The vagina and the external structures of the vulva naturally range in shape, color, and size. When it comes to anything related to bodies and sexual and reproductive health, most people wonder, "Am I normal? This article describes different types of vagina. We also discuss when to see a doctor based on the appearance of the vagina and factors such as discharge.
JUST THE FACTS about how your vagina works and how to keep it healthy
The vagina is the opening that leads from your external genitals between your legs to the uterus womb and your other internal reproductive organs. Women sometimes bleed the first time they have sex because some hymens are more elastic than others. Usually, this is not serious and heals quickly. Others may feel some pain or discomfort. We cannot tell by looking at someone's hymen whether someone is a virgin or not.
The belief that it is easier to discern the virgin state of a woman than a man is more fable than fact, argues medical anthropologist Sherria Ayuandini. Unfortunately, it is still widely believed and practised to subjugate women. The Human Rights Watch condemned the test as a form of gender-based violence and called on the military to end the practice immediately, which it says violates the prohibition of inhuman treatment under international human rights law. Many pointed out the injustice of the practice, arguing that it is sexist, painful and traumatising.
Photo by Leah Flores via Stocksy. Because we place so much cultural value on sex—and because many of us receive terrible, inaccurate information about it thanks, abstinence-only education! We're here to help. For starters, when many straight people think about losing their virginity, they tend to think of penis-in-vagina sex. For guides on other sexy acts, like scissoring , check out my How to Sex columns, but many of the pointers here apply to doing any kind of sex act for the first time as well.