Vagina

1 Etymology and denition

This article is about the body part. For other uses, see
Vagina (disambiguation).

The term vagina is from Latin vgnae, literally sheath

or "scabbard"; the Latinate plural of vagina is vaginae.[1]
The vagina may also be referred to as the birth canal in
the context of pregnancy and childbirth.[2][3] Although by
its dictionary and anatomical denitions, the term vagina
refers exclusively to the specic internal structure, it is
colloquially used to refer to the vulva or to both the vagina
and vulva.[4][5] Using the term vagina to mean vulva
can pose medical or legal confusion; for example, a persons interpretation of its location not matching another
persons interpretation of the location.[4] Medically, the
vagina is the muscular canal between the hymen (or remThe location and structure of the vagina varies among
nants of the hymen) and the cervix, while, legally, it bespecies, and may vary in size within the same species. Ungins at the vulva (between the labia).[4]
like mammalian males, who usually have the urethral orice as the sole external urogenital orice, mammalian females usually have two external orices, the urethral orice for the urological tract and the vaginal orice for the 2 Structure
genital tract. The vaginal orice is much larger than the
nearby urethral opening, and both openings are protected
by the labia in humans. In amphibians, birds, reptiles and 2.1 Development
monotremes, an opening called the cloaca functions as a
single external orice for the gastrointestinal tract, uro- The vaginal plate, a precursor to the inferior portion of
the vagina, is the growth of tissue that gives rise to the
logical tract, and reproductive tract.
formation of the vagina; it is located where the solid tips
The vagina plays a signicant role in human female sexof the paramesonephric ducts (Mllerian ducts) enter the
uality and sexual pleasure. During sexual arousal for hudorsal wall of the urogenital sinus as the Mllerian tubermans and other animals, vaginal moisture increases by
cle. The plates growth is unrestrained, as it signicantly
way of vaginal lubrication, to reduce friction and allow for
separates the cervix and the urogenital sinus; eventually,
smoother penetration of the vagina during sexual activity.
the central cells of the plate break down to form the vagiThe texture of the vaginal walls can create friction for the
nal lumen.[6] Until twenty to twenty-four weeks of pregpenis during sexual intercourse and stimulate it toward
nancy, the vagina is not fully canalized. If it fails to fully
ejaculation, enabling fertilization. In addition, a variety
canalize, this may result in various forms of septae, which
of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and other disorcause obstruction of the outow tract later in life.[6]
ders can aect the vagina. Because of the risk of STIs,
health authorities and health care providers, recommend In the absence of testosterone during sexual dierentiation (sex development of the dierences between males
safe sex practices.
and females), the urogenital sinus persists as the vestibule
Cultural perceptions of the vagina have persisted throughof the vagina, the two urogenital folds (elongated spindleout history, ranging from viewing the vagina as the focus
shaped structures that contribute to the formation of the
of sexual desire, a metaphor for life via birth, inferior to
urethral groove on the belly aspect of the genital tuberthe penis, or as visually unappealing or otherwise vulgar.
cle) form the labia minora, and the labioscrotal swellings
Colloquially, the word vagina is often used incorrectly to
enlarge to form the labia majora.[7][8]
refer to the vulva.
The human vagina develops into an elastic muscular canal
that extends from the vulva to the uterus.[9][10] It is reddish pink in color, and it connects the supercial vulva to
the cervix of the deep uterus. The vagina is posterior to
the urethra and bladder, and reaches across the perineum
superiorly and posteriorly toward the cervix; at approxThe vagina is a bromuscular tubular sex organ that is
part of the female genital tract. In humans, the vagina extends from the vulva to the uterus. At the vulva, the vaginal orice may be partly covered by a membrane called
the hymen, while, at the deep end, the cervix (neck of
the uterus) bulges through the anterior wall of the vagina.
The vagina facilitates sexual intercourse and childbirth. It
also channels the menstrual ow, consisting of blood and
pieces of mucosal tissue, that occurs periodically with the
shedding of lining of the uterus in menstrual cycles.

2 STRUCTURE

imately a 90 degree angle, the cervix protrudes into the

vagina.[11] The vaginal orice and urethral opening are
protected by the labia.[12]
There exists debate as to which portion of the vagina
is formed from the Mllerian ducts and which from
the urogenital sinus by the growth of the sinovaginal
bulb.[6][13] Dewhursts Textbook of Obstetrics and Gynaecology states, Some believe that the upper four-fths of
the vagina is formed by the Mllerian duct and the lower
fth by the urogenital sinus, while others believe that sinus upgrowth extends to the cervix displacing the Mllerian component completely and the vagina is thus derived
wholly from the endoderm of the urogenital sinus. It
adds, It seems certain that some of the vagina is derived
from the urogenital sinus, but it has not been determined Medium-power magnication micrograph of a H&E stained
slide showing a portion of a vaginal wall. Stratied squamous
whether or not the Mllerian component is involved.[6]

2.2

Layers, regions and histology

epithelium and underling connective tissue can be seen. The

deeper muscular layers are not shown. The black line points to a
fold in the mucosa.

sels, lymphatic vessels and nerve bers that is present between the pelvic organs.[11][15][16]

An illustration showing a cut-away portion of the vagina and

upper female genital tract (only one ovary and fallopian tube
shown). Circular folds (also called rugae) of vaginal mucosa
can be seen

The wall of the vagina from the lumen outwards consists rstly of a mucosa of non-keratinized stratied squamous epithelium with an underlying lamina propria of
connective tissue, secondly a layer of smooth muscle with
bundles of circular bers internal to longitudinal bers,
and thirdly an outer layer of connective tissue called the
adventitia. Some texts list four layers by counting the two
sublayers of the mucosa (epithelium and lamina propria)
separately.[14][15] The lamina propria is rich in blood vessels and lymphatic channels. The muscular layer is composed of smooth muscle bers, with an outer layer of longitudinal muscle, an inner layer of circular muscle, and
oblique muscle bers between. The outer layer, the adventitia, is a thin dense layer of connective tissue, and it
blends with loose connective tissue containing blood ves-

Folds of mucosa (or vaginal rugae) are shown in the front third
of a vagina

The mucosa forms folds or rugae, which are more prominent in the caudal third of the vagina; they appear as transverse ridges and their function is to provide the vagina
with increased surface area for extension and stretching. Where the vaginal lumen surrounds the cervix of
the uterus, it is divided into four continuous regions or
vaginal fornices; these are the anterior, posterior, right
lateral, and left lateral fornices.[9][10] The posterior fornix

2.3

Vaginal opening and hymen

3
For blood and nerve supply, relevant arteries are the cervicovaginal (the uterine cervix and the vagina) branch of
the uterine artery, the vaginal artery, middle rectal artery,
and the internal pudendal artery. The veins are connected by anastomosis (the connection of separate parts
of a branching system to form a network), resulting in
the formation of the anterior and posterior azygos (unpaired) arteries. The nerve supply of the vagina is provided by the sympathetic and parasympathetic areas of
the pelvic plexus, with the pudendal nerve supplying the
lower area.[10]

2.3 Vaginal opening and hymen

A normal cervix of an adult as seen through the vagina (per vaginam or PV) using a bivalved vaginal speculum. The blades of
the speculum are above and below and stretched vaginal walls
are seen on the left and right.

The vaginal opening (or orice or introitus) is at the caudal end of the vulva, behind the opening of the urethra,
resting at the posterior end of the vestibule. It is closed
by the labia minora in female virgins and in females who
have never given birth (nulliparae), but may be exposed
is deeper than the anterior fornix.[10] While the anterior in females who have given birth (parous females).[10]
and posterior walls are placed together, the lateral walls,
The hymen is a membrane of tissue that surrounds or parespecially their middle area, are relatively more rigid; betially covers the vaginal opening.[10] The eects of vagicause of this, they vagina has a H-shaped cross section.[10]
nal intercourse and childbirth on the hymen are variable.
Behind, the upper one-fourth of the vagina is separated
If the hymen is suciently elastic, it may return to nearly
from the rectum by the recto-uterine pouch. Superits original condition. In other cases, there may be remcially, in front of the pubic bone, a cushion of fat called
nants (carunculae myrtiformes), or it may appear comthe mons pubis forms the uppermost part of the vulva.
pletely absent after repeated penetration.[23] Additionally,
Supporting the vagina are its upper third, middle third the hymen may be lacerated by disease, injury, mediand lower third muscles and ligaments. The upper third cal examination, masturbation or physical exercise. For
are the levator ani muscles (transcervical, pubocervical) these reasons, it is not possible to denitively determine
and the sacrocervical ligaments; these areas are also de- whether or not a girl or woman is a virgin by examining
scribed as the cardinal ligaments laterally and uterosacral her hymen.[23][24]
ligaments posterolaterally. The middle third of the vagina
concerns the urogenital diaphragm (also described as
the paracolpos and pelvic diaphragm). The lower third 2.4 Variations and size
is the perineal body; it may be described as containing the perineal body, pelvic diaphragm and urogenital Main article: Human vaginal size
In its normal state, there is anatomical variation in the
diaphragm.[9][17]
The epithelial covering of the cervix is continuous with
the epithelial lining of the vagina. The vaginal mucosa is
absent of glands. The vaginal epithelium consists of three
rather arbitrary layers of cells[18] supercial at cells,
intermediate cells and basal cells and estrogen induces
the intermediate and supercial cells to ll with glycogen.
The supercial cells exfoliate continuously and basal cells
replace them.[10][19][20] Under the inuence of maternal
estrogen, newborn females have a thick stratied squamous epithelium for two to four weeks after birth. After
that, the epithelium remains thin with only a few layers of
cells without glycogen until puberty, when the epithelium
thickens and glycogen containing cells are formed again,
under the inuence of the girls rising estrogen levels. Finally, the epithelium thins out during menopause onward
and eventually ceases to contain glycogen, because of the
lack of estrogen.[10][20][21] In abnormal circumstances,
such as in pelvic organ prolapse, the vaginal epithelium
may be exposed becoming dry and keratinized.[22]

Pelvic anatomy including organs of the female reproductive system

length of the vagina of a woman of child-bearing age.

The length is approximately 7.5 cm (2.5 to 3 in) across
the anterior wall (front), and 9 cm (3.5 in) long across the
posterior wall (rear), making the posterior fornix deeper
than the anterior.[10][16] During sexual arousal, the vagina

expands in both length and width. If a woman stands

upright, the vaginal tube points in an upward-backward
direction and forms an angle of approximately 45 degrees with the uterus and of about 60 degrees to the
horizontal.[10][17] The vaginal opening and hymen also
vary in size; in children, although a common appearance of the hymen is crescent-shaped, many shapes are
possible.[10][25]

3
3.1

Function
Secretions

The vagina provides a path for menstrual blood and tissue to leave the body. In industrial societies, tampons,
menstrual cups and sanitary napkins may be used to absorb or capture these uids. Vaginal secretions are primarily from the uterus, cervix, and transudation of the
vaginal epithelium in addition to miniscule vaginal lubrication from the Bartholins glands upon sexual arousal.
It takes little vaginal secretion to make the vagina moist.
The secretions may be minor in excess during sexual
arousal, the middle of the menstrual cycle, a little prior
to menstruation, or during pregnancy.[10]
The Bartholins glands, located near the vaginal opening and cervix, were originally thought to be the primary source for vaginal lubrication, but they provide
only a few drops of mucus for vaginal lubrication;[26]
the signicant majority of vaginal lubrication is generally believed to be provided by plasma seepage from
the vaginal walls, which is called vaginal transudation.
Vaginal transudation, which initially forms as sweat-like
droplets, is caused by vascular engorgement of the vagina
(vasocongestion); this results in the pressure inside the
capillaries increasing the transudation of plasma through
the vaginal epithelium.[26][27][28]

FUNCTION

vaginal sensations when stimulated during sexual activity, and many women additionally derive pleasure from a
feeling of closeness and fullness during penetration of the
vagina.[32][33] The vagina as a whole, however, lacks nerve
endings, which commonly hinders a womans ability to
receive sucient sexual stimulation, including orgasm,
solely from penetration of the vagina.[32][33][34] Although
some scientic examinations of vaginal wall innervation
indicate no single area with a greater density of nerve
endings, or that only some women have a greater density of nerve endings in the anterior vaginal wall,[35][36]
heightened sensitivity in the anterior vaginal wall is common among women.[35][37] These cases indicate that the
outer one-third of the vagina, especially near the opening, contains the majority of the vaginal nerve endings,
making it more sensitive to touch than the inner (or upper) two-thirds of the vaginal barrel.[32][34][38] This factor makes the process of child birth signicantly less
painful, because an increased number of nerve endings
means that there is an increased possibility for pain and
pleasure.[32][39][40]
Besides penile penetration, there are a variety of ways
that pleasure can be received from vaginal stimulation, including by masturbation, ngering, oral sex (cunnilingus),
or by specic sex positions (such as the missionary position or the spoons sex position).[41] Some women use sex
toys, such as a vibrator or dildo, for vaginal pleasure.[42]
Foreplay is often used to incite sexual arousal, and may
include one or more of the aforementioned sexual activities. The clitoris additionally plays a part in vaginal
stimulation, as it is a sex organ of multiplanar structure
containing an abundance of nerve endings, with a broad
attachment to the pubic arch and extensive supporting tissue to the mons pubis and labia; it is centrally attached to
the urethra, and research indicates that it forms a tissue
cluster with the vagina. This tissue is perhaps more extensive in some women than in others, which may contribute
to orgasms experienced vaginally.[34][43][44]

During sexual arousal, and particularly the stimulation of

the clitoris, the walls of the vagina lubricate. This begins
after ten to thirty seconds of sexual arousal, and increases
in amount the longer the woman is aroused.[45] It reduces
friction or injury that can be caused by insertion of the
penis into the vagina or other penetration of the vagina
during sexual activity. The vagina lengthens during the
arousal, and can continue to lengthen in response to pressure; as the woman becomes fully aroused, the vagina expands in length and width, while the cervix retracts.[45][46]
With the upper two-thirds of the vagina expanding and
lengthening, the uterus rises into the greater pelvis, and
the cervix is elevated above the vaginal oor, resulting
3.2 Sexual activity
in "tenting" of the mid-vaginal plane.[45] As the elastic
Further information: Human sexual activity and Human walls of the vagina stretch or contract, with support from
the pelvic muscles, to wrap around the inserted penis
female sexuality
(or other object),[38] this stimulates the penis and helps
to cause the male to experience orgasm and ejaculation,
The concentration of the nerve endings near the entrance which in turn enables fertilization.[47]
of the vagina (the lower third) usually provide pleasurable
Before and during ovulation, the cervixs mucus glands
secrete dierent variations of mucus, which provides an
alkaline, fertile environment in the vaginal canal that
is favorable to the survival of sperm.[29] As women
age, vaginal lubrication decreases, which does not necessarily mean that a physical or psychological problem
exists.[30] After menopause, the body produces less estrogen, which, unless compensated for with estrogen replacement therapy, causes the vaginal walls to thin out
signicantly.[10][20][31]

3.4

Vaginal microbiota

An area in the vagina that may be an erogenous zone

is the G-spot (also known as the Grfenberg spot); it
is typically dened as being located at the anterior wall
of the vagina, a couple or few inches in from the entrance, and some women experience intense pleasure, and
sometimes an orgasm, if this area is stimulated during
sexual activity.[35][37] A G-spot orgasm may be responsible for female ejaculation, leading some doctors and
researchers to believe that G-spot pleasure comes from
the Skenes glands, a female homologue of the prostate,
rather than any particular spot on the vaginal wall; other
researchers consider the connection between the Skenes
glands and the G-spot area to be weak.[35][36][37] The Gspots existence, and existence as a distinct structure, is
still under dispute, as its reported location can vary from
woman to woman, appears to be nonexistent in some
women, and it is hypothesized to be an extension of the
clitoris and therefore the reason for orgasms experienced
vaginally.[35][39][44]

3.3

Childbirth

The vagina provides a channel to deliver a newborn from

the uterus to its independent life outside the body of the
mother. When childbirth (or labor) nears, several symptoms may occur, including Braxton Hicks contractions,
vaginal discharge, and the rupture of membranes (water
breaking).[48] When water breaking happens, there may
be an uncommon wet sensation in the vagina that is an
irregular or steady small stream of uid from the vagina,
or a gush of uid.[49][50]

5
tion and estrogen ow is restored. The vaginal opening
gapes and is relaxed, until it returns to its approximate
pre-pregnant state by six to eight weeks in the period beginning immediately after the birth (the postpartum period); however, it will maintain a larger shape than it previously had.[51]

3.4 Vaginal microbiota

Main article: Vaginal ora
Further information: List of microbiota species of the
lower reproductive tract of women
The vagina is a dynamic ecosystem that undergoes longterm changes, from neonate to puberty and from menarche to menopause. Healthy vaginal bicrobiota consists of
species and genuses which generally do not cause symptoms, infections, result in good pregnancy outcomes, and
is dominated mainly by Lactobacillus species.[52] Under the inuence of hormones, such as estrogen, progesterone and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), the vaginal ecosystem undergoes cyclic or periodic changes.[53]
Average vaginal pH varies signicantly during a womans
lifespan, from 7.0 in premenarchal girls, to 3.8-4.4 in
women of reproductive age to 6.5-7.0 during menopause
without hormone therapy and 4.5-5.0 with hormone
replacement therapy.[54] Estrogen, glycogen and lactobacilli are important factors in this variation.[53]

4 Clinical signicance

When the body prepares for childbirth, the cervix softens, thins, moves forward to face anteriorly, and may begin to open. This allows the fetus to settle or drop into 4.1
the pelvis.[48] When the fetus settles into the pelvis, this
may result in pain in the sciatic nerves, increased vaginal
discharge, and increased urinary frequency. While, for
women who have given birth before, these symptoms are
likelier to happen after labor has already begun, they may
happen approximately ten to fourteen days before labor
in women experiencing the eects of nearing labor for
the rst time.[48]

General

The fetus begins to lose the support of the cervix when

uterine contractions begin. With cervical dilation reaching a diameter of more than 10 cm (4 in) to accommodate the head of the fetus, the head moves from the uterus
to the vagina.[48] The elasticity of the vagina allows it to
stretch to many times its normal diameter in order to deliver the child.[16]
Births are usually successful vaginal births, but there are
sometimes complications and a woman may undergo a
caesarean section instead of a vaginal delivery. The
vaginal mucosa has an abnormal accumulation of uid
(edematous) and is thin, with few rugae, a little after
birth. The mucosa thickens and rugae return in approximately three weeks once the ovaries regain usual func-

An ultrasound showing the urinary bladder (1), uterus (2), and

vagina (3)

The vagina is self-cleansing and therefore usually does

not need special hygiene. To maintain vulvovaginal
health, doctors generally discourage the practice of

5 SOCIETY AND CULTURE

douching.[55] Since a healthy vagina is colonized by a mutually symbiotic ora of microorganisms that protect its
host from disease-causing microbes, any attempt to upset
this balance may cause many undesirable outcomes, including but not limited to abnormal discharge and yeast
infection.[55]
The vagina and cervix are examined during gynecological
examinations of the pelvis, often using a speculum, which
holds the vagina open for visual inspection or taking samples (see pap smear).[56] This and other medical procedures involving the vagina, including digital internal examinations and administration of medicine,[56][57] are referred to as being per vaginam, the Latin for via the
vagina,[58] often abbreviated to p.v..[57]

A disposable plastic bi-valved vaginal speculum used in

gynecological examination

The healthy vagina of a woman of child-bearing age is

acidic, with a pH normally ranging between 3.8 and 4.5.,
and this is due to the degradation of glycogen to the
lactic acid by enzymes secreted by the Dderleins bacillus, which is a normal commensal of the vagina.[53] The
acidity retards the growth of many strains of pathogenic
microbes.[53] An increased pH of the vagina (with a
commonly used cut-o of pH 4.5 or higher) can be
caused by bacterial overgrowth, as occurs in bacterial
vaginosis and trichomoniasis, or rupture of membranes
in pregnancy.[53][59] There are dierent types of bacterial
vaginosis.[53]
Intravaginal administration is a route of administration
where the substance is applied to the inside of the vagina.
Pharmacologically, it has the potential advantage to result in eects primarily in the vagina or nearby structures (such as the vaginal portion of cervix) with limited systemic adverse eects compared to other routes of
administration.[60][61]

4.2

Infections and disorders

can aect the vagina, including candidal vulvovaginitis, vaginitis, vaginismus, sexually transmitted infections
(STIs) or cancer. Vaginitis is an inammation of the
vagina, and is attributed to several vaginal diseases, while
vaginismus is an involuntary tightening of the vagina
muscles caused by a conditioned reex, or disease, during vaginal penetration.[62] HIV/AIDS, human papillomavirus (HPV), genital herpes and trichomoniasis are
some of the STIs that may aect the vagina, and health
authorities and health care providers recommend safe
sex practices when engaging in sexual activity to prevent STIs.[63][64] Cervical cancer may be prevented by
pap smear screening and HPV vaccines. Vaginal cancer is very rare, and is primarily a matter of old age; its
symptoms include abnormal vaginal bleeding or vaginal
discharge.[65][66]
There can be a vaginal obstruction, such as one caused
by agenesis, an imperforate hymen or, less commonly, a
transverse vaginal septum; these cases require dierentiation because surgery for them signicantly varies.[67]
When there is a lump obstructing the vaginal opening, it
is likely a Bartholins cyst.[68] Vaginal prolapse is characterized by a portion of the vaginal canal protruding
(prolapsing) from the opening of the vagina. It may result in the case of weakened pelvic muscles, which is
a common result of childbirth; in the case of this prolapse, the rectum, uterus, or bladder pushes on the vagina,
and severe cases result in the vagina protruding out of
the body. Kegel exercises have been used to strengthen
the pelvic oor, and may help prevent or remedy vaginal
prolapse.[69]

4.3 Modication
The vagina, including the vaginal opening, may be altered
as a result of genital modication during vaginoplasty or
labiaplasty; for example, alteration to the inner labia (also
known as the vaginal lips or labia minora). There is no
evidence that such surgery improves psychological or relationship problems; however, the surgery has a risk of
damaging blood vessels and nerves.[70]
Female genital mutilation (FGM), another aspect
of female genital modication, may additionally be
known as female circumcision or female genital cutting
(FGC).[71][72] FGM has no known health benets. The
most severe form of FGM is inbulation, in which there
is removal of all or part of the inner and outer labia (labia
minora and labia majora) and the closure of the vagina;
this is called Type III FGM, and it involves a small hole
being left for the passage of urine and menstrual blood,
with the vagina being opened up for sexual intercourse
and childbirth.[72]

Main article: Vaginal disease

5 Society and culture

There are many infections, diseases and disorders that

5.2

5.1

In contemporary art and literature

Biological perceptions, symbolism and represents a powerful symbol as the yoni in Hindu, and
this may indicate the value that Hindu society has given
vulgarity
female sexuality and the vaginas ability to birth life.[86]

There have been various perceptions of the vagina

throughout history, including that it is the center of sexual
desire, a metaphor for life via birth, inferior to the penis,
visually unappealing, inherently smelly, or otherwise
vulgar.[73][74][75] These views can largely be attributed to
sex dierences, and how they are interpreted. David
Buss, an evolutionary psychologist, stated that because a
penis is signicantly larger than a clitoris and it is on
display and ready to be noticed while the vagina is not,
and males urinate through the penis, boys are taught from
childhood to touch and hold their penises while girls are
often taught that they should not touch their own genitals,
as if there is harm in doing so. Buss attributed this to the
reason why many women are not as familiar with their
genitalia as men are familiar with their own, and that researchers assume these sex dierences explain why boys
learn to masturbate before girls, and masturbate more often than girls.[76]
The word vagina is commonly avoided in
conversation,[77] and many men in addition to
women do not know that the vagina is not used for
urination.[78][79][80] This is exacerbated by the phrase
Boys have a penis, girls have a vagina., which causes
children to think that girls have one orice in the pelvic
area.[79] Author Hilda Hutcherson stated, Because many
of us [women] have been conditioned since childhood
through verbal and nonverbal cues to think of our
genitals as ugly, smelly and unclean, we aren't able to
fully enjoy intimate encounters because of fear that our
partner will be turned o by the sight, smell, and taste
of our genitals. She added that women, unlike men, did
not have locker room experiences in school where they
compared each others genitals, and so many women
wonder if their genitals are normal.[74] Scholar Catherine
Blackledge stated that having a vagina meant she would
typically be treated less well than a vagina-less person
and that she could be expected to work all [her] life for
less money than if [she] was minus female genitalia"; it
meant she could expect to be treated as a second-class
citizen.[77]

In Ancient times, the vagina was often considered equivalent (homologous) to the penis; anatomists Galen (129
AD 200 AD) and Vesalius (15141564), regarded the
organs as structurally the same, except for the vagina
being inverted. Anatomical studies over latter centuries, however, showed the clitoris to be the penile
equivalent.[43][87] The release of vaginal uids were considered by medical practitioners to cure or remedy a number of ailments; various methods were used over the centuries to release female seed (via vaginal lubrication
or female ejaculation) as a treatment for suocation ex
semine retento (suocation of the womb), female hysteria or green sickness. Methods included a midwife rubbing the walls of the vagina or insertion of the penis or
penis-shaped objects into the vagina. Supposed symptoms of female hysteria included faintness, nervousness,
insomnia, uid retention, heaviness in abdomen, muscle
spasm, shortness of breath, irritability, loss of appetite for
food or sex, and a tendency to cause trouble.[88] Women
considered suering from the condition would sometimes
undergo pelvic massage stimulation of the genitals
by the doctor until the woman experienced hysterical
paroxysm (i.e., orgasm). Paroxysm was regarded as a
medical treatment, and not a sexual release.[88] The categorization of female hysteria has ceased to be recognized
as a medical condition since the 1920s.

The vagina has additionally been termed many vulgar

names,[89] three of which are cunt, twat, and pussy. Cunt
is used as a derogatory epithet referring to people of either sex. This usage is relatively recent, dating from the
late nineteenth century.[90] Reecting dierent national
usages, cunt is described as an unpleasant or stupid person in the Compact Oxford English Dictionary, whereas
Merriam-Webster has a usage of the term as usually disparaging and obscene: woman,[91] noting that it is used
in the U.S. as an oensive way to refer to a woman";[92]
and the Macquarie Dictionary of Australian English states
that it is a despicable man. When used with a positive qualier (good, funny, clever, etc.) in Britain, New
Zealand and Australia, it can convey a positive sense of
the object or person referred to.[93] Pussy, on the other
Negative views of the vagina are simultaneously con- hand, can indicate "cowardice or weakness", and the hutrasted by views that it is a powerful symbol of fe- man vulva or vagina or by extension sexual intercourse
male sexuality, spirituality, or life. Author Denise Linn with a woman.[94]
stated, "[The vagina] is a powerful symbol of womanliness, openness, acceptance, and receptivity. It is the inner valley spirit.[81] Sigmund Freud placed signicant 5.2 In contemporary art and literature
value on the vagina,[82] postulating the concept of vaginal orgasm, that it is separate from clitoral orgasm, and The Vagina Monologues, a 1996 episodic play by Eve Enthat, upon reaching puberty, the proper response of ma- sler, has successfully contributed to making female sexuture women is a change-over to vaginal orgasms (mean- ality a topic of public discourse. It is made up of a varying
ing orgasms without any clitoral stimulation). This the- number of monologues read by a number of women. Iniory, however, made many women feel inadequate, as the tially, Ensler performed every monologue herself, with
majority of women cannot achieve orgasm via vaginal in- subsequent performances featuring three actresses; latter
tercourse alone.[83][84][85] Regarding religion, the vagina versions feature a dierent actress for every role. Each

REFERENCES

of the monologues deals with an aspect of the feminine

experience, touching on matters such as sexual activity,
love, rape, menstruation, female genital mutilation, masturbation, birth, orgasm, the various common names for
the vagina, or simply as a physical aspect of the body. A
recurring theme throughout the pieces is the vagina as a
tool of female empowerment, and the ultimate embodiment of individuality.[89][95]

The vagina is a general feature of animals in which the

female is internally fertilized (other than by traumatic insemination). The shape of the vagina varies among different animals. In placental mammals and marsupials,
the vagina leads from the uterus to the exterior of the
female body. Female marsupials have two lateral vaginas, which lead to separate uteri, but both open externally
through the same orice.[98] The urethra and vagina of
the female spotted hyena exits through the clitoris, allowIn Japan, artist Megumi Igarashi has drawn attention for
ing
the females to urinate, copulate and give birth through
her work featuring vaginas, which she considers overly
the clitoris.[99] The canine female vagina contracts during
[96]
hidden in Japan compared to male genitalia.
copulation, forming a copulatory tie.[100]

5.3

Reasons for vaginal modication

In birds, monotremes, and some reptiles, a homologous part of the oviduct leads from the shell gland to
the cloaca.[101][102] In some jawless sh, there is neither oviduct nor vagina and instead the egg travels directly through the body cavity (and is fertilised externally
as in most sh and amphibians). In insects and other
invertebrates, the vagina can be a part of the oviduct (see
insect reproductive system).[103] Females of some waterfowl species have developed vaginal structures called
dead end sacs and clockwise coils to protect themselves
from sexual coercion.[104]

In addition to FGM, reasons for modication of the female genitalia include voluntary cosmetic operations and
surgery for intersex conditions, which can involve surgery
to the vagina, labia minora, or clitoris.[70] There are
two main categories of women seeking cosmetic genital
surgery: those with congenital conditions such as an intersex condition, and those with no underlying condition
who experience physical discomfort or wish to alter the
appearance of their genitals because they believe they do In 2014, the scientic journal Current Biology reported
not fall within a normal range.[70]
that four species of Brazilian insects in the genus
[71][72]
Signicant controversy surrounds FGM,
with the Neotrogla were found to have sex-reversed genitalia. The
openings,
World Health Organization (WHO) being one of many male insects of those species have vagina-like
[105][106][107]
while
the
females
have
penis-like
organs.
health organizations that have campaigned against the
procedures on behalf of human rights, stating that it is
a violation of the human rights of girls and women and
reects deep-rooted inequality between the sexes.[72]
FGM has existed at one point or another in almost all
human civilizations,[97] most commonly to exert control
over the sexual behavior, including masturbation, of girls
and women.[72][97] It is carried out in several countries,
especially in Africa, and to a lesser extent in other parts
of the Middle East and Southeast Asia, on girls from a
few days old to mid-adolescent, often to reduce sexual
desire in an eort to preserve vaginal virginity.[71][72][97]
It may also be that FGM was practiced in ancient Egypt
as a sign of distinction among the aristocracy"; there
are reports that traces of inbulation are on Egyptian
mummies.[97]
Custom and tradition are the most frequently cited reasons for FGM, with some cultures believing that not performing it has the possibility of disrupting the cohesiveness of their social and political systems, such as FGM
also being a part of a girls initiation into adulthood.[72][97]
Often, a girl is not considered an adult in a FGMpracticing society unless she has undergone FGM.[72]

Other animals

See also: Sex organs Mammals

7 See also
Articial vagina
Gynoecium
Vaginal tightening
Vaginal weightlifting
Pubic hair

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9 External links
Media related to Vaginas at Wikimedia Commons
The dictionary denition of vagina at Wiktionary

13

10
10.1

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

Text

Vagina Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vagina?oldid=666150559 Contributors: AxelBoldt, Tobias Hoevekamp, Kpjas, Brion VIBBER, Mav, Bryan Derksen, Zundark, The Anome, Tarquin, Taw, Malcolm Farmer, Sjc, Ed Poor, Andre Engels, Zoe, Camembert,
BL~enwiki, Montrealais, Bignose, Hephaestos, Rickyrab, Stevertigo, Infrogmation, Michael Hardy, Paul Barlow, Booyabazooka, Kwertii, Isomorphic, Gabbe, Tannin, Ixfd64, Dcljr, Sannse, Karada, Delirium, Arthur3030, Tregoweth, NuclearWinner, Ellywa, Ahoerstemeier,
Stevenj, Theresa knott, Cferrero, Den fjttrade ankan~enwiki, Cheeky, Glenn, Stefan-S, Netsnipe, Kaihsu, Evercat, Michael Voytinsky,
Ec5618, Adam Bishop, Andrevan, JCarriker, Dysprosia, Fuzheado, Andrewman327, Piolinfax, 152.163.xx.xx, Selket, DJ Clayworth,
Tpbradbury, Maximus Rex, Nv8200pa, Dogface, Thue, Hephaestos Account, Fvw, Stormie, Renato Caniatti~enwiki, Raul654, Bcorr,
Pakaran, David.Monniaux, Francs2000, Nufy8, Robbot, Paranoid, Fredrik, Chris 73, Altenmann, Dittaeva, Romanm, Mirv, Merovingian,
Academic Challenger, Nach0king, Hemanshu, Halibutt, Hadal, Deadbarnacle, Mushroom, Lupo, Diberri, Centrx, Christopher Parham,
Marnanel, Kerttie, Nunh-huh, Netoholic, Tom harrison, Meursault2004, Ferkelparade, Bradeos Graphon, Peruvianllama, Everyking, No
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Doc glasgow, Crazycomputers, Alhutch, JImbo Wales, RexNL, Gurch, Redwolf24, RobyWayne, NoSeptember, Ben-w, TeaDrinker,
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10.2

Images

File:Cervix.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1c/Cervix.jpg License: Public domain Contributors: Own

work Original artist: Ep11904
File:Illu_repdt_female.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1b/Illu_repdt_female.jpg License: Public domain Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
File:Portal-puzzle.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fd/Portal-puzzle.svg License: Public domain Contributors: ?
Original artist: ?
File:Rugae_vaginales.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Rugae_vaginales.jpg License: CC BY-SA
3.0 Contributors: This le was derived from: Open vagina.jpg: <a href='//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Open_vagina.jpg'
class='image'><img alt='Open vagina.jpg' src='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/Open_vagina.jpg/50px-Open_
vagina.jpg' width='50' height='36' srcset='//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/Open_vagina.jpg/75px-Open_vagina.
jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/Open_vagina.jpg/100px-Open_vagina.jpg 2x' data-le-width='1600'
data-le-height='1138' /></a>
Original artist: Open_vagina.jpg: Linaperes
File:Scheme_female_reproductive_system-en.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/68/Scheme_female_
reproductive_system-en.svg License: Public domain Contributors: Vectorized in Inkscape by User:Mysid from a CDC image (http:
//www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp/cc_basic.htm), public domain. Original artist: CDC, Mysid
File:Sobo_1906_508.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/Sobo_1906_508.png License: Public domain
Contributors: Sobottas Atlas and Text-book of Human Anatomy 1906 Original artist: Dr. Johannes Sobotta
File:Spculum_en_plastique.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/Sp%C3%A9culum_en_plastique.jpg
License: CC BY-SA 2.0 fr Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
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File:Vagina_US.png Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2e/Vagina_US.png License: CC0 Contributors: user:
schomynv Original artist: user:schomynv
File:Vaginal_opening_description.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/03/Vaginal_opening_description.
jpg License: Public domain Contributors:
Labia_separated_exposing_vaginal_opening.jpg Original artist: Labia_separated_exposing_vaginal_opening.jpg: Sci-img

10.3

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Content license

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