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https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/6-fasci ... 31881.htmlFact No. 1: The vagina is self-cleaning
The vagina is sometimes compared to a "self-cleaning oven," as Greves puts it. The bacteria in the vagina include good bacteria called lactobacillus, she says, adding that they work something like a robot vacuum. "It just takes care of your vagina," Greves says. "If you have the appropriate amount of lactobacillus, it's able to combat the bad bacteria and yeast that could overgrow otherwise." The vagina also sheds its outermost cells to clean itself, flushing them out in discharges and mucus, Wider says.
Fact No. 2: You can't actually 'lose' anything in your vagina
Horror stories float around online about women "losing" tampons in their vagina, but although foreign objects can get stuck in the vagina, losing them isn't possible, Streicher says. "Everybody thinks the vagina is this open-ended road, but the truth is that it's a dead end," she says. "You can't lose a tampon or anything in there, because it stops at the dead end." For most women, she says, that's the cervix, the lower part of the uterus, which typically only opens during childbirth. In a hysterectomy, the back of the vagina is sewn closed, "So it's still a dead end," Streicher explains.
Fact No. 3: Vagina and vulva are not the same thing
Ob-gyns say they often hear their patients confusing the two. "I still have women come into the office and say that their vagina hurts when they mean their vulva," Greves says. "People just use one term for the entire area." Streicher agrees. "No one uses the term 'vulva,'" she says. "But the vagina is completely internal. Anything you see is the vulva." Streicher says the reason for this is probably cultural. "Little girls aren't taught the proper terminology, and no one uses it," she says.
Fact No. 4: The depth of the vagina increases during arousal
Most women aren't aware of this, Streicher says, but "During arousal, there is increased blood flow to the genitalia," she explains. "It also lengthens in order to accommodate a penis — biologically, that's why we have sex." In general, "the aroused vagina is longer and a little more dilated than a non-aroused vagina," she adds.
Fact No. 5: Your vagina isn't supposed to be odor-free
Despite the frequent use of douches and other feminine deodorizing products, Streicher points out that it's "normal for a vagina to have a scent." (The use of douches and deodorant sprays are not recommended by ob-gyns, since they can lead to vaginal infections.) "It's normal for the vagina to have a light scent," Streicher says. However, a strong, foul odor or fishy smell could be the sign of an infection — such as bacterial vaginosis, the most common vaginal infection in women — and should prompt a trip to the doctor, she says.
Fact No. 6: Vaginas and vulvas come in all shapes and sizes
Just like other body parts, every vulva and vagina looks slightly different. "Many women feel self-conscious about the appearance of their vulva, but they shouldn’t," Wider says. "Vulvae come in all different shapes and sizes. There is a wide range of normal." Greves agrees, noting that the labia (the folds of skin around the vaginal opening) can be longer in some women and asymmetrical. "Every one is different," she adds.
