The wonders down-under

The vulva is the general name for the outside parts. It includes the inner and outer lips (labia), the clitoris, the urethral opening (where your urine/wee comes out) and the vaginal opening. 

The inside passage that starts at your vulva and ends at the cervix? That’s the vagina.

Scientific studies have revealed that vaginas can vary significantly in their length and general shape. (Remember, the vagina is the internal passage or tube).

One study from 2006 revealed that vaginal lengths can range from 4cm to 9.5cm, while an earlier study recorded lengths of up to 15cm.

In a study from 2003 on vaginal shape, researchers concluded that there were five general shapes: cone, heart, slug, pumpkin seed, and parallel sides. However, more recent research  from a larger study found that "the shape of the tube is not symmetrical or similar to any known geometric shape".

Even though it doesn't sound particularly healthy, having an acidic vaginal environment is very important for keeping this body part in good health.

A healthy vagina has high levels of the ‘good’ bacteria known as Lactobacillus, which produce high levels of lactic acid. It is this acidic environment that protects the vagina from infection and helps to minimise the growth of ‘bad’ bacteria and yeast. 

This is why it’s important to avoid practices that can affect the natural balance of the vagina, such as douching or using soaps or perfumed products on your vulva or vagina. The vagina (the internal tube) is a self-cleaning organ – so, in terms of cleaning and 'maintenance', it’s best just to let it do its thing.

We tend to think of the clitoris as being quite small, but there is much more to this body part that meets the eye. It’s is a bit like an iceberg; we can only see the very tip of the clitoris and there is much, much more of this body part hidden beneath the surface.

While the external tip is indeed typically quite small, underneath the skin of the vulva, there are two arms of the clitoris that extend outwards. These arms (known as crura) are surprisingly long, measuring between 5-9cm in length.

There are also two internal bulbs that make up the rest of the clitoris, hidden beneath the skin. These bulbs extend downwards from the tip and measure between 3-7cm long. View a diagram to see its shape.

For women who get their periods and are not on hormonal contraception, your vaginal discharge throughout the month can hint at the high and lows of certain hormones.

In the middle of your cycle, when the hormone oestrogen is high, vaginal discharge often increases a lot – and it’s often stretchy (like egg white), or thin and watery. 

In weeks 3 and 4 before your period hits, you may notice a smaller amount of discharge, or it may be 'sticky' or 'tacky'. This is because of rising levels of the hormone progesterone. 

Many hormonal contraceptives can affect your discharge because of the hormones they contain. For example, it's common for women who take the Pill to have a whitish vaginal discharge quite consistently throughout the month.

Remember though, everyone is different. Read more about hormones and discharge here.

Vaginas, quite simply, and supposed to smell like vaginas. They are not supposed to smell like flowers or coconuts or fresh mountain air!

There are many different healthy vagina smells: from tangy and sour, to coppery, metallic, earthy, sweaty, sweet or even skunky.  And the smell can change depending on where you are in your cycle.

An abnormal vaginal smell is a strong offensive smell (occasionally caused by accidentally leaving a tampon in for way too long) or a strong fishy smell – this is often caused by a condition known as bacterial vaginosis (BV) or the sexually transmissible infection (STI) trichomoniasis. Both will need attention from a doctor.

Just like your other body parts and tissues, the vagina and vulva can be affected by changes that come with age and different life stages, from infancy to postmenopause.

Some common changes include thinning of the vulval skin due to the hormonal changes of menopause, or a darkening of the vulval skin during pregnancy because of the increased blood flow to the area.