44 Understanding Our Bodies
A Woman’s
Reproductive
System
A woman has sexual parts both outside and inside her body.
They are called the reproductive organs, or genitals. The outside
parts are called the vulva. Sometimes people may use the word
vagina for the whole area. But the vagina is the part that begins
as an opening in the vulva and leads inside to the womb. The
vagina is sometimes called the ‘birth canal’.
The drawing below shows
what the vulva looks like and
what the different parts are
called. But every woman’s
body is different. There are
differences in the size, shape,
and color of the parts, especially
of the outer and inner folds.
The reproductive parts on the outside
Vulva: All the sexual parts
you can see between your legs.
Outer folds: The fatty lips
that close up when the legs
are together. They protect
the inner parts.
Inner folds: These
flaps of skin are soft,
without hair, and are
sensitive to touch.
During sex, the inner
lips swell and turn
darker.
Mons: The hairy, fatty
part of the vulva.
Clitoris: The clitoris is
small and shaped like
a flower bud. It is the
part of the vulva that is
most sensitive to touch.
Rubbing it, and the area
around it, can make a
woman sexually excited
and cause climax.
Vaginal opening: The
opening of the vagina.
Hymen: The thin piece of
skin just inside the vaginal opening.
A hymen may stretch or tear and
bleed a little because of hard work,
sports or other activities. This can also
happen when a woman has sex for
the first time. All hymens are different.
Some women do not have a hymen
at all.
Anus: The opening of
the intestine, where waste
(stool) leaves the body.
The anus connects to the
rectum (the lower part of
the intestine).
Urinary opening:
The outer opening of
the urethra. The urethra
is a short tube that carries
urine from where it is
stored in the bladder to
the outside of the body.
Where Women Have No Doctor 2012