There are many myths about the vagina. You can read on the internet that the hymen can only break during the first intercourse. According to The Ohio State University, the hymen can tear in other circumstances such as vigorous exercise.

The evidence that supports the existence of female ejaculation was only released in the last few years. Some of the evidence suggests that the phenomenon is real, despite the controversy surrounding it.

There are seven facts worth knowing about a woman's vagina.

1. The vagina is just one part of a women’s private parts

The vagina is sometimes referred to as the entire genital region. The outer portion of a woman's privates is actually called the vulvar. According to the National Vulvodynia Association, that includes the labia, clitoral hood, urethra and vagina.

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The vagina is one of the parts of the female reproductive system that are internal.

Pelvic floor muscles

Pelvic floor muscles run between the public bone and the tailbone. (Image credit: Bruce Blaus)

According to The Journal of Sexual Medicine, Kegel exercises can help women who have trouble reaching an orgasm. Women who have trouble holding in their urine, stool or gas can benefit from this.

You can do these exercises just about anywhere, according to a gynecologist at the University of Missouri.

If you want to do a kegel exercise, act as if you are going to stop peeing and hold it for a couple of seconds, or you can insert your finger into the vagina and tighten your muscles, Barnes said.

Pelvic organ prolapse is a condition in which the organs in the pelvis drop and push against the vagina.

Vaginal probiotics

Vaginal probiotics aim to deliver healthy bacteria to the vagina.  (Image credit: Getty Images)

The good bacteria, also known as the "friendly" ones, have become a popular treatment against the bad ones that might cause harm to the body. There is evidence that they help digestion and fight inflammation in the gut.

There isn't enough proof to make a specific recommendation, but a few studies have suggested that using probiotics could help against vaginal infections.

She said that more research needs to be done to say when, how much, and what type of probiotics are helpful.

Patients who have suffered from chronic vaginal infections have felt better after taking probiotics, according to Barnes.

She said that if she had a patient with recurrent vaginal infections, she would recommend goat's milk.

4. Discharges women should worry about

The vagina is considered a self-cleaning organ, but that doesn't mean it's not vulnerable.

Barnes said that 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.

If there is an abnormal discharge, she recommends that women get evaluated. She said that it can be as simple as a yeast infection, but that it can be more complicated or even a sexually transmitted infection.

5. Sex can keep the vagina healthy

Couple in bed

Sex can combat some of the effects of hormonal changes. (Image credit: Getty Images)

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the body undergoes hormonal changes that could lead to vaginal dryness through the various stages of women's lives.

Barnes said that the vagina can become dry and even be a source of pain if estrogen levels drop.

Barnes said that safe vaginal intercourse can help keep the vagina healthy.

She suggested lubricating intercourse to make it more comfortable. For women who experience extreme dry skin, using hormonal therapies in the form of pills, patches, vaginal rings or creams may be an option.

She warned that there are some risks to certain types of hormone therapy and that it is important for women to discuss them with their doctor before using them.

6. Good and bad bacteria

It is normal for your vagina to have a lot of bugs. According to the journal, there are some bacteria that keep the vagina's acidity in the normal range.

Sometimes the balance between good and badbacteria can be disrupted. Barnes said that women could experience a discharge that smelled bad or had an itching or burning sensation.

There are ways for women to keep their vaginas healthy.

Barnes told his patients to avoid douching and to flush out the vagina with anything that might kill the lactobacilli.

She said that soaps should only be used to clean the hair-covered areas of the skin.

She said that water was sufficient for cleaning the non-hair-bearing regions.

7. The clitoris is much bigger than it looks

clitoris anatomy

The majority of the clitoris is internal.  (Image credit: Getty Images)

According to the Anatomic Study of the Clitoris and the Bulbo-Clitoral Organ, the same number of nerve endings are found at the end of the clitoris.

The clitoral hood, which is a small pink organ, is a powerhouse of pleasure. The clitoris can be found in the vagina for about 3-4 inches. The glans and body are visible, but the roots are hidden, which is why they are not internal.

Additional resources

To find out what is normal for a vagina, the NHS website answers some questions. You can read an article about how vaginas are losing their stigma.

Bibliography

Female ejaculation: An update on anatomy, history, and controversies. There is an online library that can be accessed at onlinelibrary.wiley.com.

Effects of Sex Education and Kegel Exercises on the Sexual Function of Postmenopausal Women is a Randomized Clinical Trial. The Journal of Sexual Medicine is a journal.

Pelvic organ prolapse is a problem. The Lancet was published in 2007.

Why is the human vaginal microbiome unique? The article is titled "Frontiers in Microbiology".

The female sexual response and the clitoris aretomys. There is an online library of Clinical Anatomy.