Knowledge of the female body: external genitalia. What are the forms of the labia
Kelly. Fundamentals of modern sexology. Ed. Peter
Translated from English by A. Golubev, K. Isupova, S. Komarov, V. Misnik, S. Pankov, S. Rysev, E. Turutina
The anatomical structure of the male and female genital organs, also called the genitals, has been known for many hundreds of years, but reliable information about their functioning has become available only recently. Male and female genitalia perform many functions and play an important role, participating in reproduction, and in obtaining pleasure, and in establishing a trusting relationship in love.
Oddly enough, most popular sex education textbooks have traditionally treated the male genitalia first as a source of pleasurable sexual sensations, and only then discussed their role in childbearing. In the study of the female genital organs, the emphasis is clearly shifting to the reproductive functions of the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes. The importance of the role of the vagina, clitoris, and other external structures in sexual pleasure is often overlooked. In this and the next chapter, both the male and female genital organs are described as a potential source of intimacy in human relationships and sexual enjoyment, as well as a potential source of childbearing.
FEMALE GENITAL ORGANS
The female reproductive organs are not exclusively internal. Many of their important structures located externally play a large role in providing sexual arousal, while the internal parts of the female reproductive system are more significant in regulating hormonal cycles and reproductive processes.
The external female genital organs consist of the pubis, labia and clitoris. They are richly innervated and therefore sensitive to stimulation. The shape, size and nature of the pigmentation of the external genital organs vary greatly in different women.
Vulva
The external female genital organs, located between the legs, below and in front of the pubic articulation of the pelvic bones, are collectively called the vulva. The most prominent of these organs is the pubis. ( monsveneris)and large labia (or shameful) lips (labia majora). The pubis, sometimes called the pubic eminence, or the hill of Venus, is a rounded pad formed by subcutaneous adipose tissue and located above the rest of the external organs, just above the pubic bone. During puberty, it is covered with hair. The pubis is quite abundantly innervated, and most women find that friction or pressure in this area can be sexually arousing. The vulva is generally considered the main erogenous zone in women, as it tends to be very sensitive to sexual stimulation.
The labia majora are two folds of skin directed from the pubis down towards the perineum. They can be relatively flat and barely visible in some women, and thick and prominent in others. During puberty, the skin of the large lips darkens slightly, and hair begins to grow on their outer lateral surface. These outer skin folds cover and protect the woman's more sensitive sexual organs inside. The latter cannot be seen unless the large lips are parted, so a woman may need a mirror to be positioned so that these organs can be seen.
When the labia majora are parted, one more, smaller pair of folds can be seen - the labia minora (or pudendal) lips. They look like two asymmetrical petals of skin, pink, hairless and irregularly shaped, which connect at the top and form the skin of the clitoris, which is called the foreskin. Both the labia major and minor are sensitive to sexual stimulation and play an important role in sexual arousal. On the inside of the labia minora are the outlets of the ducts of the Bartholin glands, sometimes called the vulvovaginal glands. At the moment of sexual arousal, a small amount of secretion is secreted from these glands, which may help to moisten the entrance to the vagina and, to some extent, the labia. These secretions, however, are of little value in lubricating the vagina during sexual arousal, and any other function of these glands is unknown. Bartholin's glands sometimes become infected with bacteria from feces or other sources, and in such cases, treatment by a specialist may be required. There are two openings between the labia minora. In order to see them, the labia minora often needs to be moved apart. Almost under the clitoris is the tiny opening of the urethra, or urethra, through which urine is expelled from the body. Below is a larger opening of the vagina, or the entrance to the vagina. This hole is usually not open and can only be perceived as such if something is inserted into it. In many women, especially those in the younger age groups, the entrance to the vagina is partially covered by a membrane-like tissue - the hymen.
The human genital organs are important for both reproduction and pleasure. Historically, sexuality educators have focused on reproductive function and the internal genitalia, especially in women. In recent years, these specialists have also begun to pay attention to those aspects of sexual behavior that are associated with obtaining pleasure, and the external genitalia.
Clitoris
The clitoris, the most sensitive of the female genital organs, is located just below the upper fusion of the labia minora. It is the only organ whose only function is to provide sensitivity to sexual stimulation and be a source of pleasure.
The clitoris is the most sensitive female genital organ. Some form of clitoral stimulation is usually necessary to achieve orgasm, although the most appropriate method varies from woman to woman. The most visible part of the clitoris usually looks like a rounded outgrowth protruding from under the foreskin, which is formed by the upper fusion of the labia minora. This outer, sensitive part of the clitoris is called the glans. For a long time, the clitoris has been likened to the male penis because it is sensitive to sexual stimulation and capable of erection. Sometimes even incorrectly considered the clitoris an underdeveloped penis. In fact, the clitoris and its entire internal system of blood vessels, nerves, and erectile tissue form a highly functional and important sexual organ (Ladas, 1989).
The body of the clitoris is located behind the head under the foreskin. The glans is the only freely protruding part of the clitoris, and, as a rule, it is not very mobile. The part of the clitoris, located behind the head, is attached to the body along its entire length. The clitoris is formed by two columnar cavernous bodies and two bulbous cavernous bodies, which are capable of filling with blood during sexual arousal, causing a hardening, or erection, of the entire organ. The length of a non-erect clitoris rarely exceeds 2-3 cm, and in an unexcited state only its top (head) is visible, but during an erection it increases significantly, especially in diameter. As a rule, in the first stages of arousal, the clitoris begins to protrude more than in the unexcited state, but as the arousal builds up, it retracts.
In the skin of the foreskin are tiny glands that secrete a fatty substance, which, mixing with the secrets of other glands, forms a substance called smegma. This substance accumulates around the body of the clitoris, sometimes leading to a benign infection that can cause pain or discomfort, especially during sexual activity. If smegma buildup becomes a problem, it can be removed by a doctor using a small probe inserted under the foreskin. Sometimes the foreskin is slightly incised surgically, further exposing the head and body of the clitoris. This procedure, known in Western culture as circumcision, is rarely performed on women, and doctors find little rationale for it.
Vagina
The vagina is a tube with muscular walls and plays an important role as a female organ associated with childbearing and sexual pleasure. The muscular walls of the vagina are very elastic, and unless something is inserted into the vaginal cavity, they are compressed, so this cavity is better described as a "potential" space. The length of the vagina is about 10 cm, although it is able to lengthen with sexual arousal. The inner surface of the vagina, elastic and soft, is covered with small comb-like protrusions. The vagina is not very sensitive, except for areas immediately surrounding the entrance to it or located deep into the entrance about one third of the length of the vagina. This outer region, however, contains many nerve endings, and its stimulation easily leads to sexual arousal.
The opening of the vagina is surrounded by two groups of muscles: the sphincter of the vagina ( sphincter vaginae)and anus levator ( levator ani). Women are able to control these muscles to some extent, but tension, pain or fear can lead to their involuntary contraction, in which the introduction of any objects into the vagina becomes painful or impossible. These manifestations are called vaginismus. A woman can also regulate the tone of the internal PC muscle, which, like the anal sphincter, can be contracted or relaxed. This muscle plays a role in the formation of orgasm, and its tone, like the tone of all voluntary muscles, can be learned to regulate with the help of special exercises.
It is important to note that the vagina cannot contract to such an extent that the penis will be held in it. ( penis captivus),although it is possible that some have heard otherwise. In Africa, for example, there are many myths about people who become entangled during sex and have to go to the hospital to be separated. Such myths appear to serve the social function of preventing adultery ( Ecker, 1994). When mating dogs, the penis is erect in such a way that it is trapped in the vagina until the erection subsides, and this is necessary for successful mating. Nothing like this happens to people. During sexual arousal in women, a lubricant is released on the inner surface of the walls of the vagina.
douching
Over the years, women have developed many ways to flush their vaginas, sometimes referred to as douching. It was believed to help prevent vaginal infections and eliminate bad breath. In a study of 8,450 women aged 15 to 44 years, 37% of them were found to douche as part of their regular hygiene routine (Aral , 1992). This practice is especially prevalent among the poor and minority people of color, where the proportion can be as high as two-thirds. One member of the National Black Women's Health Project ( Black Women's Health Project) speculated that douching may represent black women's reactions to negative sexual stereotypes. Meanwhile, research is providing increasing evidence that douching, contrary to popular belief, can be dangerous. Thanks to him, pathogens can penetrate into the uterine cavity, which increases the risk of uterine and vaginal infections. Women who douche more than three times a month put themselves at four times the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease than those who do not douche at all. The vagina has natural cleaning mechanisms that can be disrupted by douching. In the absence of specific medical indications, douching should be avoided.
Hymen
The hymen is a thin, delicate membrane that partially covers the entrance to the vagina. It may cross the opening of the vagina, surround it, or have several openings of various shapes and sizes. The physiological functions of the hymen are unknown, but historically it has had psychological and cultural significance as a sign of virginity.
The hymen, present in the vaginal opening from birth, usually has one or more openings. There are many hymens of various shapes that cover the opening of the vagina to one degree or another. The most common type is the annular hymen. In this case, its tissue is located along the perimeter of the entrance to the vagina, and there is a hole in the center. The hymen tissue of some types extends to the entrance to the vagina. The ethmoid hymen completely covers the opening of the vagina, but it itself has many small openings. The cloisonné is a single strip of tissue that separates the entrance to the vagina into two distinct openings. Occasionally, girls are born with an overgrown hymen, that is, the latter completely closes the opening of the vagina. This can be clarified only with the onset of menstruation, when the fluid, accumulating in the vagina, will cause discomfort. In such cases, the doctor must make a small hole in the hymen to allow the menstrual flow to drain.
In most cases, the hymen has a hole large enough to easily pass a finger or a swab. An attempt to insert a larger object, such as an erect penis, usually results in a tear in the hymen. There are many other circumstances, not related to sexual activity, in which the hymen can be damaged. While it is often claimed that some girls are born without a hymen, recent evidence casts doubt on whether this is actually the case. More recently, a team of pediatricians from the University of Washington examined 1,131 newborn girls and found that each had an intact hymen. From this it was concluded that the absence of a hymen at birth is highly unlikely, if not impossible. It also follows that if the hymen is not found in a little girl, the cause of this most likely was some kind of trauma (Jenny, Huhns, & Arakawa, 1987).
Sometimes the hymen is stretchable enough to be preserved during intercourse. Therefore, the presence of a hymen is an unreliable indicator of virginity. Some peoples attach special importance to the presence of a hymen and special rituals have been established for breaking the hymen of a girl before the first copulation.
In the United States, between 1920 and 1950, some gynecologists performed special surgery on women who were about to get married but didn't want their husbands to know they weren't virgins. The operation, called "lover's knot", consisted in applying one or two stitches to the labia minora in such a way that a thin bond appeared between them. During intercourse during the wedding night, the bow broke, causing some pain and bleeding (Janus & Janus, 1993). Many in Western society still believe to this day that having a hymen proves virginity, which is naive at best. In fact, the only way to physically determine if intercourse has taken place is to detect semen in a vaginal swab using chemical analysis or microscopic examination. This procedure must be performed within a few hours of intercourse, and in cases of rape it is sometimes used to prove that penetration of the penis into the vagina has taken place.
The rupture of the hymen during the first sexual intercourse can cause discomfort or pain and possibly some bleeding when the hymen ruptures. In different women, pain can vary from barely noticeable to severe. If a woman is concerned that her first intercourse is painless, she can expand the opening of the hymen in advance with the help of her fingers. The doctor may also remove the hymen or stretch its opening with increasing dilators. However, if your partner gently and carefully inserts an erect penis into the vagina, using adequate lubrication, there are usually no special problems. A woman can also guide her partner's penis by adjusting the speed and depth of penetration.
Female genital self-examination
After becoming familiar with the basics of their external anatomy, women are encouraged to examine their genitals monthly, looking for any unusual signs and symptoms. With the help of a mirror and under appropriate lighting, you should examine the condition of the skin under the pubic hair. Then you should pull back the skin of the foreskin of the clitoris and spread the labia minora, which will allow you to better examine the area around the openings of the vagina and urethra. Be alert for any unusual blisters, abrasions, or rashes. They may differ in redness or pallor, but sometimes they are easier to detect not visually, but by touch. Do not forget to also examine the inner surface of the labia majora and labia minora. It is also advisable, knowing what your vaginal discharge looks like in a normal state, to pay attention to any changes in their color, smell or consistency. Although certain abnormalities can usually occur during the menstrual cycle, some diseases cause well-marked changes in the vaginal discharge.
If you find any unusual swelling or discharge, you should immediately consult a gynecologist. Often, all these symptoms are completely harmless and do not require any treatment, but sometimes they signal the onset of an infectious process, when medical attention is needed. It's also important to tell your doctor about any pain or burning when urinating, bleeding between periods, pelvic pain, and any itchy rash around your vagina.
Uterus
The uterus is a hollow muscular organ in which the growth and nutrition of the fetus takes place until the very moment of childbirth. The walls of the uterus have different thicknesses in different places and consist of three layers: perimetrium, myometrium and endometrium. To the right and left of the uterus, there is one almond-shaped ovary. The two functions of the ovaries are the secretion of the hormones estrogen and progesterone and the production of eggs and their subsequent release from the ovary.
The cervix protrudes into the deepest part of the vagina. The uterus itself is a thick-walled muscular organ that provides a nutrient medium for the developing fetus during pregnancy. As a rule, it is pear-shaped, about 7-8 cm long and about 5-7 cm in diameter at the top, tapering to 2-3 cm in diameter in the part that protrudes into the vagina. During pregnancy, it gradually increases to a much larger size. When a woman is standing, her uterus is almost horizontal and at right angles to the vagina.
The two main parts of the uterus are the body and the cervix, connected by a narrower isthmus. The top of the wide part of the uterus is called its bottom. Although the cervix is not particularly sensitive to superficial touch, it is able to feel pressure. The opening in the cervix is called the os. The internal cavity of the uterus has a different width at different levels. The walls of the uterus consist of three layers: a thin outer shell - the perimetrium, a thick intermediate layer of muscle tissue - the myometrium and an inner layer rich in blood vessels and glands - the endometrium. It is the endometrium that plays a key role in the menstrual cycle and in the nutrition of the developing fetus.
Internal gynecological examination
The uterus, especially the cervix, is one of the common sites of cancer in women. Since uterine cancer can be asymptomatic for many years, it is especially dangerous. Women should periodically undergo an internal gynecological examination and have a Pap smear analyzed by a qualified gynecologist. There is disagreement among experts as to how often such an examination should be done, but most recommend doing it annually. Thanks to the Pap smear, it was possible to reduce mortality from cervical cancer by 70%. Approximately 5,000 women die in the US from this form of cancer every year, 80% of whom have not had a Pap test for the past 5 years or more.
During a gynecological examination, first of all, a vaginal speculum is carefully inserted into the vagina, which holds the vaginal walls in an expanded state. This allows a direct examination of the cervix. To take a Pap smear (named after its developer, Dr. Papanicolaou), a small number of cells are painlessly removed from the cervix using a thin spatula or swab on the rod, while the vaginal mirror remains in place. A swab is prepared from the collected material, which is fixed, stained and examined under a microscope in search of any possible indications of changes in the structure of cells that may indicate the development of cancer or precancerous manifestations. In 1996, the Food and Drug Administration ( Food and Drug Administration) approved a new method for preparing the Papa smear, which eliminates the ingress of excess mucus and blood into it, which makes it difficult to detect altered cells. This made the test even more efficient and reliable than before. Recently, it has become possible to use another device that, when attached to the vaginal mirror, illuminates the cervix with light specially selected for the spectral composition. Under such illumination, normal and altered cells differ from each other in color. This greatly facilitates and speeds up the identification of suspicious areas of the cervix, which should be subjected to a more thorough examination.
After removing the mirror, a manual examination is performed. Using a rubber glove and lubricant, the doctor inserts two fingers into the vagina and presses them against the cervix. The other hand is placed on the abdomen. In this way, the doctor is able to feel the overall shape and size of the uterus and adjacent structures.
If suspicious cells are found in the Pap smear, more intensive diagnostic procedures are recommended. First of all, a biopsy can be used to determine the presence of malignant cells. If an increase in the number of altered cells is shown, another procedure called dilation and curettage (expansion and curettage) can be performed. The opening of the cervix expands, which allows you to enter a special tool - the uterine curette - into the internal cavity of the uterus. Some cells from the inner layer of the uterus are carefully scraped off and examined for the presence of malignant cells. As a rule, dilatation and curettage are used to clean the uterus from dead tissue after a miscarriage (involuntary abortion), and sometimes to terminate a pregnancy during an induced abortion.
Ovaries and fallopian tubes
On both sides of the uterus, two almond-shaped glands called ovaries are attached to it with the help of inguinal (pupart) ligaments. The two main functions of the ovaries are the secretion of female sex hormones (estrogen and progesterone), and the production of eggs necessary for reproduction. Each ovary is approximately 2-3 cm long and weighs approximately 7 grams. A woman's ovary at birth contains tens of thousands of microscopic vesicles called follicles, each containing a cell that has the potential to develop into an egg. These cells are called oocytes. It is believed that only a few thousand follicles remain in the ovaries by the time of puberty, and only a small proportion (400 to 500) of them will ever turn into mature eggs.
In a mature woman, the surface of the ovary has an irregular shape and is covered with pits - traces left after the release of many eggs through the ovarian wall during the process of ovulation, described below. By examining the internal structure of the ovary, one can observe follicles at different stages of development. Two different zones are also distinguishable: the central medulla and thick outer layer, cortex. A pair of fallopian, or fallopian, tubes lead from the edge of each ovary to the top of the uterus. The end of each of the fallopian tubes, which opens next to the ovary, is covered with fringed outgrowths - fimbria, which are not attached to the ovary, but rather loosely fit it. Following the fimbria is the widest part of the tube - funnel. It leads into a narrow, irregularly shaped cavity stretching along the entire tube, which gradually narrows as it approaches the uterus.
The inner layer of the fallopian tube is covered with microscopic cilia. It is due to the movement of these cilia that the egg moves from the ovary to the uterus. For conception to occur, the sperm must meet and enter the egg while it is in one of the fallopian tubes. In this case, the already fertilized egg is transported further to the uterus, where it attaches to its wall and begins to develop into an embryo.
CROSS-CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE
Mariam Razak, was 15 when her family locked her in a room where five women held her as she struggled to break free while a sixth cut off her clitoris and labia.
This event left Mariam with the lingering feeling that she had been betrayed by the people she loved most: her parents and her boyfriend. Now, nine years later, she believes that this operation and the infection it caused have deprived her of not only the ability to have sexual satisfaction, but also the ability to have children.
It was love that led Mariam to this mutilation. She and her childhood friend, Idrissou Abdel Razak, say they had sex as teenagers and then he decided they should get married.
Without warning Mariam, he asked his father, Idrissa Ceiba, to apply to her family for permission to marry. His father offered a substantial dowry, and Mariam's parents gave their consent, while she herself was told nothing.
“My son and I asked her parents to circumcise her,” says Idrissu Ceibu. - Other girls, who were warned in advance, ran away. That is why we decided not to tell her what will be done.”
On the day scheduled for the operation, Mariam's boyfriend, a 17-year-old taxi driver, was working in Sokod, a town north of Kpalime. Today, he is ready to admit that he knew about the upcoming ceremony, but did not warn Mariam. Mariam herself now believes that together they could find a way to trick their parents into convincing them that she went through with the procedure, if only her boyfriend would support her.
When he returned, he learned that she had to be urgently taken to the hospital, as the bleeding did not stop. In the hospital, she developed an infection and stayed there for three weeks. But while, according to her, her body was recovering, the feeling of bitterness intensified.
And she decided not to marry a man who could not protect her. She borrowed $20 from a friend and took a cheap taxi to Nigeria, where she lived with friends. It took her parents nine months to find her and bring her home.
It took another six years for her boyfriend to win back her trust. He bought her clothes, shoes and jewelry as gifts. He told her that he loved her and begged for forgiveness. Eventually her anger softened and they married in 1994. Since then they have lived in his father's house.
But Mariam Razak knows what she has lost. She and her current husband made love in their youth, before she went through a mutilation, and, according to her, sex was very satisfying for her. Now, they both say, she feels nothing. She compares the permanent loss of sexual gratification to an incurable disease that stays with you until death.
“When he goes into the city, he buys drugs, which he gives me before we have sex, so that I feel pleasure. But it's not the same,” says Mariam.
Her husband agrees: “Now that she is circumcised, something is missing in this place. She doesn't feel anything there. I try to please her, but it doesn't work very well."
And their sorrows do not end there. They are also unable to conceive a child. They turned to doctors and traditional healers - all to no avail.
Idrissou Abdel Razak promises that he will not take another wife for himself, even if Mariam does not become pregnant: “I have loved Mariam since we were children. We will continue to look for a way out."
And if they ever have daughters, he promises to send them out of the country to protect them from cutting off their genitals. Source : S. Dugger. The New York Times METRO, 11 September 1996
Female genital mutilation
In different cultures and in different historical periods, the clitoris and labia were subjected to various kinds of surgical operations, as a result of which women were mutilated. Based on the widespread fear of masturbation during the mid- XIX century and until about 1935, doctors in Europe and the United States often circumcised women, that is, removed, partially or completely, the clitoris - a surgical procedure called clitoridectomy. These measures were thought to "cure" masturbation and prevent insanity. In some African and East Asian cultures and religions, clitoridectomy, sometimes incorrectly referred to as "female circumcision," is still practiced as part of the rites that accompany the transition to adulthood. The World Health Organization estimates that up to 120 million women worldwide have undergone some form of what is today called female genital mutilation. Until recently, almost all girls in countries such as Egypt, Somalia, Ethiopia and Sudan underwent this operation. Although it can sometimes take the form of a traditional circumcision, in which the tissue covering the clitoris is removed, more often the head of the clitoris is also removed. Sometimes an even more extensive clitoridectomy is performed, which includes the removal of the entire clitoris and a significant amount of surrounding labia tissue. As a rite of passage marking a girl's transition to adulthood, clitoridectomy means removing all traces of "masculine features": since the clitoris is traditionally viewed in these cultures as a miniature penis, its absence is recognized as the highest symbol of femininity. But, in addition, clitoridectomy also reduces a woman's sexual satisfaction, which is important in cultures where a man is considered obliged to control a woman's sexuality. Various taboos are established to support this practice. In Nigeria, for example, some women believe that if the baby's head touches the clitoris during childbirth, the baby will develop a mental disorder ( Ecker, 1994). In a number of cultures, there is also the custom of infibulation, in which the labia minora and sometimes the labia majora are removed and the edges of the outer part of the vagina are sewn or held together with plant spines or natural adhesives, thus ensuring that the woman does not have sexual intercourse before marriage. The bonding material is removed before marriage, although the procedure may be repeated if the husband is going to be away for a long time. This often results in coarse scar tissue that can make urination, menstruation, intercourse, and childbirth more difficult and painful. Infibulation is common in cultures where virginity is highly valued at marriage. When women who have undergone this operation are chosen as brides, they bring significant benefits to their family in the form of money, property and livestock (Eskeg, 1994).
These rites are often performed with crude instruments and without anesthesia. Girls and women undergoing such procedures often become infected with serious illnesses, and the use of non-sterile instruments can lead to AIDS. Girls sometimes die as a result of bleeding or infection caused by this operation. In addition, evidence is accumulating that such ritual surgery can cause severe psychological trauma, with lasting effects on women's sexuality, marriage, and childbearing (Lightfoot-Klein, 1989; MacFarquhar, 1996). The influence of civilization has brought some improvements to the traditional practice, so that in some places today aseptic methods are already used to reduce the risk of infection. For some time, the Egyptian health authorities have encouraged this operation to be carried out in medical institutions to avoid possible complications, while at the same time providing family counseling to end this custom. In 1996, the Egyptian Ministry of Health decided to ban all medical professionals from both public and private clinics from performing any type of female genital mutilation. However, it is believed that many families will continue to turn to local medicine men to fulfill these ancient prescriptions.
There is growing condemnation of the practice, which is seen by some groups as barbaric and sexist. In the United States, this issue has come under closer scrutiny, as it is now becoming clear that some immigrant girls from over 40 countries may have been subjected to a similar procedure in the United States. A woman named Fauzia Kasinga fled the African country of Togo in 1994 to avoid mutilation and eventually arrived in the States illegally. She applied for asylum, but the immigration judge initially dismissed her arguments as unconvincing. After she spent over one year in prison, the Board of Immigration Appeals ruled in 1996 that female genital mutilation did indeed constitute an act of persecution and was a legitimate basis for granting women asylum (Dugger , 1996). Although such practices are sometimes seen as a cultural imperative that should be respected, this ruling and other developments in developed countries underline the idea that such operations constitute a violation of human rights that must be condemned and stopped ( Rosenthal, 1996).
Female genital mutilation often has deep roots in the way of life of the representatives of this or that culture, reflecting a patriarchal tradition in which the woman is considered the property of the man, and female sexuality is subordinated to the male. This custom can be regarded as a fundamental component of the initiation rites, symbolizing the girl's acquisition of the status of an adult woman, and therefore serve as a source of pride. But with increasing attention to human rights around the world, including in developing countries, opposition to such practices is growing. There is fierce debate in countries where these procedures continue to apply. Younger and more Westernized women—often with the support of their husbands—are calling for a more symbolic initiation rite that would preserve the positive cultural value of the traditional ritual but avoid painful and dangerous surgery. Feminists in the Western world are especially eloquent about this issue, arguing that such procedures are not only dangerous to health, but also an attempt to emphasize the dependent position of a woman. Such disputes are a classic example of the clash between culture-specific customs and globally changing views on sexuality and gender issues.
Definitions
CLITOR - an organ sensitive to sexual stimulation, located in the upper part of the vulva; fills with blood during sexual arousal.
CLITOR HEAD - the outer, sensitive part of the clitoris, located at the upper fusion of the labia minora.
CLITOR BODY - an elongated part of the clitoris containing tissue that can fill with blood.
VULVA - external female genital organs, including the pubis, large and small labia, clitoris and vaginal opening.
PUBIS - an elevation formed by adipose tissue and located above the pubic bone of a woman.
LARGE LIPS - two outer folds of skin covering the labia minora, clitoris and openings of the urethra and vagina.
LABIA SMALL - two folds of skin within the space bounded by large lips, connecting above the clitoris and located on the sides of the openings of the urethra and vagina.
FORESKIN - in women, a tissue in the upper part of the vulva that covers the body of the clitoris.
BARTHOLINIAN GLANDS - small glands, the secret of which is secreted during sexual arousal through the excretory ducts that open at the base of the labia minora.
URINARY OPENING - opening through which urine is expelled from the body.
VAGINA ENTRY - external opening of the vagina.
VIRGIN HYLEVA - connective tissue membrane, which can partially close the entrance to the vagina.
SMEGMA A thick, oily substance that can accumulate under the foreskin of the clitoris or penis.
CIRCUMCISION - in women - a surgical operation that exposes the body of the clitoris, in which its foreskin is cut.
INFIBULATION A surgical procedure used in some cultures in which the edges of the vaginal opening are held together.
CLITORODECTOMY - surgical removal of the clitoris, a common procedure in some cultures.
VAGINISM - involuntary spasm of the muscles located at the entrance to the vagina, making it difficult or impossible to penetrate it.
PUNOCOPHIC MUSCLE - part of the muscles supporting the vagina, is involved in the formation of an orgasm in women; women are able to control his tone to some extent.
VAGINA - a muscular channel in a woman's body that is susceptible to sexual arousal and into which sperm must enter during intercourse in order for conception to occur.
UTERUS - a muscular organ in the female reproductive system in which a fertilized egg is implanted.
CERVIX - the narrower part of the uterus that protrudes into the vagina.
ISTHHUM - narrowing of the uterus directly above its neck.
BOTTOM (UTERUS) - wide upper part of the uterus.
ZEV - an opening in the cervix leading to the uterine cavity.
PERIMETRIES - outer layer of the uterus.
MYOMETRIUM - middle, muscular layer of the uterus.
ENDOMETRIUM - the inner layer of the uterus lining its cavity.
STROKE PAPA - microscopic examination of a preparation of cells taken by scraping from the surface of the cervix, carried out in order to detect any cellular abnormalities.
OVERS - a pair of female sex glands (gonads) located in the abdominal cavity and producing eggs and female sex hormones.
EGG - female sex cell, formed in the ovary; fertilized by sperm.
FOLLICLE - a conglomerate of cells surrounding a maturing egg.
OOCYTES - cells are the precursors of the oocyte.
FALLOPIAN TUBES - structures associated with the uterus, through which the eggs are transferred from the ovaries to the uterine cavity.
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A person can appreciate the merits and the real picture of the surrounding world only under the condition of a real perception of sounds. When extraneous subjective noises heard in the ears and head are added to the natural sound, not only auditory perception is disturbed, but also the psycho-emotional state. Few patients leave unnatural noises in the ears and head unattended. For real help in such situations, it is necessary to find out
According to a study by the American Psychological Association, people aged 18-33 are subject to higher levels of stress than older people. The lost ability to sleep normally was reported by about 50% of young people. The reason is constant anxiety and problems. Most often, young people have to think about the need to observe the strictest economy. Uncertainty about the stability of the situation in the workplace also causes stress. In 2010 year
Oncologists at the University of Pennsylvania have made an interesting and important discovery. It turns out that the human body can independently, without the help of drugs and anticancer therapy, overcome cancer. The university staff managed to find a molecule called TIC10, which activates the TRAIL protein, which helps fight cancer. The TRAIL protein is known to inhibit the growth of tumor tissue during the process of searching for cancer cells, which is called the immune response.
A seasonal flu epidemic is on the nose, and therefore it would be useful to remember the rules that will help prevent a local flu epidemic in your own home. The rules were developed by Allison Janse, one of the authors of The Guide to Outsmarting Colds and Flu. First of all, you need to make it a rule to throw away the rags that were used for cleaning and paper towels. It is better to replace rags with disposable napkins. Carriers of infection
It has long been said more than once that it is better to give than to receive. And now scientists have confirmed that nobility is not just a good quality. It is beneficial, and not only to those people to whom it is directed, but also to those who manifest it. Moreover, this benefit is considered not so much from the point of view of universal values, but from the point of view of health.
Despite numerous contraindications, cupping on the back has become widespread due to the effectiveness and low cost of this procedure. This technique is based on simple laws of physics and has been used for a long time: the beneficial properties of cans on the back have a beneficial effect on the human body, strengthening the immune system and stimulating the work of internal organs. Banks on the back: how to use, types Banks on the back are placed for removal
An interesting invention of SFM-Pharm employees is reported by Interfax. The company, the first resident of the scientific and technological park in the field of biotechnology in the science city of Koltsovo, located near Novosibirsk, has created a drug called "G5". With the help of this drug, employees of the company claim, the human brain will be able to produce stem cells. The invention, which has no analogues in the world, is a tool with full regenerative activity. Andrey Artamonov, co-owner of the company, says that
A visit to a tattoo parlor can result in skin cancer, warns The Times of India. Thanks to the research of doctors, it became known that the paints used by tattoo artists are dangerous. They contain toxic elements that can cause skin cancer. The most dangerous of all was blue paint. It contains aluminum and cobalt. Mercury sulfide was found in the red paint. Some other colors also
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A terrible story happened to a resident of the UK. A regular contact lens caused a fungal disease that robbed a 42-year-old woman of her left eye. Jacqueline Stone, that is the name of the victim, admits that one-day lenses caused her discomfort for a whole day from the moment of purchase. When she tried to remove the lens from her eye, she found that the lens was stuck to the eyeball. Vision began to deteriorate. The eye drops prescribed by the doctor only exacerbated the unpleasant
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Incredible Facts
This list will tell about ten unfortunate people suffering from severe deformities.
Some of them, with the help of modern medicine, have been able to live more or less normal lives.
Some of the stories are tragic, others are hopeful. Here are ten shocking stories:
Human deformation
10 Rudy Santos
Man is an octopus
Attached to Rudy's pelvis and abdomen another pair of arms and legs, belonging to his brother, whom Santos devoured while in the womb. Also on his body is an extra pair of nipples and an undeveloped head with an ear and hair.
Rudy became a national celebrity while traveling as part of a freak show in the 1970s and 1980s. Then he earned about 20,000 pesos per day, being the main "attraction" of the show.
It was then that he got his stage name - "octopus". Rudy was likened to God and women lined up just to stand next to him or take pictures with him.
Oddly enough, Rudy disappeared from the screen in the late 1980s and eventually has been living in poverty for more than ten years. In 2008, two doctors examined him to see if he could survive after surgery to remove unwanted body parts.
9. Manar Maged
two-headed girl
Less than a year later, Manar herself died due to a brain infection, the development of which was provoked as a result of complications that arose after the operation.
Unusual people of the world
8. Minh Anh
The boy is a fish
Ming Anh is a Vietnamese orphan who was born with an unknown skin condition that causes his skin to flake massively and form scales. His condition, as expected, was triggered by a special chemical (Agent Orange), used by the US military during the Vietnam War.
This condition is associated with constant overheating of the body, so it becomes extremely inconvenient for a person to “wear” the skin without regular showering. The same orphans from the orphanage called him "fish".
In the past, Ming was abused by the staff and other children who lived in the orphanage. They tied him to the bed and prevented the boy from taking a shower to "take off" the old skin.
When Min was just a child, he met Brenda, a 79-year-old resident of the UK. Now she travels to Vietnam every year to see him. Over the years, the woman came to the boy and became his good friend.
Brenda did a lot to improve the boy's life in the orphanage. She convinced the staff not to tie him up when the next attack started, she also found him a friend who goes swimming with the child every week, which is now Min's favorite pastime.
7. Joseph Merrick
Elephant Man
Probably the most famous person on this list is Joseph Merrick, the Elephant Man. Born in 1836, the Englishman became a London celebrity and later gained fame all over the world.
He was born with Proteus Syndrome, a condition that causes unusual growths of tissue on the skin that cause the bones to deform and thicken.
Joseph's mother died when the boy was 11 years old, and his father abandoned him. Thus, he left home as a teenager, then worked in Leicester, and later became a showman. He was extremely popular and at the peak of his popularity received his stage name: "elephant man".
Due to the size of his head, Joseph had to sleep sitting up. His head was so heavy that he could not sleep lying down. One night in 1890, he tried to escape into the realm of Morpheus "like all normal people", and sprained his neck in the process.
The next morning he was found dead.
The most unusual people
6. Didier Montalvo
Turtle boy
Didier was born in the Colombian countryside with a congenital melanocytic virus that causes the birthmark to grow at an incredibly fast pace throughout the body.
As a result of this disease, the birthmark became so large that covered Didier's entire back. Peers nicknamed Didier "turtle boy", because the incredible size of the "mole" was very similar to a turtle shell.
Apparently, Didier was conceived during an eclipse, because the locals considered him "the work of the devil." For this reason, he was prevented from interacting with other children and banned from attending the local school.
When British surgeon Neil Bulstrode learned of Didier's problem, he headed to Bogota, where operated on the child and completely removed the ill-fated "mole".
When the operation was performed, the boy was barely six years old. It was a real success, because the specialists were able to remove the entire birthmark. After the operation, Didier was admitted to school, he began to live a normal and happy life.
People with an unusual appearance
5. Mandy Sellars
Mandy Sellars from Lancashire, UK, was diagnosed with the same diagnosis as Joseph Merik - Proteus syndrome. This resulted in Mandy's legs becoming incredibly huge, with a total weight of 95 kg and a diameter of 1 meter.
Her legs are so big that she orders herself specially equipped shoes, which cost about $4,000. She also has a personalized car that she can drive without the help of her legs.
The tumor mass was completely removed after the first operation, the other three were sent for facial reconstruction. The operations were successful and a few weeks later José was on his way to Lisbon.
People with the most unusual abnormalities
2. Dede Koswara
Man is a tree
Dede Koswara is an Indonesian man who has been suffering from a fungal infection called epidermodysplasia verruciformis for most of his life. It causes the growth of large, tough fungal growths that look very similar to tree bark.
Over time, Dede became extremely uncomfortable using his limbs, they became so large and heavy. The fungus grows throughout the body, but manifests itself mainly on the arms and legs.
In 2008, Dede underwent a course of treatment in the United States, as a result of which 8 kg of warts were removed from his body. After that, a skin graft was made on the face and hands. Unfortunately, as a result of the operation, it was not possible to stop the growth of the fungus, so another surgical intervention was performed in 2011.
There is no cure for Dede disease.
1. Alamjan Nematilaev
A fetus in a fetus is an extremely rare developmental anomaly that occurs once in 500,000 newborns. The reasons for this anomaly are unknown, but many scientists believe that this occurs in the early stages of pregnancy, when one embryo is literally "enveloped" by another.
In 2003, the school doctor noticed that the child's stomach was very swollen and sent him to the hospital. Doctors examined him and concluded that the patient had a cyst. The following week, the boy was operated on, and, to everyone's surprise, a child weighing two kilograms and 20 centimeters long was found in Alamyan's stomach.
The doctor who performed the operation noted that the boy looked as if he was six months pregnant. The boy's parents believe that the development of such an anomaly was provoked as a result of radiation after the Chernobyl disaster, but experts rejected this idea.
Alamyan fully recovered from the operation, but to this day he does not know that his twin was growing inside him.
The topic of the structure and function of the human body is the basics of health, this is where the understanding of the norm and deviations from the norm begins. But this topic is practically missed in schools and other educational institutions, or distorted to such an extent that a person begins to live in myths and rumors, being in a state of "chronic fear". Since women are more emotional, they are more likely to be influenced by negativism and intimidation. Therefore, knowing oneself, understanding the structure and work of the female body is important to prevent unnecessary unreasonable interventions, and vice versa, to receive timely assistance when necessary.
Most women have no idea about the female reproductive (genital) organ system. Allegedly, there is some knowledge, however, they are too superficial. And what a woman without female genital organs, right? After all, it is they who determine its main difference from a man.
Female reproductive organs divided into external (external) and internal. To begin with, every woman needs to learn how to use a mirror and constantly examine the external genitalia, not paying attention to shame (you don’t need to be ashamed of yourself). In women, the external genitalia are vulva- the anatomical part of the external genitalia, which includes the vestibule of the vagina, labia major and minor, clitoris , pubis , opening of the urethra, hymen, bartholin glands and vaginal opening.
Let's skip the topic of the attractiveness of the external genitalia (despite the fact that, in fact, this topic worries many women and men), and recall only some important points of the anatomy and physiology of this part of the body.
Pubis
In all textbooks on gynecology and obstetrics, the pubis is mentioned in just two or three words, although it is of great importance in the lives of women and men (men also have pubis). The soft bump of fat pad in front of the vulva that covers the pubis is called the Venus tubercle or the tubercle of Aphrodite. Venus to the Romans and Aphrodite to the Greeks were goddesses of love, female sexuality, fertility and beauty.
This part of the female body plays an important role, in particular in sexual relations. The fat pad covers the pubic bone, which is an integral part of the large bony formation, the pelvis. It has the shape of a bowl and contains a large number of organs, being a reliable support for them. Organs that do not go beyond the bone formation of the pelvis form the small pelvis. It is in the small pelvis that the internal organs of the female reproductive system are located, including the body of the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries. Therefore, the pubis with a fatty pad perform a protective function - during bumps, falls, especially on the front wall of the abdomen, the force of trauma to the internal organs is reduced due to this tubercle of Venus.
Considering that the first three months of pregnancy, when all the organs and systems of the unborn child are formed, the uterus is deep in the pelvis and does not extend beyond the pubic bone, this is another important level of protection for future offspring from damage.
During intercourse, which is accompanied by active movements of partners, the pubis protects the woman and the man from traumatizing the genital organs, as well as the pelvic bones (in other words, it protects against friction and bruising).
In addition to the fat pad, the pubic skin contains a large amount of hair, which many young women shave, complaining in part of skin irritation and other problems associated with hair removal. Pubic hair appears during puberty, and this growth is caused by an increase in the amount of male sex hormones in the girl's body. Perhaps one of the scientists or doctors will mistakenly call the hair on the external genital organs a kind of rudiment, that is, a mistake of nature that did not have time to get rid of the remnants of the "evolutionary past". But this is an erroneous opinion.
Why does a woman need pubic hair?:
- Firstly, they are also a "natural gasket" that protects the skin and pubic bones from injury.
- Secondly, the hair prevents small foreign bodies and liquids from entering the genital slit.
- Thirdly, the skin of the pubis contains a large number of sebaceous and sweat glands that secrete a secret with a specific smell that plays a role in sexual attraction of the opposite sex (including instinctively through the smell). Pubic hair accumulates these substances and increases the smell of this area of the body.
- Fourthly, pubic hair also plays a hygienic role - they do not allow vaginal discharge to evaporate and spread outside the body.
- Fifthly, the skin of the pubis is quite sensitive and, when stimulated, plays an important role in the sexual arousal of a woman.
Pubic hair is determined by genetic and constitutional factors, as well as body hair. The age of a woman does not affect the length of pubic hair - it does not change from the moment the hair appears, which cannot be said about the amount of hair - lush "vegetation" is observed in the mature age of a woman.
Intimate haircut
Each woman has her own whims and requirements of female "beauty", especially in the intimate parts of the body. In part, such demands are a tribute to fashion, and are also provoked by the men themselves, who often compare the state of the vulva of their chosen ones with photos of porn stars in adult magazines.
“Intimate haircut” is another cry of fashion, and there are no such “hairstyles”! By the way, there is also a men's "intimate haircut". However, it must be remembered that the hair of the pubis and labia majora is not the hair of the head, since it is associated with genital infections, scabies, and pubic lice. It is not uncommon for skin to be cut, so that blood can get on the instruments. Unfortunately, not all "intimate hairdressers" process and sterilize their tools correctly, because such processing dulls blades and knives quite quickly, and generally disables some tools. Therefore, there is no guarantee of complete safety of an intimate haircut. And since the intimate part of the body is quite often wet, then in the presence of wounds of the skin and mucous membranes, a good soil for the growth of bacteria and the inflammatory process arises.
Crotch
Few women think about how many different holes there are in the perineum and how they are located. If you move from the lower edge of the pubis to the anus, then the woman has three openings of different sizes: the first is the opening of the urethra through which urine is excreted, a little lower there is an entrance to the vagina through which children are conceived and born, and outside the vestibule of the vagina there is an anal an opening through which intestinal waste is excreted. In addition to these main "holes", there are numerous openings of a number of glands, but it is often impossible to see them with the naked eye. Parents rarely explain to their children through which “hole” they are born. Almost the entire area between the pubis and the coccyx, and on the sides, is called the perineum - "between the legs."
It is important to note that the skin of the perineum is the dirtiest part of the human body, as discharge from the urethra, vagina and anus accumulates on it. These secretions not only accumulate during the day, but also create an excellent environment for the growth of microorganisms, most often the intestinal group (from the anus) and skin microflora (staphylococci, streptococci, fungi). Cleansing the skin by washing with warm water using soap at least twice a day (ideally after each act of defecation and urination) is the key to preventing inflammation of the external genital organs.
Large and small labia
Large labia- these are two folds of skin containing a dense fatty layer and covering the entrance to the vagina. They protect the vagina from microorganisms. In girls, the large labia are closed, so they are more reliably protected from germs and foreign bodies. With the onset of sexual activity, the labia majora open. Some women have dark coloration of the labia majora, which is mostly normal. Often during pregnancy, pigmentation increases. The labia majora are the same in origin and structure as the male scrotum - a bag of skin where the testicles are located.
Small labia, according to some doctors and sexologists, are part of the clitoral system. They are folds of skin with a large number of nerve endings. During sexual arousal, the labia minora swells and turns red, as does the clitoris. They cover the head of the clitoris, the urethra (urethra) and the entrance to the vagina, as well as the openings of a number of glands.
We can say that the labia minora is the "face" of a woman. Do not take this statement straightforwardly, but understand that the shape and color of the labia minora for each woman is individual and specific, and that any woman can be recognized from them if such signs were recorded somewhere, as photographs of the face in profile and full face are recorded, as well as fingerprints in the criminal filing cabinet. By color, the labia minora can have different shades of the mucous membrane - from pale pink to dark red (burgundy), as well as brown (women prefer to call it the color of chocolate). These shades can change throughout a woman's life, as well as at certain times, such as during pregnancy.
For some reason, among people, in particular women's doctors, there was a misconception that the labia minora should be almost the same for all women. On the contrary, the number of species of this part of the external genital organs is diverse, including in size. Look at the women's faces. How many types of female lips are there? A multitude, regardless of various kinds of classifications! The same can be said about the size and size of the labia minora (and the color has already been mentioned). Often the sizes of the right and left labia in women can be different, with even or fringed edges, asymmetrical, narrow, wide, shiny, matte, etc. It's all the norm.
Many women, especially young ones, after seeing photos of the labia minora in a gynecology textbook or in some pornographic photographs and comparing them with their own, go to extremes and try to somehow correct the “defect”, starting with all kinds of bleaching agents and ending with plastic surgery. If the size of the labia creates discomfort (pain), or a woman experiences moral dissatisfaction, an inferiority complex, then surgical plastic surgery of the labia is possible. More often than not, such interference is not justified.
piercing
Modern fashion includes the decoration of the external genitalia with earrings and other items, which is called piercing, since most often the attachment of jewelry requires piercing the skin. If all the rules of hygiene and sanitation are observed during the piercing, then there is no harm to it. However, the labia major and minor are extremely sensitive and easily irritated, so the appearance of a foreign body, even a small one, on the labia major and minor can cause pain, discomfort, and discharge. Many men like such jewelry, which means that women go to any feat to please their sexual partners. Most of them still cannot stand wearing such jewelry for a long time - it is always an unpleasant torture, regardless of the area in which the skin was punctured and the “toy” is attached. Only a few get used to the piercing and stop complaining. Of course, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the labia and in case of an inflammatory process or injury at the puncture site, seek medical help.
Vaginal vestibule
The entire area between the labia and the entrance to the vagina is called the vestibule of the vagina. It is always hydrated due to the constant secretion of glands and vaginal secretions in this part of the body. Irritation of the mucous membrane of the vaginal vestibule with chemicals and mechanically (friction from wearing underwear) can lead not only to increased production of secretions, but also to trauma and ulceration of the skin and mucous membranes.
It is this area of the external genitalia that most often suffers during intercourse, if it occurs without appropriate preparation - due to friction with the penis, abrasions, burning, pain, and discomfort are inevitable. Having received a negative experience of such sexual relations, many women begin to avoid sexual contact with men.
Itching of the vulva
The female vulva contains a large number of nerve endings (unlike the vagina, which is almost insensitive to pain), so this is primarily associated with the function of procreation. Therefore, even a slight chemical or physical irritation of this area of the skin and mucous membranes can lead to discomfort, pain, itching, burning. It is a mistake to assume that only infections lead to discomfort and itching of the external genital organs. When discharge appears, it is not the vagina that itches, but the vulva.
In reality, there are more than 100 different diseases, both "local", that is, in the vulva, and general (diabetes mellitus, wolf's lichen, psoriasis and others), accompanied by itching of the vulva. Different age categories of women may have various diseases with complaints of itching and burning of the external genital organs.
The infectious process is not present in all cases of discomfort and itching of the vulva. For example, it may be a reaction to soap, washing liquid, synthetic underwear, tight pants or tights, various kinds of intimate gels, intimate perfumes. In women, before menstruation, a physiological state of low estrogen levels is observed, the same condition occurs after childbirth when breastfeeding, which can also be accompanied by itching. Various skin diseases (dermatitis, skin infections), allergic reactions, diseases of the liver, nervous system, and many others can be manifested by complaints of itching.
Hymen
The hymen is located at the entrance to the vagina and is a section of the vaginal mucosa with a thickness of 0.5-2 mm, often semilunar or ring-shaped (there are about 20 forms of the hymen). It plays a barrier (protective) role. The hymen normally has one or more openings that allow menstrual blood to flow out of the vagina during menstruation. The congenital absence of the hymen is called hymen aplasia. This condition is extremely rare.
If the hymen is preserved, such girls are called virgins, or untouched. Does the presence of a hymen mean that a girl is sexually inactive? No, it doesn't. If only because the hymen can stretch and not be damaged during sexual intercourse (depending on its elasticity). In addition, there is anal and oral sex, which is now practiced by young people.
In baby girls, the hymen, due to exposure to maternal hormones (estrogens), is dense, has many folds and protrusions, is pale pink in color, and can protrude outward from the vagina (be curved), despite the fact that it is slightly deeper towards the vagina than in an adult woman. This condition can persist in girls up to 4 years. The size of the hole in the hymen of a baby girl is very small - about 1 mm, and increases by about 1 mm annually. Gradually, the labia minora grow down, covering the entrance to the vagina. From about 6-7 years old, the hymen, on the contrary, becomes thin, transparent, smooth and quite sensitive to irritation. Therefore, uncomfortable, tight, hard underwear and clothes can cause serious discomfort in a little girl, which an inexperienced mother or doctor will take for some kind of inflammatory process.
Is it easy to lose your virginity?
It is not easy to damage the hymen, however, it is quite possible. This danger arises from the very first years of a girl's life. In post-Soviet countries, almost all girls in a row are diagnosed fusion of the labia minora, or synechia, and therefore they immediately intervene not only with a rough examination, but also with an aggressive, rough treatment in the form of a separation of these lips. Disconnection is often carried out in the office during a finger examination without any anesthesia.
Synechia of the labia minora is a common occurrence in girls under 6-7 years of age, which most often does not require surgical dissection. The intervention of a doctor is necessary only in cases of violation of the outflow of urine and the addition of an infection of the genitourinary system, but such cases are extremely rare. Such manipulations can lead to damage to the hymen, especially if it is performed without anesthesia.
Treatment with vaginal suppositories of "vaginitis" in young girls does not justify itself. In a girl of 1-3 years, the diameter of the opening of the hymen is up to 3 mm, and it is quite dense and inextensible, when the diameter of vaginal suppositories is usually 8-15 mm. Small candles (suppositories) for the urethra have a diameter of 3-6 mm, but doctors rarely use them. Thus, the current generation of girls is in danger of losing their virginity long before the onset of sexual activity.
Is it possible to damage the hymen with sanitary tampons? The use of hygienic tampons has its negative sides. Nature knowingly created an outflow of menstrual flow from the vagina to the outside - this is a dead endometrium, therefore, toxins. But when a tampon is inserted into the vagina, this outflow is disrupted. Dead endometrium, along with blood, accumulates at the end of the tampon in the region of the cervix and the posterior fornix of the vagina. And since there is not enough oxygen access, a favorable environment arises for the reproduction of dangerous bacteria. This is how some women develop toxic syndrome.
In adolescent girls in puberty, trauma to the hymen with tampons and other objects is quite possible. Damage to the hymen with a sanitary tampon is also possible if the hymen has several small holes, and not one in the center. In adult girls (after 20-22 years), the hymen is elastic, the hole is of such a size that it allows you to insert a hygienic tampon into the vagina. But it is necessary to introduce and especially remove the used tampon carefully, without sudden movements.
Sexual partners often insert their fingers into the vagina and stretch the hymen for several purposes. Firstly, this reduces the pain of defloration at the beginning of sexual intercourse. Secondly, there is a misconception that after many "stretching the hymen" with the fingers, and then inserting the penis, the girl remains a virgin. Even from the introduction of fingers, small tears of the hymen appear, and when this is practiced constantly, soon the hymen is completely torn. One must also be careful about a number of infections that can be transmitted through dirty hands.
Modern youth also introduces various objects into the vagina. There is a competition among teenagers who can insert what into the vagina and hold this object for as long as possible. The list of such items is large and shocking in variety. Therefore, virginity can be lost not only through sexual intercourse, but through various games, masturbation using objects, and sometimes during intense sports activities associated with sudden movements, frequent falls, perineal injuries.
Defloration or damage to the hymen during intercourse may be accompanied by pain, but with proper preparation of a woman, especially when she is well aroused, it goes away without pain. Bloody discharge during defloration appears only in half of the cases.
Clitoris
Just below and behind the anterior commissure of the labia majora is the clitoris, or lust, a sensitive area of the female body in terms of sexual arousal. The structure of the clitoris resembles the male penis (penis), but without the urethra.
The clitoris is the sexual organ of all female mammals without exception. Its role is not fully understood, but the clitoris is a source of arousal and sexual satisfaction, since it contains a large number of nerve endings and blood vessels. Clitoral stimulation is used during intercourse and masturbation for sexual gratification. The head of the clitoris contains from 6,000 to 8,000 nerve endings - no other part of the body, both female and male, has so many nerve endings, and this is four times the number of nerve endings in the glans of the male penis. This means that the female clitoris is much more sensitive than the male sexual organ, which is important for a woman's sexual response to sexual intercourse.
Does marriage, and therefore a regular sex life, affect the size of the clitoris? It turns out not. The size of the clitoris is the same in married and single women. The size of the clitoris also does not depend on sexual orientation - they are the same in women living only with men, bisexual women and lesbians.
The external genital organs in women contain other structures that perform a specific function. More information will be provided in the book Encyclopedia of Women's Health.
It is known that the sex of a person is determined at the moment of fertilization of the mother's egg by the father's sperm. Let us remind readers who are far from medicine that the spermatozoon and the egg contain DNA, in whose molecules the program of the formation and development of a person is “recorded”. The chains of its molecules are concentrated in 23 chromosomes, each of which has its own pair in the sperm and egg. Under a microscope, paired chromosomes are indistinguishable from each other. The exception is the two sex chromosomes X and Y (“X” and “Y”), so named because of the similarity with these Latin letters. The female chromosome contained in the egg is shaped like the letter X. In the sperm, there is either an X or a Y chromosome. The total number of chromosomes in the cells of the body, both in women and men, is the same, amounting to a total of 46 (22 pairs of autosomes each plus two sex chromosomes).
If the egg is fertilized by a sperm with an X chromosome, the embryo receives a set of XX (“X-X”) characteristic of the female genetic sex, which is accompanied by the laying of the germinal ovaries. When it is fertilized by a sperm with a Y-chromosome, the embryo will have a male set of XY ("x - y"), which will provide him with the laying of testicles.
French biologist Alfred Jost (Jost A., 1946, 1947, 1951, 1953, 1974) conducted jewelry experiments. He removed the embryos from the uterus of a pregnant rabbit, castrated them (removed the testicles or ovaries) and planted them in the uterus again. It turned out that the presence of embryonic testicles determines the laying of the male genitalia (penis, scrotum, vas deferens). The female reproductive apparatus was formed both in the presence of germinal ovaries, and in their absence. The closer to the end of intrauterine development the experiments were carried out, the more the structure of the genitals of the newborn rabbit corresponded to its karyotype, that is, the genetic sex. Castration of the male fetus immediately after the laying of the testicles led to the birth of a female individual (only she did not have ovaries, and later her infertility was revealed).
In humans, development occurs in the same way as described. Normally, by the end of fetal development, either a boy is born with the XY genetic set and male genitalia, or a girl with the XX chromosome set and with female internal and external genital organs (ovaries, uterus, oviducts, vagina, clitoris, small and large labia).
It happens, however, that the normal course of events is disturbed, for example, due to an incorrect distribution of chromosomes among cells. In this case, a fertilized egg may not be with a standard, but, let's say, with an XXY-chromosome set. In such cases, a boy is born, but his testicles will later be defective. There may be other chromosomal abnormalities that will cause deformity of the genital organs.
The death of the germinal testicles at any stage of intrauterine development of the fetus leads to the same consequences. The earlier it happened, the closer to the female type the baby's genitals will form. A girl with a male XY chromosome set can be born, in which puberty will not occur in adolescence and mammary glands will not grow (after all, she does not have ovaries, we are talking about the male genetic field of the subject, combined with the death of his germinal testicles in the early stages intrauterine development).
With a later loss of the testicles of the fetus, a child is born with deformities of the genitals.
Sometimes anomalies are due to the illness of the expectant mother or hormonal treatment, which was mistakenly carried out during pregnancy. If the level of hormones of the adrenal cortex with androgenic properties is too high in the body of a pregnant woman (either due to the increased function of this paired endocrine gland, or in connection with the intake of hormonal drugs), deformities of the female reproductive apparatus of the fetus occur.
Adrenogenital syndrome of the fetus itself leads to similar changes. – congenital disease, accompanied by hypertrophy of the adrenal glands. A girl is born with an overdeveloped clitoris that looks like an underdeveloped penis; with varying degrees of infection of the vagina; with deformity of the labia. This is due to the fact that with adrenogenital syndrome, the adrenal glands produce an excess of hormones that are similar in their chemical structure to male ones (adrenal androgens).
With increased adrenal function, the boy is characterized by premature sexual development. His penis is distinguished by its large size, “adult” structure and constant readiness for an erection. The child may grow pubic hair. Among his peers, he looks like a hero.
Deformities of girls and women caused by hypertrophy of their adrenal glands are called false female hermaphroditism.
True hermaphroditism (by the name of Hermaphrodite from ancient Greek mythology, who had male and female organs) occurs extremely rarely when the glands of both sexes are laid. At the same time, in the cells of the body, in addition to the female chromosome, there must also be a male chromosome (or at least part of it). These people have both a vagina and a penis. Usually, such a combination does not bring much joy to their owners, as it is accompanied by hormonal deficiency, which requires medical correction.
Yet it is exceptionally rare to find individuals who are able to have sexual intercourse with representatives of both sexes, using both of their incarnations, male and female. Such a case was observed by the famous German scientist Rudolf Virchow and his collaborators Schultz and Friedreich. “These authors described a hermaphrodite Katharina Goman, who considered himself a man and from the age of 16 had sexual intercourse with women. At the age of 20, he began to menstruate, his mammary glands enlarged, and he began to live with men as a normal woman. At the age of 42, after the cessation of menstruation, he changed the name Katarina to Karl, he married and had a son. During his examination, Virchow found live spermatozoa; at the same time, regular menstruation indicated the existence of a functioning ovary”(Auslender, Cited by N. B. Medvedev, 1946).
Usually, hermaphrodites are born with an ugly structure of the genital organs: some degree of approximation of clitoral hypertrophy to an underdeveloped penis; with the urethra opening on the lower surface of the abnormal member; with deformity of the labia, resembling, as it were, a bifurcated scrotum; with vaginal infection. At the same time, gonads of both sexes are found in a person, located either separately or connected into one gland (“ovotestes” - “ovum-ovary”).
Diagnosis of anomalies of the genital apparatus in a newborn makes it absolutely necessary to consult an endocrinologist. The sooner the child enters his field of vision, the more complete the correction of anomalies will be, the fewer mistakes will be made with the determination of the passport (social) sex, that is, with the entry of sex in the documents. Then later it will be easier and more complete to correct the gender identity (we will talk about how difficult such a task is ahead).
The chromosome set may have an extra Y-chromosome, which makes the karyotype “super-male” - XYY (“X-Y-Y”). As a rule, such subjects are about two meters tall with large facial features and an overdeveloped lower jaw, the genitals are normally formed.
Interest in such a pathology was aroused by the work of Jacobs and his collaborators (Jacobs P. A. et al., 1971). After conducting a massive study of the chromosome set in prisoners and patients in US prison psychiatric hospitals, they found that the XYY karyotype is disproportionately observed in violent criminals. Some of them were imprisoned for homosexual violence. At first, this discovery caused a stir among geneticists. It would seem that they came close, finally, to unraveling the nature of homosexuality. Observing psychopaths with the XYY karyotype, scientists suspected a connection between aggressiveness and homosexuality with the Y chromosome.
But soon disappointment joined the delight of scientific discovery.
It turned out that criminals with the XYY chromosome set raped women and girls just as willingly as men and teenagers. In other words, psychopaths with an XYY karyotype are so sexually disinhibited that they are ready, despite their heterosexual orientation, to rape an object of any gender and age. In addition, their number is only 0.5% of the total population, that is, a negligible fraction of people with homosexual activity. Moreover, the majority of men with an XYY karyotype, examined not in prisons, but among law-abiding citizens, turned out to be not psychopathic, not aggressive, and predominantly heterosexual. In a word, attempts to prove the genetic nature of homosexuality by examining chromosomal abnormalities have come to a standstill.
