Your V Zone Road Map .........continued
Nestled neatly into the folds of your labia is your actual vagina. Although it is only aobut 3/4 of an inch wide and extends just three to four inches inward, because it is composed of a highly elastic tissue, it can stretch dramatically, to many times i'ts original size.
This makes it possible to not only give birth to a baby, but also to comfortably accomodate a penis of virtually any size.
To help make intercourse easier and more pleasureable for both sexes, the inside of the vagina is a pleated-like surface called a
"rugae". Similar to the folds found in corregated cardboard, the rugae help grip the penis and ease it deeper inside. After intercourse, as well as after childbirth, your vagina contracts back to it's original size.
As the myth went, if the hymen didn't
tear and bleed after a woma's first
intercourse, her virginity was in question.
Today we know how foolish
this myth really is.
Located deep inside the vagina is the hymen, a thin membrane. In the not too distant past, this was thought to act as a kind of archaic "virginity meter". As the myth went, on first intercourse the hymen would tear causing bleeding to occur. If , after the first act of intercourse this did not occur, a woman's virginity was placed in question.
Today we know just how foolish (if not insulting!) this myth really is. Indeed, so many factors can cause the hymen to tear - including most sporting activities - that even a doctor can't tell if a woman is a virgin simply by looking to this membrane for clues.
Although the shape and size of a hymen is as individual as the woman herself ( they can be a thin and wispy membrane or a tough, fibrous layer of tissue), in some women it can be so thick that it won't break, even during sex. This can cause any attempt at intercourse to be extremely painful. If fact, if you have always experienced pain or discomfort during intercourse, one of the first areas your doctor should check is your hymen. Should it be exceptionally thick, your gynecologist can remove it via a relatively fast and simple in-office procedure.
Your V Zone Anatomy : What Else You Need To Know
In addition to your vulva, your V zone anatomy also involves the following areas:
Urethrea - Located just below your clitoris, this
is the passageway for urine to leave your body.
About 3 inches long, it extends inward and is
connected to your bladder. Containing mucous
secreting glands, it also helps produce a fluid which
keeps your bladder opening moist and less likely to
become irritated.
Peritoneum - A short piece of skin that
stretches from the bottom of the vagina to the
anal opening. Occassionally, the peritoneum tears
during childbirth, causing some obstetricains to
recommend cutting the skin just prior to when the
baby is ready to leave the birth canal. This, however
is considered somewhat controversial and not all
physicians agree it's necessary.
Bartholin Glands - Located on either side of
the vaginal opening, these tiny glands produce
small amounts of lubricating fluid particularly during
sex. Sometimes these glands can become inflamed,
causing pain and swelling, and utlimately infection.
Cervix - Located in the upper portion of
the vagina, and composed of smooth muscle
and collagen fibers, the cervix acts as your
"gateway" to your uterus. Size can range from 1 to
3 cm, changing in response to various stages of a
single menstrual cycle. Although it is technically
part of the vagina, the cells lining the inside of the
cervix look and grow differently, making them much
more susceptible to infection.
Uterus - Shaped much like a small pear, and
about the same size, the uterus is the main
organ of your entire reproductive system. Lined with
layers of cells, one of which responds to hormonal
stimulation. This stimulation causes the lining to grow
thick during each menstrual cycle, and be shed in the
form of menstrual blood each month. Should
pegnancy occur, the lining becomes the spongy nest
where your fertilized egg implants, and where your
baby grows and develops.
Ovaries - Attached to your uterus via strong
but thin ligaments are your ovaries, the main
producers of the primary female hormone estrogen.
In addition, your ovaries also play host to some
400,000 egg follicles - the "fertility seeds", one of
which develops into a fertile egg and is ovulated,
usually every month during the childbearing years.
Next : Sex and Your V Zone !
Intimate Health Care For Women
