For people who have a vagina, there can be lots of parts that are hard to understand. It can help to take some time to learn what everything’s called and how it works! The vagina is actually just the inside of your privates. The vulva is the word people use to talk about all the parts together

It can be hard to see all the different parts of your vulva, so it can help to get a small mirror to see what your privates look like.

What’s going on on the outside? The vulva, labia, clitoris and more!

A lot of people call everything in your privates a vagina. But, a vagina is just the tube inside. All the parts on the outside are called the vulva. The vulva is made up of lots of different parts:

• Mons Pubis: The flesy part on top of your vulva. It cushions the bone underneath and grows hair during puberty.
• Labia Majora: the lips of the vagina that are on the outside. After puberty hair grows on them
• Labia Minora: the smaller lips that are inside of the bigger lips. Sometimes you can see parts of them outside the bigger lips. They’re usually lighter and thinnger than the labia majora.
• Bartholin’s Glands: you can’t see these, but they’re two pea sized glands right next to the opening of the vagina. They help keep your vagina moist.
• Urethra: where pee comes out of. It’s a tube that goes from your bladder (where pee is kept) to an opening in your vuvla (where pee comes out). You can see the opening right under the clitoris, above the vagina.
• Clitoris: this looks like a little button and is at the very top of your vulva. You can see the top of the clitoris, but the rest of it is inside your body. The clitoris is there to help you feel pleasure. A lot of people like it when their clitoris is rubbed, licked, or massaged.,

What’s going on inside? The vagina, uterus, ovaries, and more!

There are lots of parts inside of your body. There are:

• Vagina: a tube that’s inside of your body. It goes from the opening in the vuvla to another part called the cervix. Some people like putting toys, fingers, or penises into their vaginas. This is also the hole where period blood and discharge (fluid that keeps the vagina clean) comes out of.
• Cervix: a small, narrow part that connects your vagina to the uterus. The cervix is the end point in the vagina. There’s a small hole in it that let’s period blood and other fluids pass through.
• Uterus: where a baby would grow if someone’s pregnant. It looks a little bit like a pouch. This is also where period blood comes from.
• Ovaries: where eggs that let someone get pregnant are made and stored. They’re two small parts that are as big as an almond. Each one connects to the Fallopian tube.
• Fallopian Tube: these carry eggs from the ovaries to the uterus. There are two of them on each side of the ovaries.

What is ovulation? What’s a period?

Ovulation is when an egg leaves one of the ovaries and goes through the fallopian tubes to the uterus. This is the best time for someone to get pregnant. If they get pregnant the egg will stay in the uterus and grow until it becomes a baby. But, if they don’t get pregnant during this time they’ll get their period.

When an egg goes into the uterus, the uterus builds thick walls in case you get pregnant. But, your body gets rid of those walls if you don’t get pregnant. A period is when the blood, mucus, and pieces of those walls come out of your body.

A period can last between 2-7 days and you can keep having them until you’re 45-55 years old.

What’s a front hole?

A front hole is a hole in some trans and/or non-binary people’s bodies. Some people who are assigned female at birth use this term to talk about their private parts. People might like putting things like fingers, sex toys, or penises in their front holes.

How do I know if my vulva’s normal?

Everyone’s vulvas look different. They all come in different shapes and sizes! Some people’s parts are tucked in but others stick out. Both are common and neither is better or worse.

If you ever have a lot of pain or are worried about your vagina you can talk to a doctor. They’ll be able to make sure everything’s okay.