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Dr. Rena Malik is a urologist, pelvic surgeon and sex educator who uses her YouTube channel to share information and bust popular myths around sexual and urological health. In a recent video, she tackled some misinformation surrounding female genitalia, and shared five “surprising facts” that a lot of people don’t know.
The clitoris is like the penis
The clitoris and penis are homologs, explains Malik, which means that they both develop from the exact same embryological tissues at a foetal stage. “They both have the exact same structures,” she says. “Essentially they have corpora cavernosa, which fill and expand with blood when aroused, and they extend in size.” She adds that research has found an average of 10,000 neurons in the clitoris, “meaning that it is highly sensitive, and probably the only organ that’s been identified that is made purely for pleasure purposes.”
The clitoris has a foreskin
Also known as a “clitoral hood,” this exists for much the same reason as the foreskin on a penis: to protect it from infection and irritation.
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The labia minora, or “lips,” can look different from person to person
“The labia minora are kind of like a fingerprint,” says Malik. “They come in all different shapes, colors, sizes, thicknesses, and they’re unique to you… In fact, many of the images you see in pornography are digitally mastered to make them look a certain way. Many women can have labia minora that protrude outside the outer lips, or can even be asymmetrical… During arousal the labia minora can grow up to two to three times larger than usual, and also change color.”
The vagina expands in preparation for sex
“The walls of the vagina send signals to the brain, telling it ‘hey, we’re ready,'” says Malik. “The body starts producing lubrication in the vagina, and also the vagina increases in width and length.” Malik notes that the vagina can increase by up to twice its usual size in order to accommodate an erect penis.
Malik adds that after sex, the vagina returns to its un-aroused size, meaning the myth of the “loose” vagina is false: “Your body is extremely adaptable and malleable,” she says.
The vagina is self-cleaning
“The vaginal environment is very protected,” says Malik. “Because of the estrogen in the vagina, the vagina typically creates an acidic environment. It also has very special bacteria that help protect the vagina’s microbiome. This helps prevent infection and any bad bacteria from entering the vagina.”
Philip Ellis is a freelance writer and journalist from the United Kingdom covering pop culture, relationships and LGBTQ+ issues. His work has appeared in GQ, Teen Vogue, Man Repeller and MTV.
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