Dear wonderbread92,

The vagina — the stretchable passage that connects a woman's outer sex organs with her inner reproductive organ, the uterus — is often confused with the vulva. The vulva is the whole external female genital "package" — labia, clitoris, opening to the vagina and opening to the urethra.

Every woman's vulva is made up of the same parts, but every woman looks quite different from other women. And different is "normal," even though a lot of women and men worry that their genitals don't look "normal" to them.

The parts:

• outer labia (lips) — form the outside of the vulva
• inner labia (lips) — located inside the outer labia, enclose — from top to bottom — the clitoris, the opening to the urethra, and the opening to the vagina
• clitoris — the very sensitive sex organ that is designed to give women pleasure when touched
• clitoral hood — the top fold of the inner labia that protects the clitoris
• opening of the urethra — where urine leaves the body
• opening of the vagina — where menstrual and vaginal fluids and newborn infants leave the body and where the penis is inserted for vaginal intercourse

Some women get to know their bodies by taking a good look at their vulvas. This can be done by standing or sitting over a mirror and looking at the vulva. Examining the vulva allows a woman to recognize these common parts and also notice how her vulva is unique. It might also help to look at a diagram of the vulva.

Hope this information helps!

Take care,

teenwire.com^® Editors

This column is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have a medical problem, please call toll-free 1-800-230-PLAN for an appointment with the Planned Parenthood health center nearest you.