Vulvae vary!

Firstly, the correct name for the "female" genitalia is the vulva. The vagina is only a very small part. It is the hole just below the urethra where menstrual blood and other fluids are excreted... where fingers, penises, toys etc. can be inserted... etc. Now that this is settled I can move on to the main course.

Vulvae vary in shape, size and colour. A friend of mine sent me a link to scarleteen.com where I found the following pictures of various vulvae. Click here to see more pictures drawn by Betty Dodson.


Here's a labelled diagragram of a vulva. Unfortunately I can't remember the site where I found it.

Vaginal Dryness

Here's a site that has some background info on why/how vaginal dryness occurs and some natural remedies that may help your body produce lubricating secretions.

Drinking lots of water to hydrate your body is very important. Being on a low-fat diet may also cause vaginal dryness. This doesn't mean that you should go out for fish and chips, but consuming dairy products and oils (ie: flax seed or olive oil) may help.

- Alice

Vulvodynia

A while I ago I posted something on vulvar vestibulitis (pain around the vaginal opening). Vivian recently sent me some information on Vulvodynia which includes any sort of pain or discomfort of the vulva (mistakenly called the vagina). Click here for some more information on this condition, as well as the program that is devoted to treating vulvodynia at the gynaecology clinic at Women's College hospital in Toronto.

You must get a referral from your family doctor before you can see a gyneacologist. If your doctor is not accommodating or does not believe/understand/give a damn about your pain then try to find another doctor who will give you a referral.

- Alice

Defying the laws of Gravity!

The Pstyle is a unique device that allows women (or those without a penis) to urinate without having to squat over a toilet. I think that this can be very useful for those who have not yet perfected the hovering technique when using public toilets, or for FTM transgendered individuals when using men's washrooms, or (insert creative idea here!). I came across a similar product that was advertised in the genesis issue of bitch magazine. This one was called the p-mate.

The p-mate seems to be more convenient because of it's disposable feature, but the pstyle will save you money and is better for conserving natural resources and reducing waste.

Another alternative is the go-girl.

In any case, being able to pee standing up without having a stream run down one's leg seems like an awesome idea!

- Alice

Vulvar Vestibulitis (Vaginal Pain)

I was checking out the women's area of the hassle free clinic's website and I stumbled upon an interesting topic "painful sex". I had dinner with a friend of mine a while back who confided in me that she had pain during penis in vaginal intercourse. She and her partner had tried many different kinds of condoms, with no success. Even lambskin condoms which are recommended for individuals who have genital sensitivity did not help stop the pain. Vulvar Vestibulitis could have been the reason why she experienced pain.

According to the link that I've posted, Vulvar Vestibulitis is a condition where women experience irritation of the vulva due to swelling of the glands in the vestibule. It is very difficult to diagnose as many doctors do not know about this condition, and since a concrete way to test for this is not available. Moreover, treatment for this condition is totally up to the doctor's discretion and will vary.

If you have pain in the vaginal area when inserting fingers, penises, toys, tampons etc. it may be a good idea to speak to your doctor.

"Women may be told they have a low tolerance for pain or that their pain is caused by vaginismus (an involuntary tightening of the vaginal muscles making it difficult or impossible to insert anything inside the vagina). In many cases, this frequent misdiagnosis leaves women feeling frustrated and humiliated."

Be persistent! If they don't have an explanation for you, don't let them convince you that your pain doesn't exist. You feel pain, therefore it's exists!

- Alice

Gravity

The weakening of vaginal, anal, urethral muscles occurs over time because of gravity, child birth, and aging. First a brief explanation of the internal female organs.

The frontal wall of the colon is the back wall of the vaginal canal. The front wall of the vaginal canal is the back wall of the urethal canal. So if vaginal walls are weak, so too will be the urethral and colon walls. This means that an individual may urinate accidentally and/or have difficulty eliminating feces completely from the colon. So what can you do to keep your muscles strong?

1) Kegel exercises: This should be done every time you urinate (or at least once a day). You do this by first starting to urinate and then trying to stop the flow. If you can stop it completely, hold it for a few seconds before starting again.

2) Headstand yoga posture: To reverse the effects of gravity, standing on your head for a minute or two everyday can help take some pressure off of this area. I've posted a picture to illustrate the positioning of your arms, but you can do this up against a wall to support your backside. First place a pillow on the floor infront of a wall. Kneel down facing the wall. Put your palms together and cross your fingers. Bend your elbows and place your arms on the pillow making a 'v' shape. Bend over and put the top of your head on the floor, aiming for the back of your head to be in the point of the 'v' you've made. Push off from the ground with your feet and stretch your legs vertically up the wall.

- Alice

A Diagram of the Vagina

It may be shocking to have a vagina thrown in your face without warning, although you may be pleasantly surprised. Here's a link to The Big Vagina. You'll find several diagrams on this page, including a real live picture. Here's an opportunity to learn about parts of your body that are often ignored. Have fun and enjoy getting to know yourself!

- Alice