There’s a lot more to your vulva than you might think. As
the gatekeeper of your vagina, those fleshy folds are one of the major parts of
your female anatomy—but we constantly overlook (and mislabel) them. Because
it's probably been a few years since your last sex ed class, Health spoke to
Amanda Kallen, MD, assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and
reproductive sciences at Yale School of Medicine, to get the facts straight on
everything vulva.
The vulva is not the same as the vagina
For starters, your vulva does not equal your vagina. The
vulva includes all the external female genital parts: the labia (majora and
minora), the opening to the vagina and urethra, and the clitoris, mons pubis
and anus.
“The vagina is actually part of the internal female
reproductive tract,” Dr. Kallen tells Health. “It’s the muscular canal or tube
connecting the cervix, at the top of the vagina, with the vulva.” Basically,
anything outside your body but inside your "lips" (labia majora) is
your vulva—so you know, it's kinda important.
Vulvas come in different shapes, sizes, and colors
No two vulvas are the same. “There’s no standard! Vulvas can
be all kinds of shapes and sizes, but the basic parts (labia, clitoris) are the
same,” says Dr. Kallen. “I think it’s really important to reassure young women
that there is no ideal or perfect size, shape, or color.”
Even the two sides of one vulva can look different. “One
labia may be larger or smaller than the other, or lighter or darker than the
other, or shaped differently,” she says. “This is all totally normal.” In other
words, stop comparing yourself to what you see on the internet, m'kay?
Your vulva can change after pregnancy
After pushing a living human out of your body, things likely
won’t be the same as they were before—and your vulva happens to be one of those
things. “Pregnancy hormones can change the size and shape of the vulva,” says
Dr. Kallen. “The labia can darken and become swollen."
A vaginal delivery will also stretch the labia minora, the
smaller inner folds that lie inside the labia majora. “All this usually
resolves after childbirth, but sometimes minor changes might persist,” says Dr.
Kallen, “and this is totally normal.”
Thongs aren’t always healthy for your vulva
If you’re prone to irritation down there, thongs are not
your friend. As sexy as that tiny lace thong may look, your best bet for
minimal chafing is most likely a comfy pair of panties that provide ample
coverage. Underwear with a cotton lining
or crotch will allow the area to breathe more,” says Dr. Kallen. “Tight fitting
underwear and thongs can be more irritating.”
There's no best way to remove hair there
To shave or not to shave? There really is no better answer.
When it comes to your pubic hair, it’s totally a matter of preference, says Dr.
Kallen. “Shaving works quickly but the area can be a bit itchy or prickly
afterward,” she says. Shaving can also cause razor burn, cuts, and occasionally
infection, she adds, so women who tend to get irritation at the hair follicle
may want to consider other methods.
While other options may be less irritating, they also come
with their own set of risks. Over-the-counter hair-removal creams can work well
if used correctly, says Dr. Kallen—if they’re not left on too long and are only
used in areas they’re meant for. Then there’s waxing, which she admits “can be
painful!” But it does remove hair at the root, she adds, “so you don’t have to
do it as frequently as shaving or depilatories.”
Laser hair removal and electrolysis work at the hair follicle,
and results can be long-term or even permanent, but they’re also more
expensive. “Each method has its pros and cons,” says Dr. Kallen.
And of course, leaving your pubes as they are is completely
fine, too. After all, pubic hair is the body's natural defense for keeping
bacteria and unwanted pathogens away from your vagina, so it's totally natural
to let it grow.
Your vulva can tell you a lot about your health
While the occasional ingrown hair or razor bump is nothing
to worry about, a lumpy vulva could be a cause for concern. Sexually
transmitted infections such as genital herpes and human papillomavirus (HPV)
can cause sores on vulvar tissue.
Symptoms of vulvar cancer, a rare type of cancer, can
include a lump in the vulva, vulvar itching, and changes in the vulvar skin. If
you notice new growths or sores anywhere on your vulva, see your doctor.
You actually can change the shape of your vulva—but it's not
recommended
While it's perfectly natural to be a little unsure about the
shape of your vulva, getting surgery purely for cosmetic reasons isn't
recommended. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists cautions
against procedures advertised as “vaginal rejuvenation,” “designer
vaginoplasty,” and other surgeries done to change the appearance of the vagina
or labia.
"Surgery is almost always unnecessary, and should be
reserved for correction of medical issues such as congenital defects,
infection, certain diseases or conditions, or persistent symptoms caused by
labial anatomy,” says Dr. Kallen. "There is such pressure in our society
to look a certain way, and often women feel like their vulvar anatomy is
abnormal or flawed and might be interested in surgery to ‘correct’ a perceived
abnormality.” But it’s important to keep in mind that those surgeries—even if
they seem minor—can have serious
complications, she adds.
(Health.com)
Comments
Post a Comment