The female body is over-stigmatized to the point that women grow up knowing basically nothing about their own anatomy. An educated woman might be able to learn about her body as she grows up but the majority of women spend their lives hiding from imaginary constraints that stop them from openly talking about their bodies. So, let’s take the first step towards normalizing women’s bodies.

Here are some facts about vaginas that you didn’t know before.

1. The Different Smells Of The Vagina

Oftentimes, women are ashamed of the way they smell down there. In reality, vaginas have their own smell but there are certain factors that can influence the smell. For example, when you come out of a shower, you’ll smell nothing but after you go for a jog or exercise, you’ll smell a musky scent which is due to sweat. Similarly, during menstruation, vaginas give off a strong iron-like scent.

Pixabay/Pexels | If anyone says your vagina shouldn’t smell at all, drop them

2. The Hair Around There

Did you know that the hair around the vaginal area only grows for a short span of 3 weeks? On the other hand, the hair on the head grows for years after years on end.

3. Most Nerve Endings

The first inch or two of the vagina is most sensitive to touch because that is the area that has a lot of nerve endings.

4. The Haunted Vagina

The horror novel section is pretty bizarre as it comes with all sorts of ideas and myths. But in 2006, there was a novel that was named ‘The Haunted Vagina’ which was a story that revolved around a woman whose vagina was the gateway to the underworld.

Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels | This just shows how clueless men are about women’s bodies

5. Self-Cleaning Mechanism

Imagine going to an automatic car wash where you have to do little more than park your car in a designated spot. Similarly, the vagina has a self-cleaning mechanism of its own where it refreshes and cleans itself up thanks to the ‘symbiotic flora.’ These are microorganisms that protect the vagina from any sort of infection. You simply have to use water to get rid of any sweat build-up but if you go on to use soaps or various items, you can disrupt the balance.

Sora Shimazaki/Pexels | This can even lead to a potential yeast infection

So, do you feel much more informed about the female anatomy now?a