Knowing Your Vulva

The Missing Education

Most women receive almost no education about their vulvar and vaginal anatomy. At best, a diagram in health class with clinical labels. At worst, nothing at all.

The result: women who can’t accurately name their body parts, who have never looked closely at their own genitals, who carry a vague sense that this part of them is best left unexplored.

This missing education isn’t accidental. It reflects cultural discomfort with female sexuality and contributes to it. You can’t fully own something you don’t know.

Vulva vs. Vagina

First, the terminology:

Vulva: Everything external. The parts you can see.

Vagina: The internal canal. You can’t see it without looking inside.

When people say “vagina” they usually mean vulva. This conflation matters because it erases the external anatomy—particularly the clitoris, which is the primary organ of female sexual pleasure.

The Anatomy

Mons pubis: The rounded area over the pubic bone, typically covered with pubic hair.

Outer labia (labia majora): The outer lips, usually larger, often with hair on the outside.

Inner labia (labia minora): The inner lips, hairless, highly variable in size, shape, color, and symmetry. They may be hidden by the outer labia or extend beyond them. All variations are normal.

Clitoris: The visible part (glans) is at the top where the inner labia meet, protected by the clitoral hood. But this is just the tip—the clitoris is actually a much larger internal structure, with legs (crura) that extend into the body.

Urethral opening: Below the clitoris, above the vaginal opening. Where urine exits.

Vaginal opening: Below the urethral opening. Leads to the vaginal canal.

Perineum: The area between the vaginal opening and the anus.

Hymen: A thin membrane that partially covers the vaginal opening. Varies greatly—some women have almost none, some have more. It can stretch or tear from many activities, not just sex. It is not a reliable indicator of anything.

The Clitoris Deserves More Attention

The clitoris is the only human organ that exists solely for pleasure. Its sole function is to feel good.

The visible glans contains approximately 8,000 nerve endings—more than anywhere else in the human body. But the full clitoral structure is much larger, wrapping around the vaginal canal internally.

Most women cannot orgasm from vaginal penetration alone because the vaginal canal has relatively few nerve endings. Orgasm typically requires clitoral stimulation—direct or indirect.

Understanding this anatomy explains a lot about why certain kinds of sex do and don’t work for women.

Looking at Yourself

When did you last look at your vulva? Many women never have—or looked once as a teenager and not since.

Consider looking:

Get a hand mirror
Find privacy and comfortable lighting
Simply observe. Notice what’s there.
Notice any reactions you have—curiosity, discomfort, judgment, unfamiliarity

This isn’t an exam. It’s an introduction. You’re meeting a part of yourself you may have avoided.

Variation Is Normal

If you’ve ever wondered if your vulva is normal, the answer is almost certainly yes.

Vulvas vary enormously in:

Size and shape of labia
Color (from pink to brown to purple)
Symmetry (asymmetry is extremely common)
Amount and distribution of hair
Size and visibility of clitoris
How different parts are proportioned

Pornography has created a distorted picture of what vulvas “should” look like—typically small, symmetrical inner labia, uniform color. This represents a tiny fraction of actual vulvar diversity.

There is no ideal. There is only yours.

Knowing Your Normal

Familiarity with your own anatomy helps you notice changes:

New bumps, spots, or lesions
Changes in color or texture
Unusual discharge
Pain or itching

Many vulvar conditions are treatable but require early attention. Knowing your normal makes you more likely to notice when something changes.

Caring for Your Vulva

Washing: The vulva benefits from gentle cleaning with water. Soap can disrupt pH and cause irritation—if you use it, use mild, unscented soap on the outer areas only.

The vagina cleans itself: Don’t douche. Don’t put soap inside. The vagina has its own ecosystem that maintains itself.

Breathability: Cotton underwear and avoiding overly tight clothing helps maintain healthy environment.

Products: Be cautious with products marketed for feminine hygiene. Many do more harm than good. The vulva doesn’t need to smell like flowers.

Moisture: The vulvar skin can become dry, especially with hormonal changes. A gentle moisturizer can help (externally).

Beyond Mechanics

Your vulva isn’t just anatomy—it’s part of your identity, your sexuality, your experience of being in a female body.

The relationship you have with this part of yourself matters:

Can you look at it without shame?
Can you touch it for pleasure without guilt?
Can you let a partner see and touch it?
Can you appreciate it rather than tolerating it?

Moving from avoidance or neutrality to appreciation is part of embodiment. This is your body. All of it.

Go Deeper

These are the original writings this entry draws from: