Sex Myth Monday: A Vagina Dialogue
The sexual organ most shrouded in mystery and myth is the vagina... Often depicted as a flower out of politeness... My hope with writing this is to shed some light where it don't usually shine.
Myth One: Keeping it Tight
Who here thinks that having too much sex can stretch out your vajay an undesirable amount? Or worse... turn it gray? This is NOT true!!!
While there has been a lot of buzz in the feminist community for years about accepting your vagina for how it looks there hasn't been enough education on how they work - to my satisfaction. Even though it will always bring me an especially disgusted form of sadness to hear of products marketed to those who believe they have unpretty pudenda such as vulva bleaching kits. The truth is, women are more orgasmic when they feel attractive. While it is my belief that vaginas are gorgeous in their natural form, it would seem it is a growing trend to disagree.
The truth of the matter is that vaginal secretions were recently discovered to have an amazing compound called sqalene as an ingredient. Squalene is found many places in nature including olives, rice bran, wheat germ, shark livers and bird stomachs. It is a compound that is helpful in the synthesis of cholesterol, hormones, and vitamin D into the human body. So while we have been hearing about how semen is practically a health food for years, we can now say the same is true for vajayjays ! It is also found commercially in moisturizers and cosmetics - Bingo! Squalene is extremely beneficial to the skin. The reason sexual intercourse becomes difficult for some women post-menopause is the lack of these moisture retaining secretions once their bodies struggle to continue producing them. So, participating in activities that keep you wet also keep your vagina saturated in health sustaining nutrients.
The same is true for the muscles of the vagina! Has anyone ever offered you the advice to keep your muscles tight by not working them? That would be silly... I think by now we have all heard of Kegal exercises but this is just replicating what our vaginal muscles often do naturally during sex and orgasm. Try your Kegal exercises during sex - and trust me he will appreciate it! There are even products you can buy to help you add fun to your Kegal work outs such as ben-wa balls. These balls were first used by Japanese geisha to tease and entice while "preparing" their bodies for intercourse. I have even seen a barbell made for the vagina :) Sorry - no smiling this is serious stuff...
Betty Dodson, Ph.D is a sex educator and author. She is also well known for her invention: "Betty's Barbell." This device will run you about $80... The idea is to actually do lifts with this little guy or play tug of war with yourself.
The depth of a vaginal canal can ranges on average from 3-6 inches depending on the lady. That is a pretty big difference. However, what is interesting to me is that a vagina can actually get deeper when a woman is greatly aroused! Literally, it can double in size! Guys, if that isn't motivation to take your time in foreplay to ensure proper arousal then I don't know what is... you will only be doing yourself a favor!
Things that legitimately can damage the integrity of your vaginal canal are not producing enough vaginal secretions (like we discussed), child birth, and hysterectomies. Oftentimes, part of the prescribed treatment or prevention for ailments resulting from this (incontinence or vaginal prolapse) is doing Kegal exercises. So drop down and get yo Kegal on girrrrl!
Myth Two: It Smells Bad
This is most often a complaint made by a woman about herself. It is a concern borne out of self-consciousness. The remedies have included washes, wipes, cremes, and douches. What is helpful? What is healthy? What is just you needing to get over yourself and loosen up?
The truth is the vajay is a self-cleaning organ. It isn't pleasant to speak about but we have gravity and a natural purging process on our side. What goes in, must come out, always. This is exactly why douches can be counter-productive because god forbid you do have something in your vagina that shouldn't be. A douche can push it up even further or cause an infection to spread. Douching has been linked to a plethora of vaginal problems from infections to ectopic pregnancy. It kills the normal healthy bacteria that live in there (that you NEED to fight off the bad kind) as well as your natural PH levels. This is true no matter what the liquid solution is comprised of.
Don't get me wrong. I am not advising anyone to be unhygienic. Please shower and wash often as none of us are immune to B.O.. In fact, a smell that you know not to be normal is can be indicative of an infection. Soaps that are heavily scented, however, can be just as irritating to the sensitive skin of the vagina. The best recommended way to get fresh is simply to rinse well and rinse often with water! Vagina's do have a natural smell but it is not one that too many men oppose. This could largely or in part be due to pheromones.
Pheromones are undetectable chemicals we send out to one another. They are most highly concentrated in regions that humans still grow hair according to evolutionary biologists. Hair growing there for the sole purpose to help keep in all these horny inducing chemicals. There has only been a small amount of research done on the pheromones that exist within female vaginal secretions. In 30% of women studied a specific kind of fatty acid that theorists call a "copulin" was found within their vaginal area. It is at its maximum amount during ovulation and then tapers off closer to menstruation. In research studies surrounding attractiveness, women usually have been described as inexplicably more attractive while ovulating. These copulins have been shown to increase sexual behavior in animal studies using monkeys. For women who use contraceptives that suppress menstruation no such pheromone cycle can exist.
Diet has also been thought to effect how one tastes or smells. I did a little research and wasn't able to find anything extremely scientific on this matter. However, we know that when we consume too much garlic or alcohol it can start to make you wreak by coming out of our pours. Similarly, a diet that is low in sugar and high in yogurt is suggested to those trying to keep their vaginal flora (aka good bacteria) in check.... so it stands to reason... There is some truth to diet effecting vagina taste or smell. Purely going off of word of mouth though - avoid coffee, alcohol, meat, and dark green veggies. Do consume lots of water, yogurt, and fruit (especially pineapple!). This same advice holds true for males wishing to make their semen taste less funky. I would personally recommend not smoking.
Wishing you happy hearts and healthy vaginas,
- The Sexpert
Myth One: Keeping it Tight
Who here thinks that having too much sex can stretch out your vajay an undesirable amount? Or worse... turn it gray? This is NOT true!!!
While there has been a lot of buzz in the feminist community for years about accepting your vagina for how it looks there hasn't been enough education on how they work - to my satisfaction. Even though it will always bring me an especially disgusted form of sadness to hear of products marketed to those who believe they have unpretty pudenda such as vulva bleaching kits. The truth is, women are more orgasmic when they feel attractive. While it is my belief that vaginas are gorgeous in their natural form, it would seem it is a growing trend to disagree.
The truth of the matter is that vaginal secretions were recently discovered to have an amazing compound called sqalene as an ingredient. Squalene is found many places in nature including olives, rice bran, wheat germ, shark livers and bird stomachs. It is a compound that is helpful in the synthesis of cholesterol, hormones, and vitamin D into the human body. So while we have been hearing about how semen is practically a health food for years, we can now say the same is true for vajayjays ! It is also found commercially in moisturizers and cosmetics - Bingo! Squalene is extremely beneficial to the skin. The reason sexual intercourse becomes difficult for some women post-menopause is the lack of these moisture retaining secretions once their bodies struggle to continue producing them. So, participating in activities that keep you wet also keep your vagina saturated in health sustaining nutrients.
The same is true for the muscles of the vagina! Has anyone ever offered you the advice to keep your muscles tight by not working them? That would be silly... I think by now we have all heard of Kegal exercises but this is just replicating what our vaginal muscles often do naturally during sex and orgasm. Try your Kegal exercises during sex - and trust me he will appreciate it! There are even products you can buy to help you add fun to your Kegal work outs such as ben-wa balls. These balls were first used by Japanese geisha to tease and entice while "preparing" their bodies for intercourse. I have even seen a barbell made for the vagina :) Sorry - no smiling this is serious stuff...
Betty Dodson, Ph.D is a sex educator and author. She is also well known for her invention: "Betty's Barbell." This device will run you about $80... The idea is to actually do lifts with this little guy or play tug of war with yourself.
The depth of a vaginal canal can ranges on average from 3-6 inches depending on the lady. That is a pretty big difference. However, what is interesting to me is that a vagina can actually get deeper when a woman is greatly aroused! Literally, it can double in size! Guys, if that isn't motivation to take your time in foreplay to ensure proper arousal then I don't know what is... you will only be doing yourself a favor!
Things that legitimately can damage the integrity of your vaginal canal are not producing enough vaginal secretions (like we discussed), child birth, and hysterectomies. Oftentimes, part of the prescribed treatment or prevention for ailments resulting from this (incontinence or vaginal prolapse) is doing Kegal exercises. So drop down and get yo Kegal on girrrrl!
Myth Two: It Smells Bad
This is most often a complaint made by a woman about herself. It is a concern borne out of self-consciousness. The remedies have included washes, wipes, cremes, and douches. What is helpful? What is healthy? What is just you needing to get over yourself and loosen up?
The truth is the vajay is a self-cleaning organ. It isn't pleasant to speak about but we have gravity and a natural purging process on our side. What goes in, must come out, always. This is exactly why douches can be counter-productive because god forbid you do have something in your vagina that shouldn't be. A douche can push it up even further or cause an infection to spread. Douching has been linked to a plethora of vaginal problems from infections to ectopic pregnancy. It kills the normal healthy bacteria that live in there (that you NEED to fight off the bad kind) as well as your natural PH levels. This is true no matter what the liquid solution is comprised of.
Don't get me wrong. I am not advising anyone to be unhygienic. Please shower and wash often as none of us are immune to B.O.. In fact, a smell that you know not to be normal is can be indicative of an infection. Soaps that are heavily scented, however, can be just as irritating to the sensitive skin of the vagina. The best recommended way to get fresh is simply to rinse well and rinse often with water! Vagina's do have a natural smell but it is not one that too many men oppose. This could largely or in part be due to pheromones.
Pheromones are undetectable chemicals we send out to one another. They are most highly concentrated in regions that humans still grow hair according to evolutionary biologists. Hair growing there for the sole purpose to help keep in all these horny inducing chemicals. There has only been a small amount of research done on the pheromones that exist within female vaginal secretions. In 30% of women studied a specific kind of fatty acid that theorists call a "copulin" was found within their vaginal area. It is at its maximum amount during ovulation and then tapers off closer to menstruation. In research studies surrounding attractiveness, women usually have been described as inexplicably more attractive while ovulating. These copulins have been shown to increase sexual behavior in animal studies using monkeys. For women who use contraceptives that suppress menstruation no such pheromone cycle can exist.
Diet has also been thought to effect how one tastes or smells. I did a little research and wasn't able to find anything extremely scientific on this matter. However, we know that when we consume too much garlic or alcohol it can start to make you wreak by coming out of our pours. Similarly, a diet that is low in sugar and high in yogurt is suggested to those trying to keep their vaginal flora (aka good bacteria) in check.... so it stands to reason... There is some truth to diet effecting vagina taste or smell. Purely going off of word of mouth though - avoid coffee, alcohol, meat, and dark green veggies. Do consume lots of water, yogurt, and fruit (especially pineapple!). This same advice holds true for males wishing to make their semen taste less funky. I would personally recommend not smoking.
Wishing you happy hearts and healthy vaginas,
- The Sexpert
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