Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to vaginas. So we put together a bunch of totally true facts about vaginas and vulvas to help you navigate the labyrinth of lies and appreciate your body in all its glory. The vagina is a 3- to 6-inch-long muscular canal that runs from the cervix , the lower part of the uterus , to the outside of the body. The vulva is all the outer stuff — including the labia, urethra, clitoris, and vaginal opening. Language is fluid after all. Sorry, Freud. A little over 18 percent of vagina owners say they can reach orgasm from penetration alone.

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Got a symptom but not sure what's causing it? Use our award-winning symptom checker to find out — it's free! All of Healthily's articles undergo medical safety checks to verify that the information is medically safe. View more details in our safety page , or read our editorial policy. When a female gets sexually aroused, or excited, many emotional and physical arousal responses are triggered. Everyone is different, but usually your body will go through 4 stages when you respond to sexual arousal: excitement, arousal, orgasm and resolution. This first stage is where you start feeling sexually excited because of thoughts, words, sights, smells or touch. You might feel the muscles in your body start to tense and your heart rate and breathing get faster.
Stage 2: sexual plateau
Just as women can have different sized breasts, hands, and feet, the size and depth of vaginas can also vary. According to one study, the average depth of a vagina is about 3. Other sources suggest that the average range of size may be about 3 to 7 inches approximately 7. In fact, the depth of the vagina from the opening to the tip of the cervix can measure anywhere up to 7 inches Several types of tissue line the inside of the vagina, including the mucosa. The mucosa is made up of specialized cells that secrete a lubricating fluid, which helps the vaginal walls to stretch. The exterior portion of the female genitals is the vulva. The vulva includes the labia minora and majora — the lip-like parts of the female genitals. The appearance of vulvas varies widely. The skin may be the same color or darker than the rest of the body.
Sexual arousal also sexual excitement describes the physiological and psychological responses in preparation for sexual intercourse or when exposed to sexual stimuli. A number of physiological responses occur in the body and mind as preparation for sexual intercourse and continue during it. Male arousal will lead to an erection , and in female arousal the body's response is engorged sexual tissues such as nipples , vulva , clitoris , vaginal walls , and vaginal lubrication. Mental stimuli and physical stimuli such as touch, and the internal fluctuation of hormones , can influence sexual arousal.