The Vulva: Uses

The vulva and its subcomponents have a number of uses. Here is a short list of some of the more common ones.

Nestled within the vulva is the endpoint of a liquid waste disposal system. The vast majority of the time when someone uses their vulva, it’s for urination.

Subsections within the vulva are often the primary source of sexual pleasure for people who have them. Certain components, such as the clitoris, can become particularly sensitive to stimulation in certain situations. Not everyone who owns a vulva will use it in this way.

For most vulva owners, a region located adjacent to the vagina will eventually begin redecorating itself as a nursery pretty much every month. If this nursery does not get a resident within that month, it will tear down what it built and throw it out, down the vagina. For many people, this is an annoying, unwanted process, but for others, it can be a welcome sign that a resident has not arrived, and for others, it can just be a thing that happens.

Some people who own a vulva enjoy using some or all of it with another person. On the other side, some people enjoy having a vulva they do not own used with them. Not everyone who owns a vulva will use it in this way.

Occasionally, often as a delayed reaction to certain activities with a partner (although that’s not always the case), the vulva will transform into a passageway by which a tiny human will be kicked out of the assembly floor where it had spent several months building itself. Not everyone who owns a vulva will use it in this way, not even everyone who hosts a self-assembling mass of cells known as a “baby”.

The Vulva: What Comes Out and What Goes In

What Comes Out

It is important for a vulva owner to understand what sorts of things downstairs are common and “normal”, and which are potentially a bigger issue. This list cannot describe all possibilities, so please consult other resources or medical resources if there are concerns.

The vagina is the most common escape route for a baby looking to flee the uterus. There is typically ample advance warning (up to around nine months, in many cases) that a baby may be intending to use this passageway.

This is the most common thing to come out of a vulva. Usually happens to anyone who owns a vulva several times a day. Urine is a waste product of the biological processes of the body. It is usually released in a high pressure, high velocity stream. It is a flowing liquid in consistency and ranges from clear to deep yellow-brown in color. The exact volume varies, but it is typically a notable amount.

Urine is released from the urethra, which is located between the entrance to the vagina and the clitoris.

For a period of time, roughly once a month, there may be a flow of blood. This blood may be heavy, may be light, may be somewhat clotted and “chunky”. This flow is the result of the uterine lining breaking down and being discarded by the body. Vulva owners will often use a menstrual product, such as a tampon, pad, or cup to catch the blood flow.

It may be possible to lighten or even prevent menstruation from happening through the use of hormones sometimes called “birth control” for their ability to prevent pregnancy.

When aroused, the lining of the vagina may self-lubricate. This is generally a clear, slippery, viscous fluid. It’s similar in consistency to some kinds of liquid soap and a small string of fluid will bridge the gap if you pinch some of it between your fingers and slowly open them.

This natural lubrication may or may not be adequate for penetrative activities.

Throughout the month, there may be mucus that comes out of the vagina. The appearance can change from time to time, and these changes can be an indicator of the phase of the menstrual cycle. The mucus can range from clear to white to slightly yellowish, and may be reminiscent of snot. Sometimes it may be sticky.

Some other types of discharge may be signs of infection or other problems. If you notice a new type of discharge you’ve never seen before, it may be worth looking for more information or consulting a medical professional.

After penetrative intercourse that involves a penis ejaculating inside the vagina, a significant amount of the semen may drip out.

What Goes In

This is a non-exhaustive list of things that may potentially enter a vagina.

Nothing at all. Some people don’t want anything going in there, and that’s perfectly fine. The owner of the vagina gets to decide what to let in and what stays out.

As noted elsewhere on this site, it’s often possible for vulva owners to participate in sexual activities, masturbate, and experience orgasm without involving the vagina whatsoever.

Some menstrual products, like tampons or cups, may be inserted into the vagina to catch the blood during a period.

Certain medical procedures may require internal vaginal use of some sort of medical device. A speculum is a sort of metal duck bill-looking thing which is designed to hold the walls of the vagina apart. A swab, similar to a Q-tip may be used to take a sample. IUDs, or intra-uterine devices, are a form of birth control that is placed in the uterus, which will be accessed through the vagina. Sometimes dilators may be recommended to gradually stretch the vagina, if the vulva owner has a small vagina or a condition like vaginismus and wishes to take part in penetrative activities.

It is always your right to ask the doctor to explain a procedure beforehand and ask whether the procedure is necessary. Some procedures may not be warranted if you do not engage in penetrative intercourse. It is always your right to weigh the risks and decide not to proceed. If the procedure involves a speculum, you can typically ask the doctor to use a smaller size.

Sometimes body parts, such as fingers or penises, may be used inside a vagina. Lubrication might make this process more comfortable.

Sometimes toys, such as dildos, vibrators, or Kegel exercisers may be used inside a vagina. Lubrication might make this process more comfortable.

The Penis: What Comes Out

[Content Warning: This page is discusses many types of fluids. Feel free to skip this section if that’s not your thing.]

This is the most common thing to come out of a penis. Usually happens to anyone who owns a penis several times a day. Urine is a waste product of the biological processes of the body. It is usually released in a high pressure, high velocity stream. It is a flowing liquid in consistency and ranges from clear to deep yellow-brown in color. The exact volume varies, but it is typically a notable amount.

Semen is usually discharged during ejaculation. Semen consists of sperm and several other fluids, all mixed together. Sperm are microscopic tadpole like cells which can combine with another special type of cell in someone else’s body and cause it to turn into a baby, which is really weird when you stop to think about it so let’s not stop to think about it.

Sometimes the force of ejaculation will propel the semen at high speed some distance (up to a couple of feet) away from the penis, while other times, it won’t flow with enough energy to go even half an inch.

The consistency of semen can vary considerably. Sometimes it can be thin and watery, other times it can be thicker and closer to the consistency (though not stickiness) of syrup. Over time, even the thicker type will tend to thin out and become more runny.

Semen is usually white or yellowish white in color, although it may appear more clear when it is thinner.

The exact volume varies, but it is usually a fairly small amount, on the order of just a few milliliters.

Sometimes when aroused (although not necessarily erect), the penis will begin to produce a small amount of pre-ejaculatory fluid, also called “precum”. This is a clear, slippery, viscous fluid. It’s similar in consistency to some kinds of liquid soap and a small string of fluid will bridge the gap if you pull a drop away. Pre-ejaculatory fluid is not expelled with any force at all, and will usually remain around the opening of the urethra unless gravity or some other force acts on it. This fluid does not always appear, and when it does, it is often just a few drops. In some cases, there may be enough to use as a lubricant for stimulation purposes.

Pretty much anything else that comes out of a penis is something you should see a doctor about.

The Penis: Uses

The penis has a number of uses. Here is a short list of some of the more common ones.

The primary use of a penis is as a liquid waste disposal system. The vast majority of the time when someone uses their penis, it’s for urination. The flexible tube shape is often convenient for this purpose.

The penis is often the primary source of sexual pleasure for people who have them. Much of the penis can become sensitive to stimulation in certain situations. Not everyone who owns a penis will use it in this way.

Under certain circumstances, sperm from the testicles will be mixed with other fluids and pumped through the penis and out its end. Although this uses some of the same infrastructure as urination, this is a very different scenario. Not everyone who owns a penis will use it in this way.

Some people who own a penis enjoy using it with another person. On the other side, some people enjoy having a penis they do not own get used with them. Not everyone who owns a penis will use it in this way.