeters.” That is nearly 100 percent larger! Holy crap.

#4. Color

The color can basically be anything from the rainbow, and will not necessarily match the rest of your skin. Like it says at Labia Library, “some women have pink labia and others have brown or reddish or purplish labia. Sometimes the labia are the same colour as the woman’€™s skin, but often they are lighter or darker, just like the lips on your face.”

#3. Amount of Discharge

Your discharge changes throughout your cycle, which we all knew, but it also changes a lot from woman to woman. Women’s Day reports that “the average amount of vaginal discharge a woman of reproductive age secretes over a period of eight hours weighs 1.55 grams (a gram is equivalent to about 1/4 teaspoon). But, some women produce much less and others produce much more – and the variations are completely normal!

#2. Smell

Unless you have an infection, all sorts of smells are fine. It turns out that your vagina can produce 2,100 distinct odors, which I think is incredible, because I didn’t think I could do 2,100 of anything. The smell changes based on where you are in your cycle, what’s been up there recently, and even things like what you eat. So your smell is unique to you!

#1. Your Pubic Hair

This is definitely something that is unique to you. Not only do things like texture and color vary (and not necessarily match what’s on your head!), but this is also an area we have some control over. Let it grow, wax it, shave it, dye it, fry it – I don’t care. It’s totally up to you, and nothing you do will make you a bad person/woman/feminist/sexual partner. Throw some glitter in there and have a disco for all I care. It’s yours. And it’s not like anyone else’s.

The more you know!! Go forth and explore, my friends.