Vagina fans and owners (and those who fall into both categories) may disagree on which terms for this part of this body are sexy or offensive, but we're here to get technical. We want to dive into the question 'what is a vagina?' and more specifically, is it the same as a vulva?
Many people use the term "vagina" as a collective term for all of women's sexual organs. However, the vagina is only a special part of it all! The vagina refers exclusively to the innermost part of the female anatomy (and assigned to the female anatomy at birth) which extends from the vaginal opening and ends at the cervix.
We tend to talk a lot about penis size, but what about the size of its common counterpart? Good news, vaginas are elastic in the sense that they are biologically able to reshape after penetration. When aroused, it "opens" and even lubricates so that a penis, sex toy, fingers, etc. can enter comfortably. It is also suitable for leaving a baby, and has the support of the pelvic floor muscles to get back in shape!
The vulva is the entirety of the external genitalia. That includes opening the vagina, but it's so much more than that! The clitoris is contained within the vulva, as are the labia majora and minor. Basically, if you can see it, are you in vulva territory? Just a friendly reminder that female stimulation usually occurs in this area. The clitoris is equipped for pleasure with many nerve endings that can be aroused in different ways.
Education about our bodies, especially the sexual parts, is often overlooked. This can lead to confusion and embarrassment about things that can be perfectly normal, and should be just as harmless as talking about your elbow! Masturbation can only be improved by examining and understanding how stimulation differs between the vagina and vulva, which is how mixed orgasms can occur. Knowing the right names (and understanding how it all works) certainly has its pleasant uses, for sure. But being able to explain to a doctor, for example, pain experienced around the vulva versus in the vagina is quite important when it comes to seeking medical attention!
