Vulva mapping: boost your sex life with this guide

Did you know that 1 in 3 women (1) surveyed have never tried to look at their clitoris, either because they didn’t think it worthwhile or because they didn’t dare?

Meanwhile, a quarter of 15 year old girls (1) don't know they even have a clitoris, and even fewer that it has an erotic function?

How well do you know your own body? Can you list all the external and internal parts that make up your sexual anatomy? No matter whether this is new to you or part of your everyday life, there’s always something new to learn.

So grab a mirror, get comfortable, and let's have a closer look.

The Mons Venus

The mons venus is the rounded area where the labia majora, the outer vaginal lips, meet at the top of the vulva, and where pubic hair grows. Like the rest of the vulva, the size of the mons venus will differ from one person to another. Some will bulge a little more, while others are fairly flat.

The Clitoral Hood

The head of the clitoris, or glans clitoris, is protected by an envelope of skin called the clitoral hood. While its size and form differs from one person to another, the hood covers all or part of the glans, protecting it from inflammation, friction and other irritations. Many people find stimulation of the clitoral hood extremely pleasurable.

The Clitoris

Underneath the clitoral hood we find the glans clitoris. With nearly 8000 nerve endings, it’s by far the most sensitive part of the human body. In comparison, the tip of the penis has around 5000 nerve endings and the fingertip only 3000.

But the little button you see here is only the external "visible" part of the clitoris — just the tip of the iceberg! Inside your body, the clitoris extends down both sides of the vagina, via two Y-shaped roots, each more than 10cm long. One pair of branches, the vestibular bulbs, surrounds the vagina and the second pair is called the corpora cavernosa. These are erectile bodies that become swollen during sexual arousal, equivalent to the erectile tissue of the penis.

The Labia Majora

The labia majora, or outer lips, are the two large folds of skin that cover the vaginal opening. They extend from the mons venus to the perineum.

The Perineum

The perineum is the highly sensitive area between the vagina and the anus, made up of several layers of muscles, ligaments, and membranes which support the genitals.

During sexual arousal the perineum begins to tense, and at the peak of orgasm it contracts involuntarily – on average every 0.8 seconds.

The Labia Minora

The labia minora, or inner lips, lie inside the labia majora, the outer lips, protecting the clitoris, the vaginal entrance and the urethra. In 8 out of 10 women surveyed, the inner lips are longer than outer. Their colour varies from pink to brownish black, with the skin often darker than the rest of the body.

All Vulvas Are Beautiful

Now that you’ve taken a closer look, you might find that your body looks different to other people’s. Rest assured that this is completely normal. There are as many different shapes, sizes, and colours of vulvas as there are different noses. Each vulva is completely unique!

As well as huge variations in the size, shape, position, and colour of the labia, there are also many differences in the amount, distribution, and density of pubic hair. Most labia are not symmetrical, and it’s very common for the inner lips to be longer than the outer ones. The size of the clitoral hood and even the clitoris itself also varies.

Did you learn something new about your body or about yourself? How did this exercise make you feel? Take a moment to reflect on what you’ve seen, and any emotions that may have come up.

When we closely look at our sexual anatomy we can begin to understand its myriad subtleties and idiosyncrasies — an important step on the path to unlocking all the pleasure our bodies can provide.

Put simply, the better you know your anatomy, the more you can discover about what feels good.