How many holes does a vulva have? Spoiler: it's not two (2024)

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Rachel MossPublished Jan 18, 2024, 1:00pm

School sex ed lessons really did us dirty.

You probably know how to put a condom on a banana, but did you know that the vulva actually has more than two holes?

Obviously, there’s the hole you already know about – the vaginal entrance – otherwise known as the period hole or as we like to call it, the party whole.

Then there’s the entrance to the urethra, where your pee comes out. We’re guessing you’re well aware of this one.

But this is where things get wild. The team over at the Vagina Museum – the world’s first bricks and mortar museum dedicated to vaginas, vulvas and gynaecological anatomy – recently revealed there’s a whopping four other holes – and it’s honestly boggled our minds.

Posting on X (formerly Twitter), our favourite experts said: ‘On either side of the vagina are another two tiny holes. These are the greater vestibular ducts, leading to the greater vestibular glands. Their job is to secrete a lubricating fluid when you’re aroused, which gets the vulva good and wet.’

The greater vestibular ducts are also known as Bartholin’sglands. Yes, they’re named after a man.

That’s four holes and counting, but wait, there’s more! The urethra has a pair, too, known as the lesser urethral ducts (also called Skene’s glands), which lead to the lesser urethral glands.

‘These are homologous to the prostate, and sometimes secrete a whitish fluid when aroused (female ejaculation),’ the experts said. ‘These glands aren’t usually counted as a main hole as they’re very small, but they can be seen with the naked eye.’

The four minute ‘holes’ in the vicinity are so small, they aren’t always counted as such. But that doesn’t mean they’re not important.

Almost 2,000 social media users have liked the post, suggesting we’re not the only ones who missed out on this biology lesson at school.

Dr Danae Maragouthakis from the Oxford-based sexual health start-up Yoxly, previously told Metro.co.uk about some other misconceptions related to the vagina and vulva.

Around 22% of people incorrectly think having lots of sex can change the shape of the vagina and make it looser, but that’s just not true.

‘The vagina is a really muscular and elastic organ, so it has the ability to stretch during sex but it returns to it’s original shape and size afterwards,’ she said.

And did you know that semen can change a vagina’s PH – but it’s not something to worry about?

What is the vulva and how it is different to the vagina?

AYouGov surveyfound nearly half of British women were unsure about the location of the vagina and how this relates to the vulva.

Although we use the term ‘vagina’ colloquially to mean the full shebang, its technically one of the ‘inside bits’ while the vulva refers to the ‘outside bits.

To help clear things up, bodycare brand Luna Daily provided us with these handy graphics to help readers get clued up.

The Vulva
‘Vula’ refers to the external female genitalia that is visible from the outside, and includes the labia majora (the outer lips), labia minora (the inner lips), and clitoris.

The Vagina
The vagina, on the other hand, is the internal canal that runs from the cervix to the vulva. The vagina is the passage that leads from the uterus to the outside of the body, through which menstrual blood flows, and where sexual intercourse takes place.

‘The PH of your vagina can be temporarily affected by semen. The PH of the vagina is naturally acidic – usually between 3.8 and 4.5 – so the acidity works to balance the natural microbiome that exists in the vagina to keep it healthy, protecting against fungus and harmful bacteria,’ Dr Danae explained.

‘One the other hand sperm’s PH is naturally alkaline. ‘It’s usually between 7.1 and eight, so that helps to neutralise the vaginal environment as sperm enters and travels through the female reproductive system.’

Before long though, things go back to normal on their own and this ‘doesn’t usually cause lasting problems for women’.

Every day’s a school day.

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How many holes does a vulva have? Spoiler: it's not two (2024)

FAQs

How many holes does a vulva have? Spoiler: it's not two? ›

There are two holes in the vulva: the opening to the vagina and the opening to the urethra. The third hole is the anus (AKA butthole). Check out the diagram below. The opening to the urethra (AKA urethral opening) is the tiny hole that you pee out of.

How many total holes are in a female body? ›

A woman has seven, that is two ears, two nostrils, a mouth, beneath the labia majora of her vulva she has a urethra and a vagina and South of her perinium she has an anus.

What are the two openings in the vulva? ›

The urethral opening is the tiny hole that you pee out of, located just below your clitoris. The vaginal opening is right below your urethral opening. It's where menstrual blood leaves your body, and babies are born through the vaginal opening.

How many flaps does a Vigina have? ›

The vulva has two folds of skin or "lips." The outer folds are called the labia majora. The inner folds are called the labia minora. These skin folds protect the opening of the urethra and the vagina.

What are the ten holes in a woman's body? ›

The openings visible to the naked eye, though, are the two auditory canals, two orbits, two nostrils, mouth, urethra, vagina, and anus—10 in all.

What is female sperm called? ›

Gametes are an organism's reproductive cells. They are also referred to as sex cells. Female gametes are called ova or egg cells, and male gametes are called sperm. Gametes are haploid cells, and each cell carries only one copy of each chromosome.

Can a girl get pregnant if sperm is on the outside? ›

If semen (cum) gets ON the vulva or near the vaginal opening, sperm cells can swim into the vagina and cause pregnancy. This can happen if semen drips or is wiped onto the vulva, or if someone touches your vulva or vagina with fingers or sex toys that have wet semen on them.

What is the importance of pulling labias? ›

Elongated labia are perceived to facilitate orgasm and female ejaculation, and are considered to enhance sexual pleasure for both partners. Women who have unequally long labia may increase the size of the shorter to achieve symmetry. They also swell inwards, partially blocking the entrance to the vagina.

What are the 9 holes in the human body for a woman? ›

2 ears, 2 nostrils, 2 eyes, 1 mouth, 1 urethra,1 anus and for females 1 vagina. 9 for male 10 for females.

How many orifices are in the human body? ›

There are seven natural body openings or orifices providing access to an internal cavity through a natural passage called a canal, duct or meatus.

What does male sperm do to a woman's body? ›

Lead researcher Prof Tracey Chapman, from UEA's school of Biological Sciences, said: “It's already known that seminal fluid proteins transferred from males during mating cause remarkable effects in females – including altered egg laying, feeding, immunity, sleep patterns, water balance and sexual receptivity.

Which female hole is used for reproduction? ›

The vagina serves three purposes: It's where the penis is inserted during sexual intercourse. It's the pathway (the birth canal) through which a baby leaves a woman's body during childbirth.

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