Of course there are many positive aspects regarding sex, but for women the shape of the reproductive organ has an important disadvantage: the vagina is an entry point for pathogens. Bacteria and viruses could slip in through the opening.
Something must be done about this, says doctor Emer Hageraats from Maastricht University, who teaches gynecology. “An opening like that is very vulnerable. To prevent disease, there is a much more acidic environment in the vagina.’ And attackers have less chance in that acidic environment.
Four labia, double security
So the climate in the barn is not hospitable to pathogens. But security has an even simpler way: swing doors. Of course, the labia. They cover the vaginal cavity. ‘They are double layered on both sides, with some connective tissue and fat tissue inside. They protect the whites.’
Why do you need two folds on each side? Hageraats: ‘I didn’t design it, but the outer labia is more or less a transition between the skin and the mucous membrane. They are made up of skin and hair on the outside and mucous membranes on the inside. The inner labia is more of a cover for the entrance to the vagina.’ The labia, in turn, are completely covered with a mucous membrane, as you find in the mouth, and they usually cover everything completely.
Mucous membrane restores and invites
The moist mucous membrane of the inner labia has mainly a protective function: the moist environment is more hostile to pathogens. When excited, the humidity increases even more because blood plasma is squeezed out of small blood vessels under pressure. Moist glands in the inner labia also begin to facilitate sex.
Life in motion
That double door leads to confusion. The external labia are named after their Latin name (big labia) also known as the labia majora and the inner (labia minora) then the little one. But the labia has little use for that vocabulary.
There are great differences, says Hageraats, not only between women, but also within human life. “The appearance of the labia changes constantly throughout life. In childhood, the inner labia are slightly smaller than the outer ones. During childbirth, the inner labia grow in size.’
Labia minora becomes large
So it can happen that the labia minora will suddenly be the biggest and vice versa. Very practical, because from that moment on it is useful if the gate can be opened now and again, for that damned reproduction. The labia change size under hormonal influence. During childbirth they have much better blood flow. This makes sex easier, which also helps with conception.’
As soon as fertilization has occurred, things happen again. ‘When someone is pregnant, the whole area becomes even bloodier. It is also slightly dense: blood drainage is not as smooth. This makes the mucous membrane look a little different, it has a blue-purple color. Here’s how to tell if someone is pregnant. They used to call him the name the poor man’s pregnancy test.’
Is it over with the many shows? No, because the transition is also affected. In that phase, hormonal changes lead to less pregnancy, which also causes the labia to move. After menopause, the inner labia becomes smaller again, as it was before the first menstruation. Some salty material then disappears from the pieces.’
The perfect size? That doesn’t exist
After this short lifespan of the labia, it is clear that there is no clear answer about the correct size. Differences are quite normal, says Hageraats. ‘There is a difference for every part of the body. The penis is also very different from one person to another.’
2024-08-18 07:13:05
#Labia #important #protectors #change #shape
