This page explores some of the more common variations on how a vulva may manifest itself.

All of the regions of the vulva can be vastly different sizes. The clitoris can be tiny and barely noticeable, or it can be large and distinctly prominent. The labia can be thin or thick or wrinkled or smooth. It is common for the labia on one side to be larger than the other. The size may change when aroused.

The vestibule area, vaginal skin, and inside of the labia are typically pinkish, reddish, or purplish in color. The outside of the labia may be the same color as the rest of the body, or may be pinkish, reddish, or purplish. It is common for some areas of the labia to appear darker than others. The color may change when aroused.

Hair down there varies wildly, if not removed. Hair usually covers at least the outer lips and the pubic mound, and is usually not present on the inner lips or clitoral hood. Some people have thick hair over a large area, extending up the stomach and down the legs, while others have thinner hair in a smaller area more immediately above and around the vulva, while others have something in between. Sometimes the hair extends to the perineum, sometimes it does not. The hair may be different thicknesses or lengths in different areas.

The vagina is usually a few inches deep and may be capable of stretching a little bit. I’m not going to get more specific than that because then people start to wonder how big theirs is in comparison to others and then might feel upset if they’re not in the 99th percentile because society is terrible like that. Some people with things like Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome may barely have any depth at all.

The tightness of a vagina is another thing society is terrible about. Penis-centered notions of an ideal vagina emphasize some mythical level of desirable tightness, and anything outside of that range is looked down on. However, most vaginas are stretchy and elastic and will form fit anything from a little finger to an entire baby, although discomfort may increase as the size of the object does. That said, if a vagina seems so tight that small or moderately sized objects (like a standard sized dildo or average-sized penis, or even a single finger or tampon) cause discomfort or pain it may be worth bringing this up with a doctor. Conditions such as vaginismus may lead to penetration difficulties, and anecdotally, they may be more common among asexual people.