10 Things You Probably Didn't
Know About Lady Parts

Life and Style Share this story This vagina of the woman is gorgeously complicated and full of surprises. Here are just a few.

1. During arousal, your lady parts act like his man parts. You know about the clitoris "joy button" becoming more, but you may not be aware
that the labia minora also contain erectile tissue that
gets slightly stiffer when things heat up. The
reasons for this go back to when you were a fetus
with androgynous parts. "We all start out with the
same tissues in that area," says Shelly Holmstrom, MD, associate professor of obstetrics and
gynecology at the University of South Florida at
Tampa.

2. Even the most mild-mannered among us have something in common with sharks. Vaginal lubricant and shark liver oil both contain an organic
compound called squalene. Squalene derived from
sharks is sometimes added to mosturizers and skin
creams where it acts as an emollient.

3. Silicone lubricants may be right for you but not for your toys. Gynecologists recommend silicone-based lubricants over water-based ones
because they feel more natural, last much longer
and don't usually contain propylene glycol, which
is a potential irritant.

4. Menstrual blood may be a lifesaver. For years, scientists have been trying to find a medically
helpful use for menstrual blood, which contains
stem cells that have the ability to regenerate. The
latest most exciting research: cells from this all-too-
readily-available blood are currently being tested to
see if they can help patients with heart failure.

5. Shaving and waxing the bikini area can cause micro-trauma, even when it doesn't hurt. The process of hair removal causes tiny nicks and
abrasions that can allow bacteria to get under the
skin and cause infections, explains Susan Taylor,
MD, a Philadelphia-based dermatologist. The micro-
trauma caused by Brazilian waxes, especially, can
boost the risk of a pox-like viral infection called molluscum contagiosum. Don't share razors and
consider holding off sexual contact until a day or
two after a wax (longer if you have visible bumps
or wounds).

6. Sex can also cause micro-trauma even when it feels great. A normal, enjoyable bout of sex can still result in small scrapes or tears to the internal
tissue, says Holmstrom. "Unfortunately for us, that's
why women are so much more likely than straight
men to get STIs," she says. Condoms are your best
protection against STIs (besides abstinence,
obviously).

7. Sweating down there isn't only normal; it provides a necessary function. Just below the skin of the labia and clitoral hood are hundreds of
tiny glands that secrete oil and sweat, says
Holmstrom. This can protect your delicate areas
from friction and overheating.

8. It's normal for premenopausal women to have daily discharge. The vagina can produce an average of a teaspoon of discharge a day, and it's
often white or transparent and odorless. Just
before the ovulation phase of your menstrual cycle,
this discharge will probably be more watery and
elastic, and there will seem to be much more of it. If
it bothers you, try a sanitary pad (and if you notice anything unusual, odor, discomfort, etc. talk to
your doctor).

9. Hair down there really does tend to be the same color as hair up there, but it will never be as long. The growth phase of pubic hair is much shorter than that of hair on your head, says Taylor.
"It's not programmed to grow that long," she says
and even if it were, friction from undergarments
and ordinary movement causes frequent breakage.

10. Just as petals range in size from buttercup to orchid. The length of the inner labia, or labia minora, can be between 3/4 inch and 2 1/3 inch (a
much broader range than most of us realize),
according to a classic study published in the early
1900s in the journal American Gynecology, and
every gynecologist we've ever talked to says
there's no good medical, hygienic or aesthetic reason to be self-conscious of yours.

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