THE TRUTH: WHAT A NORMAL VAGINA LOOKS LIKE

What is a vagina? What does a normal vagina look like? How can one carry out a vagainal self-examination? This article explains what a normal vagina looks like, its appearance, and its odor. 

Past puberty, most individuals rarely get sufficient education on their genitals. That's why it's perfectly fine if you can't answer the question, 'what does a normal and healthy vagina look like?' Perhaps you learned more about how it looks from age 10 to 15. But lessons about a healthy vagina or more about the vulva appearance may not have been part of the syllabus. You've tried analyzing your genitalia to check if things are aligned properly, not once or twice, but several times. Let's look into the discussion below to understand what a normal vagina looks like.

Differentiating the vagina and vulva

Before moving to familiarity with the vagina, individuals should be able to differentiate between a vulva and vagina. Miranda-CasoLuengo et al. (2019) state that the odds are that most people refer to the genitalia as a vagina. However, the external genital contains the vulva at its opening, outer and inner labia, and clitoris. Other vulva components include the perineum, urethral opening, anus, Monos pubis- above the labia filled with pubic hair, and the fourchette- labia meeting point. The internal genitalia composes the vagina- the hollow region between the cervix and vulva.

Vaginal Self-examination

Individuals should know how best they can carry out a vaginal self-examination. According to Preti et al. (2021), individuals should begin with the correct setup for the activity. For example, get a big mirror attached to a long handle and proper lighting. Your privacy is also key. Get into a comfortable position lying on your back with bent knees and head elevated on a pillow. Spread the legs and have the mirror in between. With your fingers, begin from the mons pubis area and check for irritation or redness. Then, move down to the labia noting that different women have varied types; some are longer, whereas others are shorter. Rarely will you find the same sizes in length, and that's perfectly ok.

Next, after the labia is the labia minora or inner vaginal lips. It’s a barrier protecting the urethral opening and clit. The clitoris is above the labia minora. It’s pinkish with a sliding-up hood. Suppose your hood doesn't slide or pull up, don't worry because several reasons cause that. From the clit, go to the urethra. It's located above the big vaginal opening and below the clit. It may have some accumulated discharge or redness showing it's normal. 

The last area is the vaginal canal. While you may not fully view it from the mirror, it's best seen when using the speculum. But you can check for any abnormal redness in the visible zone. You should check your vagina at least twice every month to confirm its condition. Look out for any red flags. If you doubt any features, it will help to consult a specialist. Remember, no one of the above examinations is painful. Suppose there's any discomfort or pain; a professional exam would be helpful. 

Checking the Vulva

Khawaja et al. (2021) stated that a healthy vulva is determined by looking at things, such as the odor, appearance, and pain.

Odor

Each woman has their vaginal smell, and they can discover variations. That suggests everybody is acquainted with their vaginal scent, and no two are similar. This scent can sometimes strengthen after exercise or sex and during menstruation. You may be self-conscious about your vaginal odor, but there's no urgency or need to shift it. Some people may try douching options, but it is discouraged.

Appearance

The vagina is mainly pink with a ridged wall. We can describe the labia as sisters and not twins because they rarely resemble them. There are sources with labia information that helps individuals know what the labia appears like, including Labia Library. Furthermore, you'll realize discharge and moisture coming from the vaginal opening. A healthy vagina is pinkish with enough moisture and plump vaginal mucosa and has some discharge during reproduction. But the vagina’s consistency may change to whitish, thick, and stretchy, more so during menstruation.

Pain

An individual should experience no pain or discomfort in the vulva and vagina. It shouldn't also hurt when touching or during intimacy. Suppose you feel any pain during intercourse; there may be a need for communication. Perhaps your partner doesn't know what your body needs. In other words, it's not obvious for women to find sex painful.

How to Know Something Isn't Right

Odor

The vaginal microbiome regulates the pH, keeping the vagina acidic. It also protects against yeast and bacterial growth. Kim & Park (2017) explained that any microbiome imbalance could cause abnormal discharge, infections, and odor. It's why you should see a doctor after noticing the changes.

Appearance

It needs evaluation if you examine your vagina and notice a bump, such as abscesses originating from shaved or waxed hairs. Or, it could be Bartholin's cysts- fluid-filled sited near the vaginal opening; ensure to see a doctor if it doesn't improve with time. New growths could be a developing sexually transmitted infection that requires intervention, whether inside or outside. That's why you should check the case with a specialist. Also, you don't want to overlook any different discharge types. A discharge looking like a cottage cheese could indicate a yeast infection. Other colors, including green, grey, or yellow, could suggest a different infection, such as pelvic inflammatory illness or bacterial vaginosis. 

Pain

Naumova & Castelo-Branco, (2018) explained that pain is a sign of an unhealthy vagina or vulva. The exception may be the postpartum period involving perineal pain, uterine cramping, or hemorrhoids. More health issues, including endometriosis, can be painful during or after your cycle and during intimacy. But it would be better to seek medical advice before making conclusions, especially if your pain is unbearable. A burning sensation or itching is mainly an infection sign. Generally, healthy genitalia shouldn’t hurt at all. Be careful about the shaving method to avoid unnecessary itching and swelling.

Conclusion

Similar to breast self-check examinations, one should focus on vaginal examination too. It can enable encounter unusual changes early enough to save your health from danger. If possible, you can schedule a regular checkup with your doctor. Suppose there's an issue; immediate treatment would bring a better result. Nobody should lie to you that sex is painful for women. Pain during intimacy indicates a problem that should be solved by an individual soon enough. Consult your specialist if you can't withstand the pain.

References 

Khawaja, U., Tasnim, N., & Bangash, K. T. (2021). Modified Radical Vulvectomy for Carcinoma Vulva: Are We Following Key Quality Standards?. Journal of South Asian Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 13(6), 375.

Kim, J. M., & Park, Y. J. (2017). Probiotics in the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal vaginal infections. Journal of Menopausal Medicine, 23(3), 139-145.

Miranda-CasoLuengo, R., Lu, J., Williams, E. J., Miranda-CasoLuengo, A. A., Carrington, S. D., Evans, A. C., & Meijer, W. G. (2019). Delayed differentiation of vaginal and uterine microbiomes in dairy cows developing postpartum endometritis. PLoS One, 14(1), e0200974.

Naumova, I., & Castelo-Branco, C. (2018). Current treatment options for postmenopausal vaginal atrophy. International journal of women's health, 10, 387.

Preti, M., Selk, A., Stockdale, C., Bevilacqua, F., Vieira-Baptista, P., Borella, F., ... & Benedetto, C. (2021). Knowledge of vulvar anatomy and self-examination in a sample of Italian women. Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease, 25(2), 166-171.