Understanding your own anatomy is a form of self-respect. Many women have never been given accurate, judgment-free information about their reproductive organs. This article changes that.
External Anatomy (the Vulva): The vulva is everything you can see externally. It includes: the mons pubis (fatty tissue over the pubic bone), the labia majora and minora (outer and inner folds of skin), the clitoris (a highly sensitive organ with an internal structure much larger than the visible tip), the vaginal opening, and the urethral opening (where urine exits).
Important: The vagina and the urethra are separate openings. Many women are taught this incorrectly.
The Vagina: A muscular, self-cleaning canal approximately 7–10 cm long that connects the vulva to the cervix. It expands during arousal and childbirth. Healthy vaginal discharge helps maintain its pH balance.
The Cervix: The lower, narrow part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. It produces mucus that changes consistency throughout your cycle.
The Uterus (Womb): A pear-shaped muscular organ that grows and sheds its lining each month (menstruation) and houses a foetus during pregnancy.
The Fallopian Tubes: Two tubes that carry eggs from the ovaries to the uterus. Fertilisation typically occurs in the fallopian tube.
The Ovaries: Two almond-sized organs that produce eggs and the hormones oestrogen and progesterone. You are born with all your eggs — approximately 1–2 million — and release about 400–500 over your reproductive lifetime.