What You Really Need to Know About Vaginas (and Vulvas)
Let’s clear something up right away: most people say “vagina” when they really mean vulva. It’s a common mix-up—but let’s break it down properly and get to know what’s really going on down there.
1. The Vagina Isn’t What You Think It Is
The vagina is the internal muscular canal that connects the vulva (the outside) to the cervix (the entrance to the uterus). What we often refer to as the “vagina” in casual talk is actually the vulva—and it deserves its proper name.
2. The Vulva Is the External Part
That includes the labia majora and minora (the outer and inner “lips”), the clitoris, the opening of the urethra (where you pee), and the vaginal opening (called the introitus). All of this together makes up the vulva—not the vagina.
3. Vaginas Change Over Time—And That’s Totally Normal
Just like the rest of your body, your vagina goes through changes with age, hormones, and life events (like childbirth or menopause). That might mean changes in elasticity, natural lubrication, or sensitivity—and it’s all part of the journey.
4. Arousal = Real Physical Changes
When turned on, blood rushes to the genitals. The vagina expands and produces lubrication naturally—your body’s way of prepping for pleasure or intimacy. It’s a fascinating and powerful biological response that deserves more appreciation!
5. It’s Normal to Not Know All the Details—But Let’s Fix That
Most people weren’t taught proper anatomy growing up, and that’s okay. But learning the correct terms and functions isn’t just empowering—it’s also important for better health, better conversations with your doctor, and better sex.
Final Thought: Language Matters
Saying “vagina” when you mean “vulva” is like calling your whole face your mouth—it’s just not the full picture. Knowing the right terms helps break down shame, open up better dialogue, and celebrate how amazing and complex the female body really is.
What is a vagina?
The vagina is the tube between the vulva and the cervix. This tube is the connection between your uterus and the outside world. The vagina is what babies exit through during birth, and where menstrual blood exits through during your period. The vagina is also used for insertion, such as with a penis, fingers, female condoms, sex toys, tampons, or menstrual cups.
The vagina can also act as a route to other parts of the body. During penis-vagina sex, ejaculate is deposited in the vagina, allowing sperm to enter the uterus through the cervix. The walls of the vagina can also be used as an administrative route for medications and contraceptives, such as intervaginal hormone creams, the hormonal vaginal contraceptive ring, or vaginal suppository medications.
Anatomy of the vagina
It may seem strange that an organ capable of passing an entire baby through it is also capable of holding a small tampon in place for hours. How does that tampon stay in there? If the vagina is just a tube, shouldn’t the tampon fall out?
The vagina anatomy is much more than just a tube. When it is in a relaxed state (not aroused), the walls of the vagina are collapsed against each other, flattened by the pressure of the surrounding organs and tissues within the pelvis. During this state, a cross-section of the vaginal canal (the vaginal lumen) can resemble an “H” or a “W” shape, as the walls flatten against themselves (2). From the sides, the vagina offers movable support and pressure, which allow your tampon to stay in place (2,3).
The walls of the vagina are covered by many folds called rugae (3). The walls and folds of the vagina have many purposes, providing both a barrier and access route between the cervix and the outside world. All of these folds allow the vagina to be stretched and expand like an accordion when pressure is applied to the sides (like when a baby’s head is passing through).
The walls of the vagina are composed of different layers of tissue. The surface layers of the vaginal wall are made of mucosal tissue—similar to the tissue that lines your mouth, nose, and digestive tract. Underneath the mucosal tissue are layers of smooth muscle tissue, collagen, and elastin fibers, which gives vagina anatomy both structure and ability to stretch (4).
Fluids are released through the walls of the vagina to keep the area moist, and during times of sexual arousal, to increase lubrication. The vagina is also capable of absorbing some substances—such as medications, hormonal creams, or contraceptives—into the body (3).
How the vagina changes with age
The vagina can change a lot throughout a person’s life (1,5). An average adult vagina is slightly curved, and can range between 7 to 12 cm in length (1,3,4)—but every body is different, and there’s no such thing as a too small or too large vagina.
The vagina is strongly influenced by hormonal changes throughout the body. During the reproductive years after menarche (the first menstrual period) and before menopause, more layers of tissue are present lining the vagina, due to stimulation from higher estrogen levels in the body (3).
The vagina is also influenced by changing hormone levels during pregnancy. Increased blood flow is directed to the pelvis, causing a deeper color change to the vulva and vagina (5). Throughout a pregnancy, the connective tissue of the vaginal walls progressively relaxes, in preparation for the delivery of a baby (5). After delivery, the vagina and vaginal opening temporarily widen, but 6-12 weeks post-delivery, the vagina returns to its pre-pregnancy size (5).
Sex, fertility, and contraception after birth
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As people age, the walls of the vagina become more relaxed, and the diameter of the vagina becomes wider (1). When it comes to sexual satisfaction, vaginal size does not affect sexual function (6). The perception of vaginal tightness during sex is primarily related to the pelvic floor muscles, which are present around the base of the vagina and not actually how wide the vaginal canal is.
After menopause, when estrogen is lower, the walls of the vagina become thinner and frailer, which can cause symptoms of vaginal dryness and decreased vaginal secretions (5). This may result in discomfort during sex and increase the chances of vaginal irritation or infection (5).
How the vagina changes during the menstrual cycle
The vagina also changes in response to hormonal fluctuations of the menstrual cycle. Around mid-cycle, when estrogen is highest, vaginal tissue becomes thicker and fuller (5).
The cervix, at the top of the vagina, moves and changes shape throughout the cycle. Before and after the fertile window, the cervix is low and can be felt in the vagina, with a firm texture, and the hole in the center of the cervix is closed. During the fertile window, the hole in the cervix opens to facilitate the entrance of sperm into the uterus (7), the cervix rises higher in the vagina, and is softer when touched (8).