Do you wonder if your vagina is “normal” in appearance? If so, you’re definitely not alone—this is a common concern among women. Many women find it reassuring to learn that healthy vaginas come in many shapes, sizes, and variations. While a “normal” vagina doesn’t exist, there are some common similarities.
But before we get into that, it’s important to make sure the basic anatomy is understood. To start, the vagina is actually a muscular canal that extends from the cervix to the outside of the body. The vagina is technically part of the vulva, which is the part of your genitals that exist outside the body. Many people say vagina when they mean vulva, but the vulva also contains other parts of female sexual anatomy including the clitoris, labia, vaginal opening, and urethra opening.
So, what are some similarities and differences in women’s external sexual anatomy?
Shape
There’s a great amount of diversity when it comes to vaginal shape, and much of this is due to the shape of the labia. The outer lips are known as the labia majora, and the inner lips are the labia minora. Both vary widely in shape and size. Here are some of the different shapes that may describe your vagina or that of another woman:
- In some cases, the inner lips (labia minora) are long and dangling, with part of them exposed and/or protruding past the outer lips.
- For some women, the outer lips (labia majora) will completely cover the clitoris and inner lips (labia minora).
- Sometimes one of the inner lips is longer than another, giving an uneven appearance to the labia.
- The outer lips may be small and separated a bit, making the inner lips very visible.
- In some cases, the inner and outer lips are a similar length.
- For some women, the clitoral hood is visible. This is often the case if the inner and outer lips are on the smaller side.
Size
Vaginal size will vary from woman to woman, but the average depth is just under four inches. However, among some women, the vagina can be as short as two inches or up to seven inches deep. Clitoris size will also vary from one woman to another, ranging from .1 inches to 1.3 inches, and often swelling larger with arousal.
Color
Most women’s vulva appears to be some shade of red, pink, or burgundy, but this will vary from woman to woman depending on skin tone and other factors. The color will often change over time, such as after puberty, following sexual intercourse, or with arousal.
The important takeaway is that female sexual anatomy varies a great deal, and you’re not “supposed” to look any one particular way.
If you would like to meet with a knowledgeable doctor, consider contacting Women’s Health Arizona. As Arizona’s largest ObGyn group, we’re trained and solely dedicated to delivering the best ObGyn experience in convenient and comfortable settings around Phoenix.
