The vagina is the opening that leads from your external genitals (between your legs) to the uterus (womb) and your other internal reproductive organs.
Women sometimes bleed the first time they have sex because some hymens are more elastic than others. Usually, this is not serious and heals quickly. Others may feel some pain or discomfort. We cannot tell by looking at someone's hymen whether someone is a virgin or not. For further information, read Virginity and the Hymen Myth.
A healthy vagina usually feels wet, it’s from a healthy discharge that keeps the vagina clean. The discharge is clear or whitish and dries yellow on your underwear. There should be no noticeable smell if you wash every day.
If there is any change to the colour, smell, amount or texture of this discharge, this could mean something is going on inside your vagina and could be an infection, especially if you have had unprotected sex. However, you don’t need to have had sex to have an abnormal discharge.
Normal bleeding (the menstrual period) varies from woman to woman and usually lasts for three to seven days every month.
Unusual vaginal bleeding, such as between periods or after sex, may be a sign of an infection or another problem. Some of these can be serious. Common causes of abnormal bleeding include a sexually transmitted infection, a growth in the wall of the uterus, or a hormonal disturbance.
If you experience an unhealthy vaginal discharge, unusual vaginal bleeding, or simply want a checkup, see your local doctor, Family Planning clinic or sexual health clinic. Find a local clinic now.
The vagina is the opening that leads from your external genitals (between your legs) to the uterus (womb) and your other internal reproductive organs.
The skin you can see between your legs on the outside of your genitals is called the vulva. The opening of the uterus inside the vagina is called the cervix.
It’s good to be familiar with your body, and the names for each part. Click here to open a diagram of the female genitals. [diagram]
Many people think the hymen is like a piece of plastic that seals the end of the vagina and that the first time you have sex it is broken.
The hymen is actually a collar of tissue attached to the vaginal wall just inside the vaginal opening, with an opening in the centre. All women are born with a hymen.
The thickness and elasticity of the hymen varies from woman to woman, according to the level of oestrogen (female hormones) in their body. Before puberty, the hymen does not have much stretch, so would usually be damaged if a large enough object passed through it.
Once you go through puberty and start to develop oestrogen, the hymen becomes thickened and more elastic. At this point, it looks like a scrunchy hair tie. It will easily accommodate an object such as a tampon or penis and simply stretches out and back.
Some women may bleed the first time they have sex, because some hymens are more elastic than others, but this is not the case for all women. Some women develop a small tear in the hymen edge when it stretches and this may bleed. Usually this is not serious and heals quickly. Others may feel some pain or discomfort. There is no way of predicting who has a stretchier hymen, and who will bleed and who won't. No one can tell by looking at someone's hymen whether they’re still a virgin or not.
Find out more about Virginity and the Hymen Myth.
What’s normal?
Following puberty, it is normal to have a milky white discharge without any smell from the vagina. A healthy vagina usually feels wet, from the discharge that keeps the vagina clean. The healthy discharge is clear or whitish and dries yellow on your underwear. There should be no noticeable smell if you wash every day.
This discharge is due to the female hormone oestrogen and bacteria that are normally present in the vagina. The amount of discharge varies from woman to woman, and can change according to different stages of the menstrual cycle (your periods).
What is not normal?
If there is any change to the colour, smell, amount or texture of this discharge, this could mean something is going on inside your vagina and could be an infection, especially if you have had unprotected sex. However, you don’t need to have had sex to experience an abnormal discharge.
Abnormal vaginal discharge may
Abnormal vaginal discharge can be caused by
What’s normal?
Normal bleeding (the menstrual period) varies a lot from woman to woman and usually lasts for three to seven days every month. Some women have light bleeding while others experience heavy bleeding for a day or two, which then becomes lighter. A normal menstrual cycle occurs every 22 to 35 days.
During adolescence, as girls grow older, the interval between periods can be quite irregular with each woman eventually developing her own pattern.
What is not normal?
Unusual vaginal bleeding, such as between periods or after sex, may be a sign of an infection or another problem. Some of these can be serious. Abnormal bleeding may also cause problems later in life if left untreated.
If you are experiencing abnormal bleeding, you may have the following symptoms:
Common causes of abnormal bleeding include
If you experience an unhealthy vaginal discharge, unusual vaginal bleeding, or simply want a check up, see your local doctor, Family Planning clinic or sexual health clinic. Find a local clinic now.
It’s good to be familiar with your body, and the names for each part.
JUST THE FACTS is brought to you by the Sexually Transmitted Infections Education Foundation (STIEF) - an initiative funded by the Ministry of Health through collective District Health Boards (20) to educate New Zealanders about STIs. District Health Boards (DHBs) are responsible for providing or funding the provision of health services in their district.
The medical information in JUST THE FACTS is based on the STIEF and NZ Sexual Health Society Guidelines for the management of STIs. The New Zealand Ministry of Health supports the use of these clinical guidelines, developed by clinical experts and professional associations to guide clinical care in New Zealand.
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