What exactly is the vulva anyway? The vulva consists of all the female, external genitalia: The mons, outer labia, clitoris, inner labia and the opening to the vagina. Although not much is visible when a woman is standing up with her legs together, for health and other reasons it’s important that we are familiar with every inch of our bodies.
Why is it important to look at your vulva? Vulvas on television or in movies or books all tend to look very similar, which is simply not the case in real life. It is important to know what is normal for your vulva so that if anything changes, you are aware of it and can see a doctor if necessary (in the case of an STI or certain cancers for example.) Also, knowing more about what your vulva looks like can help make sexual activity and masturbation more pleasurable because you will have a keener sense of where everything is “down there.” How can you expect your partner to find your clitoris if you aren’t sure where it is or what it looks like?
In order to see your vulva, you will need to do the following:
- Sit on the floor (or on your bed if it is more comfortable) with your legs apart and your knees bent. What can you see from this angle? The mons pubis? The outer labia? The inner labia? The clitoris? Gently spread apart the outer labia to get a better look. For some women, holding a mirror in front of the vulva and angling the mirror so the vulva can be seen works best. What do you notice about your vulva? Take note of its color (and where the color may change), the size and shape of the inner and outer lips (labia), where there is hair, the size and shape of the clitoris (is it visible or hidden under the clitoral hood?) if there are any birthmarks or anything else that makes your vulva unique.
It is also important to remember that vulvas in pornography or even in sexuality educational material may all look a certain way because of social norms, not because they are the way that vulvas “should” look. There are many great sources of “real” vulvas both in drawings and in photographs.
For more information about the veritable blizzard of vulva types check out these drawings by vulva-guru Betty Dodson!
For more information about the vulva check this out!
For information about getting your yearly pelvic exam (which is another important part of knowing your vulva!) go here!
