Vagina

This section offers information about the basic anatomy of the vagina, the cervical smear test, as well as vaginal and vulval problems.

A Closer Look at: the Cervical Smear Test

Smear tests are important and can save your life. You should get yours regularly when invited even if you are not currently sexually active. They are designed to detect changes,...

Basic Anatomy: The Vagina

First, the Facts The female genital tract includes the vulva, vagina, cervix, uterus (womb), fallopian tubes and ovaries. The vulva is the area surrounding the openings of the vagina and...

Change in Vulval Colour

The vulva is usually slightly darker than the rest of your skin – dusky pink or brownish. There are two conditions in which it becomes white in colour. Lichen sclerosus...

Dry Vagina

Vaginal Lubrication The natural moistness of the vagina prevents its sides from rubbing against each other as you move about during the day. The vaginal moisture is also slightly acidic,...

Fishy Smell

If your vulva smells fishy, you may have bacterial vaginosis (also known as anaerobic vaginosis). This is an imbalance in the bacteria in the vagina. All women have harmless bacteria...

Lumps on Genitals (Vulva and Vagina)

Cervix The main lump in the vagina is the cervix (neck of the womb). This projects into the far end of the vagina and is about 3 cm across. You...

Painful Vulva

Any of the causes of vulval itching may cause actual pain if they are severe (see section on vulval itching). Thrush or trichomonas, for example, can both make the vulva...

Vaginal and Vulval Problems

What Are the Vagina and Cervix? The vagina is a tube connecting the uterus (womb) to the outside. At the top is the cervix, which is the base of the...

Vaginal Discharge

What’s Normal It is normal to have some vaginal discharge, because the vagina stays moist as part of its self-cleansing mechanism. The normal moist discharge clears dead cells and bacteria...

Vaginal Lips (Labia)

What’s Normal To be wholly accurate, the vaginal lips should be called ‘vulval lips’. The outer lips are usually fleshy, and the inner lips are usually thin but, like every...

Vulval Itching

Itchiness of the vulva is almost never caused by a sexually transmitted infection, but is usually a result of thrush or a skin condition. The lips of the vulva (the...
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