Debunking Myths About The Vagina
Written by Munirah Yaqoub
The vagina is an intrinsic part of every cis woman. More than being an entryway into the female reproductive system, the vagina is the gatekeeper for female health. Unfortunately, however, women just don’t talk about their bodies (including their vaginas) as much as they should. It’s almost like that super shy cousin who lives with you; you see each other every day but, interactions are always awkward. It wasn’t until recently that women started openly talking about female reproductive health. Yet, one cannot deny that most people still regard such conversations as taboo topics which should be kept a secret. ‘Hoo-ha’, ‘to-to’, ‘va-jay-jay’, ‘sharpener’, and the many other ‘names’ given to the vagina instead of simply saying the word “vagina” and I swear to you, it’s not a dirty word; it’s a perfectly normal word that can and should be said in public without shame.
The thing about being secretive about the nature of our vaginas is that it creates room for the development and peddling of lies about the vagina. The less we talk about our vaginas, the less accurate information we have on them, and the more fabricated myths begin to spread. It is easy to dismiss some of these talks as ridiculous but, when real people start to believe in them, they can have real, often damaging, consequences. As we get older and discover our sexualities, we tend to absorb the message that our bodies (including vaginas) could be more– tighter, more pleasantly scented, more pleasurable for our partners. We begin to strive for that perfect vagina when in reality, there is no such thing as a perfect vagina. In this piece, as the topic suggests, I intend to debunk just some of the many myths about vaginas. After reading this piece, I hope you become more comfortable with the nature of your vagina.
Myth one — The vagina has many parts.
One of the most common vaginal myths is its name. Recently, a woman tweeted that water should not be used to wash the vagina as it is self-cleansing and while some people agreed with her, the majority of the replies tagged the message as false, calling her a dirty woman (to put the replies nicely). This conversation reveals that there are women who cannot tell their vaginas from the other parts of their genitalia. The vagina is often wrongly used to describe the entire female genitalia and that is so wrong. You see, the female genitalia is made of up several parts and the vagina is just one of those parts. What the women in the replies were fighting for their rights to clean is actually, the vulva. One possible cause of this misinformation is a lack of adequate sexual education in schools. Because the society we live in views sex as a taboo subject, we were only given a cursory education about the reproductive system in school.
The vulva is made up of the opening to the vagina, the labia, and the clitoris. It is the part of your genitalia that touches your clothes. The vagina, on the other hand, is a fibromuscular tube that connects the vulva to the cervix and is thus, located inside your body, with an average length of 3–6 inches. The vagina does not have many parts, it is just one part.
Myth two — You need to clean your vagina with special products.
Put that soap down! your vagina does not need it! Social media is filled with ads on vaginal steaming, vaginal douching, vagina facials, and many others and for decades, manufacturers of feminine hygiene products have profited from the sexist myth that vaginas are inherently dirty and must be cleaned with perfumed douches, washes, wipes, and other products. The truth is that adding different products into the vagina disturbs/kills the natural bacteria in the vagina. This can cause irritation, itching, and infections, which can be difficult to treat. The vagina is self-cleansing. This means that it does not need your help in keeping itself clean. If you want to use mild soap and water to clean your vulva, that’s fine but, keep those things away from your vagina.
Myth three — You can cure a yeast infection with garlic or yoghurt.
Yeast infections are caused by an overgrowth of the candida fungus in the vagina. It affects up to three out of every four women at some point in their lives and is usually treatable with anti-fungal medication (preferably after consulting with a doctor). However, some online sources claim that natural products such as yoghurt and garlic can treat yeast infections. There is no evidence that these products have antifungal properties, so they are not proven remedies. The only natural remedy is time( i.e. if you wait, the yeast infection and it is supported by prescribed medication.
Myth four — Every time you get itchy down there, it means you have a yeast infection.
Yeast infections are common — yes!
Vaginal itching is a symptom of yeast infection — yes!
Every time my vagina itches, it is a yeast infection — absolutely not!
Vaginal itching may be a symptom of different underlying causes. It could be a yeast infection, hormonal changes, bacterial vaginosis, pubic lice, irritation from a product you’re using, etc. Before buying that anti-fungal cream, consult with a doctor to determine the true cause of your itch. It’s important not to jump the gun.
Myth five — Discharge means there’s something wrong.
Vaginal discharge is normal and is expected from most cis women. What is abnormal is when there is no discharge at all when there should be. Vaginal discharge is a fluid or mucus that keeps the vagina clean and moist and protects it from infections. The consistency of your discharge changes many times during your cycle. Normal vaginal discharge is usually clear or milky and may have a subtle scent that is not unpleasant. However, when your discharge begins to have a strong foul odour which may be accompanied by an unusual colour, it is recommended that you see a doctor immediately as it may be a sign of an underlying condition. For more information about the different kinds of discharge click here.
Myth six — Having an intact hymen means you’re a virgin.
The hymen is a thin membrane that partially or wholly covers the entrance of the vagina. However, the idea that the presence or absence of the hymen is a sign of virginity is ridiculous and has been disclaimed severally. When a newlywed lady bleeds on her wedding night in some cultures, the blood-soaked sheets are taken to the man’s family as proof of her virginity. I don’t have to tell you what she’s called where she doesn’t. Remember how I stated that believing in falsehoods has consequences? Well, for some women, name-calling is just the beginning.
The truth is that there are different types of hymen and some women aren’t even born with one at all. Even with women born with it, the hymen being a thin membrane can easily be torn or stretched during activities such as horse riding, wearing a tampon, a medical procedure, or a sexual activity. Due to all these reasons, this myth has been disclaimed by several healthcare professionals. To read more about hymens, click here.
Myth seven — Your vagina will get loose if you have sex.
I don’t know if you’re familiar with the “joke” about when a man’s penis can’t fill a woman’s vagina, it means she’s a whore. I once had a roommate who I overheard talking to another roommate about a video she saw on social media in which a man published a video he made of his sexual partner’s genitals to demonstrate how loose her vagina was. Aside from my disgust at the man’s actions, what struck me about their talk was her absolute contempt for a girl she had never met, from calling her a whore to speculating on how a man “will marry that one”, all while entirely ignoring the uploader’s conduct. Vaginal looseness has long been used to shame women for engaging in sexual activities because, if you think about it, it is used to describe a woman who has had multiple sex partners, not a married woman with a single sexual partner. However, even if you have a lot of sex, the vagina does not become permanently stretched. The vagina is elastic, which means it can stretch to accommodate items going in and out of it (penis, sex toys), but it always snaps back to its original shape. Your vaginal muscles may loosen slightly as you get older or have children, but they still expand and retract like a rubber band. A tight vagina isn’t necessarily a good thing as it may be a sign of an underlying condition, especially where you’re experiencing discomfort during penetration.
Myth seven — Normal Vaginas.
There is no such thing as a “normal vagina”. Vaginas (or more accurately, vulvas) come in different shapes, sizes, and colours. When people mention vaginal shapes, they’re referring to the labia or vaginal lips. The fleshy outer lips of the vulva are called the labia majora while the inner ones which lead to the opening of the vagina are called the labia minora. A woman’s labia may be longer or shorter than another’s. Every labia is different from the other woman’s and that’s perfectly normal. So, don’t kill yourself because your labia looks different from what you see in porn shows. Unless your normal involves pain or discomfort, everything is fine. For more information on the different types of labia, click here.
It is important to have open conversations about female reproductive health. When you don’t, you don’t know what myths you have internalized as normal and that can be harmful to you and possibly others around you. Create a community to have these conversations, they are needed.
Munirah Yaqoub is a law graduate who is passionate about women and children’s rights. You can connect with her on Instagram and Twitter.
Edited by Oluwatobiloba Ganiyu
Female, Editor, Medical student, ambivert, goofball, Christian. Always interested in learning new things. Connect with Oluwatobiloba on Instagram.
Published by Akinsipe Temitope
Temitope is a young storyteller who thinks all stories are worth telling. She loves to inspire people to do what they love and follow their passions, tell their stories, and live in the present moment. Connect with Temitope on Instagram, and Twitter.
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