Vagina, vulva, often colloquially called vagina, is a part of the internal female sexual organs. The vagina is located in the pelvis of the woman and is a connection to the uterus. Through the vagina, in a natural birth, the newborn is proverbially brought into the world.
What is the vagina?
Schematic diagram showing the anatomy and structure of the female reproductive organs and sex organs. Click to enlarge. The vagina is one of the internal female reproductive organs and refers to the muscular tube that provides a connection between the vaginal entrance and the cervix. Often, the vagina is also referred to as the vagina or the vaginal tube. The vagina is very flexible and is characterized by a sophisticated range of functions. This is because the vagina has many more tasks than just transporting the newborn out of the woman’s body at the time of birth.
Anatomy and structure
The vagina is a so-called hollow organ, which consists of a smooth and flexible muscular tube that is about ten centimeters long. The vagina connects the vaginal entrance (introitus vaginae) and the transition to the cervix (porti). Due to its fibrous and flexible structure, the vagina is extremely stretchable, allowing it to adapt to the penis during sexual intercourse and to the size of the child during childbirth. In addition, due to the special composition of the mucous membranes, due to its structure (it consists of several thin layers) and due to the acidic body flora, it has a relatively fast self-healing process. In virgins – women and girls who have not yet had sexual intercourse – the vagina near the vaginal entrance area is often narrowed by the hymen (hymen).
Function and tasks
The vagina performs a number of tasks. For one thing, it provides a way out of the body for menstrual blood, which must be excreted with the onset of the period each month. Second, it allows the male sex organ to enter the body during the sexual act. In this way, the male sperm can specifically enter the interior of the woman and find its way, protected and guided by the vaginal secretion, into the uterus and to the mature egg. If this is fertilized, pregnancy occurs and in the coming months the cell union grows into a new human being. If this is viable, or if complications arise, the birth process is initiated – and in this the vagina plays a very serious role. This is because it is not only a part of the birth canal: The strong muscular contractions of labor, which also affect the muscles and muscle fibers of the vaginal tube, purposefully expel the child from the body, so to speak.
Diseases
As many functions and tasks as the vagina can present, so many complaints, diseases and malformations can occur as well. Malformations such as a curved course of the muscular tube are very common and can be little to very problematic, depending on the degree of curvature. However, the vagina may also be too narrow, too short or closed in the case of a malformation. In this case, a precise examination must determine whether and how the malformation can be treated surgically. Of course, the vagina can also be injured or affected by diseases. Typical injuries are tears in the vaginal walls caused, for example, by a foreign body or during sexual intercourse. Here, too, a decision must be made on the basis of the severity of the injuries as to whether or not treatment is necessary. Because the vagina has a very good self-healing system, weak injuries often heal quickly and on their own. Frequently occurring diseases are inflammations and infections such as fungal infections that affect the mucous membranes of the vagina. These usually disturb the balance of the vaginal flora, which, however, can also be a disease in its own right – for example, caused by hormonal disorders. Infections and inflammations are often noticeable by itching, by redness, by brownish or yellowish discharge and by a burning, stabbing or pulling pain during urination.
Typical and common conditions
- Vaginal infections (vaginal infections).
- Vaginal fungus (vaginal fungus)
- Vaginal discharge
- Vaginitis (inflammation of the vagina)
- Burning in the vagina (vaginal burning).
