Thursday, 7 March 2013

Things to Know about Women’s Genitalia: Why mutilate it?



When I blogged about men helping us end Female Genitalia Mutilation, a  male friend of mine said ‘’this female genital mutilation is robbing both men and women’’. True isn’t it?

The vagina is just one part of a woman’s private parts

Sometimes, a woman's entire genital region is referred to as the vagina. But in fact, the vagina is just a part of the package, so to speak. The outer portion of a woman’s privates is actually called the vulva. That includes the inner and outer labia, the clitoris, clitoral hood and the opening to the urethra and vagina.

The actual vagina is an internal structure, along with the other parts of the female reproductive system including the cervix, uterus, ovaries and Fallopian tubes (which are sometimes called the oviducts).

The clitoris isn't just a small pink/brown nub

The clitoris has 8,000 nerve endings aimed for sexual pleasure — that's double the number in the penis, according to experts.

The clitoris, which is a small pink/brown organ that lies underneath the clitoral hood, is a powerhouse of pleasure. Although it extends into the vagina for about three inches, and connects with the controversial G-spot area, the clitoris is considered an "external" organ. As researchers noted in a 2011 article in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology, "the glans and body are visible, while the roots are hidden, therefore they are not "internal.'"

In other words, the most visible part of the clitoris is only a small part of it — it extends from there like roots of a tree. The length of the whole clitoris has been estimated to be nearly four inches long.

Good and bad bacteria

It's normal to have bacteria in your vagina. In fact, there are some bacteria known as lactobacilli that keep the acidity of the vagina in the normal range.

But sometimes the balance between good and bad bacteria can be disrupted. When that happens, women could experience a discharge that smells fishy, or have an itching or burning sensation.

But there are ways that women can keep their vaginas healthy, and keep the good bacteria present. Check my previous articles!

Sex can keep the vagina healthy — especially for postmenopausal women

Through the various stages of women's lives — including childbirth and breastfeeding, as well as normal aging and menopause — the body undergoes hormonal changes that could lead to vaginal dryness.

Estrogen helps keep the vagina healthy and lubricated. Once estrogen levels drop, the vagina can become dry, and sometimes even be a source of pain.

Experts say that having sex can prevent the vagina from becoming thin and tight.

Safe vaginal intercourse can help keep the vagina healthy and dilated.

To help make intercourse more comfortable, it is important for women to discuss options with your doctor before making a decision to use them


Discharges women should worry about

 
Although the vagina is considered a self-cleaning organ, and some discharge is normal, that doesn’t mean it’s not vulnerable.

Any vaginal discharge that seems excessive, painful, irritating or foul in odor should be evaluated by a doctor.

Some women try to diagnose their own vaginal infections at home, and use over-the-counter medications. This can be misleading as it could be more complicated than that or even a sexually transmitted disease.

More about the clitoris


Just in case you need a refresher course, here are the basic facts: Her clitoris is a small bud-like formation that is located slightly above the opening to her vagina, at the top of her inner labia. Clitoris size and shape differs from woman to woman, but it is generally between 1/8 to 3/8 of an inch in size. Her clitoris is the equivalent of your penis; it's packed with nerve endings and becomes engorged when she's aroused.

Vital info: The vast majority of women require clitoral stimulation to achieve orgasm -- penetration just isn't always enough on its own. Sounds like a good enough reason to makes its acquaintance, doesn't it? Lets respect  nature and leave be what was meant to be.

Where does female mutilation come in all this? It’s not necessary and will have no benefits to anybody. Let’s make FGM a thing of the past.

By Abigal Muchecheti

 

 

No comments:

Post a Comment