The vagina is one of the feminine body parts that come with the most outrageous myths. Yes, there are countless of misapprehensions about our lovely lady parts and we are making sure to debunk all of the most common lies about them. Sure, now we know that masturbating doesn't take away your virginity, but what other common myths are still lingering? We are breaking it all down for the love of down there.
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1. That your period is a punishment from God: When I first got my little friend, I was told that Eve was to blame for my menstrual cycle thanks to her tempting ways in the Garden of Eden. I can bet that same story has been told for generations in other families too. Turns out, the belief stems from medieval times. During that time in history, it was also believed that period blood would kill sperm or form deformed children. Thank goodness all of these are myths! Could you imagine?
2. That all of down there is considered your vagina: This is totally false! In sex education class we often learn that the vagina consists of many parts. The outer region most often explored is the vulva, which includes the inner and outer labia, the clitoris, the hood and the urethra. The vagina mainly covers the internal pieces of the genital area, like the cervix, uterus and ovaries.
3. That Kegels are only beneficial for orgasms: Kegels also help with keeping your vagina muscles strong and youthful. The exercise, which consists of tightening and relaxing your vagina muscles, also strengthens your pelvic muscles. As you age, this can help make sure your pelvic organs stay in their place, which can avoid bladder problems. Who knew?
4. Douching helps to keep it clean: The fact is that the vagina is always on self-clean mode. It is the reason why women have discharge, which is totally healthy and normal. According to the Office on Women's Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, most doctors recommend that women stay away from douching since it can change the sensitive pH balance that helps maintain a healthy vajayjay.
5. That there is a such thing as breaking the hymen: The truth is that there is no such thing as "breaking" the hymen tissue. During the first sexual intercourse, the hymen can be torn and cause bleeding. "It is not an intact piece of tissue draped across it. Some girls are born without a hymen, others have only a scanty fringe of tissue. Moreover, for all its fabled mystery, the hymen is just a body part," says Carol Roye, nursing professor at Hunter College.
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