1. The Latin word for “vagina” is “sheath” or “scabbard.” The plural use of vagina is vaginae or vaginas.^a

2. The pubic hair around the vaginal area will grow for only about three weeks. By contract, the hair on a person’s head will grow for up to seven years.^a

3. In 2011 a twenty seven year-old woman was charged with possession of heroin after fifty four bags of the drug were discovered inside her vagina.^b

4. Vaginas, just like breasts, knees, and bottoms, can get saggy. Pregnancy, childbirth, age, hormonal changes, genetics, and years of gravity can weaken the supporting parts of the female genital tract, which causes sagging. There are several suggestions to avoid sagging: 1) Practice Kegel exercises, 2) maintain a normal weight, 3) avoiding constipation, and 4) avoid smoking.^a

5. One gynecologist reported that a patient of hers regularly used her vagina as a purse. The woman would use it to place a plastic bag of pills, a roll of bills, a tube of lipstick, and a writing pen.^d

6. According to one gynecologist, the most extraordinary vagina she had ever seen was on a woman who had come in for labor and delivery. She in fact had two vaginas, with two cervixes. One cervix was eight centimeters dilated. The other was completely sealed. She had had no prenatal care, but her husband had told her for years that having sex with her was like having sex with two different women.^d

7. When one gynecologist was questioned what it was like examining vaginas all day, she replied “Really, it’s just a bunch of different haircuts.”^c

8. A vaginal “fart,” also called a “queef” or “vart,” is not uncommon. Unlike gas expelled from the rectum, which contains fecal waste and has an odor, vaginal flatulence is odorless and dissimilar to the rectum (unless a woman has a rare rectovaginal fistula).^b

9. The vagina has over 1,000 nicknames.  Of course, our favorite is simply the “V”

10. Each vagina has its own smell. The smell depends on a assortment of factors, including the mixture of normal bacteria that live in the vagina, diet, types of fabric a woman wears, amountl of hygiene, how much the woman sweats, and gland secretions.^a

11. Different vaginas have different odors at different times of the day. Right after bathing, a vagina may not smell. After running or exercise, a vagina might have a musky smell due to all the sweat glands. A menstruating vagina may smell like iron, and when a vagina has an overgrowth of yeast, it may smell like bread. After sex, a vagina may have a faint bleach smell, as semen has a smell of its own. If there is an overgrowth of bacteria, the vagina may smell like fish.^d

12. Gynecologists say that there are natural ways to make a vagina smell fresher without douching, including 1) eliminating pubic hair; 2) wiping with baby wipes instead of toilet paper; 3) drinking cranberry juice, which is a natural antibacterial; 4) go panty free or wear cotton panties to keep the vagina aired out; 5) take probiotics to keep vaginal flora healthy; 6) avoiding panty hose and tight jeans; and 7) eating a healthy, vegetable-based diet. Foods such as coffee, asparagus, beets, alcohol, broccoli, onions, garlic, and curry can have an impact on the smell.^d

13. According to one gynecologist, one patient was so worried that she had lost something in her vaginal cavity that she used pliers to try to locate it. She ended up pulling on and tearing her cervix, which required hours of surgery to repair.^d

14. The pH (acid/base balance) of the vagina is around 4.  This is the same pH as wine, tomatoes, and beer. Some things that alter the pH of the vagina are vaginal infections, douching, soap, and exposure to semen.^a

15. The largest vagina in history most likely belonged to Anna Swann (1846-1888). She was 7 feet and 5 inches tall and weighed in at 350 pounds. She gave birth to a 23-pound baby with a 19-inch head.^a

16. Approximately one in 5,000-7,000 female babies are born without a vagina. This condition is known as vaginal agenesis, and is sometime recognized at birth.  However, most of the time it isn’t diagnosed until puberty.^a

17. The first one or two inches of the vagina has the most nerve endings and is the most pleasure receptive.^d

18. In about 1 in 2,000 births, a girl is born with an imperforate hymen.  This means there is no hole in the tissue to allow menses or discharge to pass through.^d

19. The first motion picture to use the word “vagina” on film was the 1946 Disney animated film called “The Story of Menstruation.”^e

20. Most gynecologists and health care workers believe that masturbating is a healthy practice because it is safe sex, it relives stress, it is a mood booster, and it helps build pelvic floor muscles. However, there are exceptions. For example, one woman once decided to masturbate using a banana. While masturbating, she put the stem side in first and ended up lacerated her cervix.  This resulted in a hospital visit and stitches. If a woman puts something inside her vagina, she should stick with a finger, vibrator, or a dildo.^a

21. The hymen is named after Hymen, the Greek goddess of marriage, and is the membrane that partially covers the vagina. The hymen serves to protect the vagina before puberty. After a girl reaches puberty and once estrogen thickens the vaginal tissue, the hymen serves little functional purpose.^a

22. In some cultures around the word, a woman’s clitoris is cut off, the labia is removed, and the vagina sewn shut, with the exception of a tiny hole to allow for discharge. Widely condemned as genital mutilation, this shocking practice is done because it is believed it will make a woman more marriageable by both lessening sexual desire and to ensure her virginity.^f

23. Some researchers believe that the G-spot (the Grafenberg spot) lies two to three inches inside the vagina, on the frontal wall (near the belly button), just under the urethra. They believe this area has a different texture than the rest of the vagina and may be a vestige prostate gland. Other researchers doubt that the G-spot exists.^d

24. While some cultures teach that vaginas are taboo, one doctor notes that vaginas have also been celebrated throughout history.  In addition, studies demonstrate that women who are more confident about their vaginas have better orgasms.^d

25. While each woman’s vagina is unique, the average length of an un-aroused vagina in a mature woman is between 2.5-3.0 inches wide and 3.5 inches long. The vagina can expand up to 200% during sexual intercourse and also while giving birth.^a

^a Livoti, Dr. Carol and Elizabeth Topp. 2004. Vaginas: An Owner’s Manual. New York, NY: Thunder’s Mouth Press.

 ^b “Woman Hit with Drug Charges after Hiding 54 Bags of Heroin and Cash in Her Genitals, Say Police.” Daily Mail. March 22, 2011. Accessed: September 27, 2012.

 ^c Rankin, Lissa, M.D. 2010. What’s Up Down There?: Questions You’d Only Ask Your Gynecologists If She Was Your Best Friend. New York, NY: St. Martin’s Griffen.

 ^d Madison, Amber. 2006. Hooking Up: A Girl’s All-Out Guide to Sex & Sexuality. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Publishing.

 ^e “The Story of Menstruation (1946).” IMBD. 2012. Accessed: October 14, 2012.

 ^f Romanzi, Lauri. “‘Deseret Flower’: On A Genitally Intact Life.” Women’s Voices for Change: Redefining Life after 40. March 17, 2011. Accessed: September 27, 2012.