women s health issues
Female Internal Genital Organs
Vagina
The vagina is a soft, stretchable tube of muscle tissue about 4 to 5 inches long in an adult woman. It connects the Female External Genital Organs to the uterus. The upper part of the vagina is wider and surrounds the cervix (the lower part of the uterus). Some types of birth control (such as a diaphragm or vaginal ring) or drugs are inserted here. The vagina has a central role in sexual activity and reproduction. It is the passageway for the following: Sperm to the egg to the uterus and fallopian tubes Menstrual bleeding or a baby to the outside. Because the vaginal tissue is soft, its walls can stretch open for examination by a doctor, for sexual intercourse, or for childbirth. After Effects of Aging on the Female Reproductive System , the vagina becomes less stretchy because The vagina is lined with a mucous membrane, kept moist by fluids produced by cells on its surface and by secretions from glands in the cervix. A small amount of these fluids may pass to the outside as a clear or milky white vaginal discharge, which is normal. During a woman's reproductive years, the lining of the vagina has folds and wrinkles. Before puberty and after menopause, the lining is smooth. 