Vagina & Vulva (Female Anatomy): Image, Parts, Function, & Problems

When not properly cared for, a woman's vagina may be one of the most painful parts of her body, despite the fact that it is one of the most attractive parts. Because it is composed of tissues that are both elastic and muscular, it is able to maintain its lubrication and improve its sensitivity throughout sexual activity during the labour and delivery process.

The penis of the male and the vagina of the female communicate with each other during sexual activity, which might eventually result in pregnancy. In addition to this, it also plays a role in the process of menstruation by facilitating the flow of blood. The birth canal is formed by the combination of the vaginal canal and the cervical canal, which is the cavity formed by the cervix.

The hymen is a tissue membrane that partly covers the vagina. This membrane may get damaged either via sexual activity or from physical activity such as riding a horse or other forms of exercise. In some cases it may not be present at the time of birth. Therefore the presence or absence of hymen cannot be called a sign of her virginity.

The vaginal canal serves as a connection between the uterus and the outside environment. The cervix may be found in the passageway that connects the vagina to the uterus. At the beginning of the vaginal canal, both the vulva and the labia exist.

Your vagina allows you to have sexual pleasure, channels period blood outside of your body, and aids in pregnancy and childbirth after the pregnancy. And i explain the functions further below:

• Menstruation: Unless you become pregnant, you shed your uterine lining (endometrium) each month during your menstrual cycle. The lining leaves your body as menstrual blood through your vagina. Tampons and menstrual cups can be inserted inside your vagina to control blood flow.
• Sexual pleasure: When a penis, a finger, or a sex toy penetrates your vagina, nerve endings in the vaginal walls allow you to feel pleasure. When you're aroused, your vagina expands and becomes lubricated to prevent the friction from feeling painful rather than pleasurable.
• Pregnancy: If your partner ejaculates during penis-in-vagina sex (intercourse), sperm may be released into your vaginal canal. To fertilize an egg, sperm must travel from your vagina to your uterus and fallopian tubes.
• Childbirth: When referring to the vagina's role during childbirth, people sometimes refer to it as a "birth canal." To be born, your baby travels from your uterus through your vagina. Your baby's last stop on its journey from your body to the outside world is through your vaginal opening.

• Vaginitis: It's a kind of infection caused either by bacterial or fungal outgrowth that causes inflammation of the vagina, itching, excess fluid discharge, and changes in its odour.
• Vaginismus: At the moment of sexual activity, the condition known as vaginismus refers to an excessive spasm of the vaginal muscles that is not within the control of the body. It might be brought on by the emotional discomfort that is brought on by sexual activity, or it might be brought on by physical issues.
• Genital Warts: It is one of the infections that may be passed on via sexual contact and can impair a woman's vulva, vagina, and cervix. Vaginal and genital warts are caused by the human papillomavirus.
• Trichomoniasis: Trichomoniasis is an infection of the vagina that is transmitted sexually and is caused by a tiny parasite known as trichomonas.Trichomoniasis is passed on from person to person via sexual contact. There is no need to be concerned about it since it may be readily cured if therapy is administered at the appropriate time.
• Bacterial Vaginosis (BV): Bacterial vaginosis is caused when there is an imbalance in the proportion of beneficial to pathogenic bacteria that are found in a woman's vagina. The primary contributor to this problem is engaging in sexual activity without proper protection, such as not using a condom. It results in a distinct change in odour as well as discharge from the vagina.
• Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV): The herpes simplex virus is a sexually transmitted infection that may produce minute, painful recurrent sores and blisters that infect the vulva, vagina, and cervix. This infection can be spread via sexual contact. It is treatable, but there is no known treatment for it; thus, the only approach to prevent such a persistent illness is to take precautions.
• Gonorrhea: A form of bacterial illness that may be acquired via sexual contact while unprotected. There is a one in two probability of not experiencing any symptoms at all, although itching and vaginal discharge are still possible signs of the condition. In females, it may lead to inflammation of the pelvic area and, in extreme instances, it can even induce infertility.
• Vaginal Cancer: Inclusion cysts of vagina are the most known symptom. These can develop as a result of trauma to the vaginal walls either during the process of giving birth or after surgery.
• Bartholin Cyst Or Abscess: The accumulation of pus that results in a lump or swelling in one of the Bartholin glands is referred to as a Bartholin abscess. Each can be found on either side of the vagina entry point.
• Vaginal Dryness: When the tissues of the vagina are not properly moisturised and in good health, a condition known as vaginal dryness can develop..It can be caused due to a decrease in estrogen level .
• Vaginal Itching And Discharge: Before the age of puberty, it is not uncommon for young girls to have symptoms like itching, redness, and swelling of the skin of the vagina and the surrounding region (vulva). The discharge may appear differently, smell differently, and have a different consistency depending on what is causing the condition.
• Chlamydia: An infection that is spread via sexual contact and is caused by a bacterium known as Chlamydia trachomatis. The symptoms include vaginal discharge and abdominal and vaginal discomfort. There is inflammation in the pelvic area, which, if not addressed, might lead to infertility. This condition is noticed.It may be healed by taking antibiotics as directed by a gynecologist on a consistent basis during the course of treatment.
• Vaginal Prolapse: During labor and delivery, the muscles in the pelvis become weaker, which makes it easier for the rectum, uterus, or bladder to press on the vagina and induce vaginal prolapse. The vagina may even extend outside of the body in the most severe situations.

• Pelvic Examination: If a doctor has any reason to suspect that a patient has an infection, he or she may use a speculum to inspect the patient's cervix, vagina, and vulva to search for any symptoms that may be present. In addition to this, the muscular strength of the pelvic floor may also be evaluated.
• Papanicolaou Smear (Pap Smear): A gynecologist can swabs the cervix and vagina during pelvic examination for any query regarding any kind of infection. This test is used for screening of any cervical or vaginal cancer if present or any doubt.
• Bacterial Culture: A culture of a vaginal and cervix sample is performed in the laboratory as part of the pelvic examination. If bacteria are detected in the culture then an infection has been established as the cause of this symptom.
• Colposcopy: Colposcopy is the medical term for a detailed examination of the vagina, cervix, and vulva performed with the use of a microscope. Colposcopy allows for the straightforward diagnosis of cancer as well as a variety of other conditions.
• Vaginal Biopsy: Only in very unusual circumstances, such as when there is reason to suspect the existence of abnormal growth in the vagina, is a vaginal biopsy performed. One of the many possible triggers is cancer, but there are others as well.

• Antimicrobials: Antifungal treatments are used to treat yeast infections, whereas antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections. Yeast infections may be permanently cured by antifungal drugs. Antiviral medication is prescribed to patients suffering from viral illnesses like herpes simplex.
• Wart Treatments: Treatments such as burning with a laser, cautery, chemical therapy, and freezing are used in the process of achieving a lasting cure for vaginal warts.
• Vaginal Pessary: This is used in case of prolapse of pelvic organs. In this technique, a tiny device made of plastic or rubber is inserted into the vagina in order to retain prolapsed pelvic organs in their proper position.
• Kegel Exercises: Exercising the pelvic muscles is a method that may be used to cure or prevent urine incontinence and vaginal prolapse.
• Estrogen Therapy: In a female organism, the presence of estrogen causes a reaction in both the internal and external organs. Estrogen is beneficial for postmenopausal women since it helps to rejuvenate these tissues.
• Vaginal Surgery: In cases of vaginal and cervical cancer, surgery is the last option to consider if none of the aforementioned treatments have been successful. In addition to this, surgery is also an option for the treatment of vaginal prolapse.
• Vaginoplasty: It is a technique in which the muscular layer of the vagina is surgically tightened and ligated. This is done in order to correct sagging that may have occurred as a result of having children or becoming older. Some specialists thought that it would increase vaginal sensitivity, but this is something that hasn't been shown yet.
• Labiaplasty: It is the cosmetic surgery of the labial folds of the vagina, which includes libation and transplantation of new muscular folds in labia majora and minora.

• Antibiotics Medications: In order to effectively cure vaginitis, trichomoniasis, vaginismus, and other related conditions, regular use of the product is prescribed by gynaecologists.
• Broad Spectrum Antibiotics: Antibiotics with a wide range of activity, such as ofloxacin, norfloxacin, metronidazole, ceftriaxone, and cefoperazone, are often used. Despite the fact that additional antibiotics like clindamycin, gentamicin, and doxycycline are frequently used in the treatment of complex vaginal illnesses,
• Antifungal Medications: These come in the form of topical solutions that may be applied directly to the affected area, as well as in the form of dusting powders that can be applied directly to the affected area.
• Topical Solution: They are put to use for the local application of pharmaceuticals that include powerful salts like clotrimazole, and the combination of these drugs with terbinafine is also recognised to be a beneficial therapeutic approach.
• Dusting Powder: When examining patients with vaginitis who react well to topical treatment, clotrimazole and fluconazole are used as a first and secondary therapeutic option, respectively.
• Antivirals: To this day, antivirals like as ganciclovir, acyclovir, and others are used to treat illnesses such as herpes, human papillomavirus, and HIV, all of which are forms of sexually transmitted diseases, despite the fact that specific criteria for these diseases are not known.
• Hormone Replacement: Artificial hormone treatments such as ethyl estradiol, medroxyprogesterone, human chorionic gonadotropin Iv, and others are used in the treatment of vaginal infections.
• Medications: For medications like amphotericin, isotretinoin, itraconazole, luliconazole, It is also possible to take them in their oral form and give them to a patient through the intravenous or parenteral routes on a daily basis, but this will depend on the severity of the infection or the kind of treatment that is necessary.
• Antiseptic Solutions: Various chemicals such as chloroxylenol solution, hydrogen peroxide, polyhexamethylene biguanide, bithionol, etc. are used in this process.
• Vaginal Gel: Hydrogen peroxide, polyhexamethylene biguanide gel, or chlorhexidine in a vaginal gel or pessary are examples of disinfectants and antiseptics.
• Vaginal Disinfectants: Disinfectants for the vaginal area, such as ethylenediamine chloride, hydrogen peroxide, octanedione, polyhexamethylene biguanide, and povidone iodine.