My first conversation with Santa Barbara was about the difference between the vulva and the vagina.
We talked about the importance of calling things by their name to stop confusing concepts and to be able to make a more direct and effective claim.
When we name things, when we name them, they become more real.
And in this sense, it is important to vindicate the name of our VULVA so that it is increasingly normal to talk about it and that everything we should know about it is no longer silent.
Knowing your own body is essential to be able to take care of your intimate and sexual health; that's why we want to talk to you clearly about this.
NO, VULVA AND VAGINA ARE NOT THE SAME.
What is the difference between vulva and vagina?
The vulva is the term that is used (or should be used) to refer to the female external genital organs. I mean, it's all we can see of these genitals. This is made up of different parts that I am going to talk about in depth. But first, what is the vagina?
The vagina is part of the internal sexual anatomy of people with a vulva. The vagina is a muscular canal that connects the vulva to the cervix or cervix. It is a conduit that, after all, manages to connect the uterus with the outside.
The vagina is capable of many things, which is why it is such a fascinating and unexplored part of the body. I will tell you some curiosities about her:
- It is possible to have penetrative sexual relations with her.
- It can give us pleasure.
- It is the conduit through which the menstrual flow is expelled.
- Medicines can be applied through its absorption through the vaginal walls.
- It is the channel through which a baby comes out during childbirth.
- The vagina is flexible and can increase and expand up to 200 times its original size.
- It hosts the famous G-spot, which is more of a rough, highly sensitive area with high erotic potential.
- Its flora is a probiotic defense barrier against infections which, in turn, has the function of maintaining tissues. In addition, this protective barrier also has a sanitizing function. Almost like a pyrolytic oven!
Now, although the vagina is a powerful and magnificent organ, we have to use its name appropriately, since calling EVERYTHING 'vagina', has many negative effects.
The first negative effect is, without a doubt, that we reduce everything to that channel, to that conduit. Both in terms of health and pleasure.
Also, if we only mention and think about the vagina, we encourage COITOCENTRISM, the belief that SEX = COITUS; that there is nothing beyond this.
In the end, if we call our entire genital organ VAGINA, we are entering a reductionist terrain that does not benefit us at all.
Now that we know what the vagina is, I want to talk to you about THE VULVA.
The vulva is our external genital organ and it contains part of the key points of our sexual health and our pleasure.
What things should you know about the vulva?
YOUR ANATOMY
The vulva has different parts that you should know and not only in theory.
I invite you to take a small mirror and try to locate the areas that you will see indicated in the following illustration:
THE VULVAS ARE DIVERSE
You probably have a mental image of what a vulva should look like. But there are as many types of vulva as there are people with a vulva on the face of the earth: of different shades and colors, with hair, without hair, with protruding inner lips, large, small, voluminous, flat, etc. Get rid of false preconceived ideas about "how your vulva should be"; because this is already perfect.
NOT ALL WOMEN HAVE A VULVA
And not all people with a penis are men. Genitals do not indicate sexual identity.
YOU SHOULD KNOW YOUR VULVA WELL
For your health and for your own pleasure. You must know how to identify changes in its appearance, in its color, in your flow. It is great to know that your vulva is not the same every day of the cycle. And it is also super interesting to observe and learn how your vulva transforms during your arousal and different sexual responses.
THE VISIBLE PART OF YOUR CLITORIS IS IN YOUR VULVA
And it is that this little-known organ is a key piece in your pleasure. But we will talk about him later.