This article was written by Judy Koutsky and provided by our partners. Prevention.
Many women don’t like to talk about their “female parts,” even with doctors, but that only creates confusion about the purpose and function of those parts. We spoke to doctors to clear up some common misconceptions. (Make 2017 your year. Take control of your health and accelerate your weight loss. prevention Calendar and health planner!)
Myth #1: The labia are part of the vagina.
“Some women use the term ‘vagina’ to refer to all of the female reproductive organs, but anatomically, the labia are part of the external genitalia,” says Dr. says Dr. Sarah Toogood, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology. Faculty of Medicine. The labia have two parts: the labia majora and the labia minora.
Myth #2: All women’s labia are the same size.
The actual size varies depending on the woman. “The labia majora are the outermost lips, and their size is related to fat content. The higher the fat content, the larger the labia majora,” says Toogood, adding that after menopause, the labia majora points out that there is a tendency for it to become smaller. “The labia minora are the inner parts of the lips, and they vary considerably from woman to woman. Women may complain that their labia are too large or may request labiaplasty to correct the size or shape of their labia. When they talk about something, they usually refer to their labia. Labia minora.”
Find out what you should and shouldn’t do with your vagina.
Myth #3: Yeast infections start here.
Yeast infections can cause inflammation and itching in both the labia majora and minora, but these organs aren’t usually the source of the problem, Twogood explains. “Yeast infections are usually caused by an imbalance in the normal flora. [inside] vagina. ” (If you have a yeast infection, these 9 highly effective solutions may help.)
Myth #4: The labia and clitoris are the same thing.
“The labia are often confused with the clitoris, but they are different structures; they are essentially adjacent,” says Dr. Antonio Pizarro, a practicing gynecologist and urologist. The clitoral foreskin, which connects to the tip of the clitoris, is a small fold of skin above the labia minora. Although the labia and clitoris all play a role in sexual arousal, the labia also have a protective function that prevents bacteria from entering the vaginal opening. “They act as an anatomical barrier to microbes,” Pizarro says.
Myth #5: You should take special care to keep your labia (and other genitals) clean and fresh.
Forget about special soaps or scented sprays, says Pizarro. “Cleaning it daily with plain water and mild detergent is sufficient,” he says. The skin of the vulva, especially the labia and adjacent tissues, is very delicate and the use of strongly scented or harsh products can cause irritation.
Myth #6: The labia should be hairless.
Avoid waxing and tweezing. According to Dr. Camilla Phillips, an obstetrician-gynecologist in New York City, the hair there is naturally there to help keep out unwanted microorganisms. Another issue is that “hair removal can leave you with bumps, reddened labia, itching, and other irritations,” says Phillips. “I strongly encourage women not to use porn as a standard for what their bodies should look like,” she says. “Most women don’t look like porn stars.”
Myth #7: Those veins you see over there are totally weird.
These are actually common, especially during pregnancy. “About one in 10 pregnant women experience varicose veins, which are varicose veins found in the labia majora and minora,” says midwife Tracy Donegan. It is caused by increased blood flow to the pelvic organs and pregnancy hormones, and most commonly occurs during the third trimester.
“Many mothers feel pressure and fullness in the area before they even realize they’re having it. [a varicose vein], says Donegan, but in most cases they don’t cause any problems and usually disappear shortly after birth. “My advice is to invest in good compression clothing and avoid standing for long periods of time,” she says.
Judy Koutsky’s work has appeared in more than 30 publications, including Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Parents, Prevention, and Scholastic. Her article topics include her health, parenting, lifestyle, psychology, travel, and more. For more information, visit JudyKoutsky.com.
