The external genital area of a female body is called the vulva, and it includes several distinct structures you can see from the outside. The vagina itself is actually an internal canal that isn’t visible without opening the outer folds. What most people refer to as “a girl’s private part” is really the vulva, and it varies significantly in size, shape, and color from person to person.
External Anatomy: The Vulva
The vulva is made up of several parts that each serve a different purpose. Starting from the outside and working inward, here’s what you’d see.
The mons pubis is the soft, rounded area of fatty tissue that sits over the pubic bone. After puberty, this area is typically covered with pubic hair. Below the mons, two outer folds of skin called the labia majora run downward on either side. These are the most visible part of the vulva and act as a protective covering for the more delicate structures inside. They’re covered in skin similar to the rest of the body and may also have hair on the outer surface.
Inside the outer folds sit the labia minora, a thinner pair of folds that begin near the clitoris and extend downward. These inner folds are made of softer, more delicate tissue and don’t have hair. They form the borders of the vestibule, which is the central area where the urethral and vaginal openings are located. At the top where the inner folds meet, they form a small hood of skin that covers the clitoris, a small, rounded structure packed with roughly 8,000 nerve endings. The visible part of the clitoris (the glans) is typically about the size of a pea, though the full structure extends internally.
Within the vestibule, there are two openings. The urethral opening is a tiny hole located just below the clitoris. This is where urine exits the body. Below that is the vaginal opening, which is larger and leads to the internal vaginal canal. The vaginal opening may be partially covered by a thin piece of tissue called the hymen.
What the Hymen Actually Looks Like
The hymen is one of the most misunderstood parts of female anatomy. Many people imagine it as a hard, seal-like covering that completely blocks the vaginal opening. In reality, it’s a soft, elastic piece of tissue that usually has an opening in it from birth. The most common shapes are annular (shaped like a donut, surrounding the opening) or crescent-shaped (covering only part of the opening). Some hymens have multiple small holes (cribriform) or an extra band of tissue across the middle (septate). The hymen naturally stretches and wears away over time from everyday activities, and its presence or absence is not a reliable indicator of sexual activity.
Normal Variation in Size, Shape, and Color
One of the most important things to understand is that vulvas look remarkably different from person to person. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists states that the size, shape, and color of the external genitalia vary considerably from woman to woman, and these variations are further shaped by puberty, aging, and childbirth.
The labia minora show especially wide variation. A 2024 meta-analysis found that average labia minora length across studies ranged from about 37 mm to 61 mm, with a pooled average around 53 mm. Width ranged from about 15 mm to 22 mm. In some people, the inner folds are small and mostly tucked inside the outer folds. In others, they extend well beyond the outer folds. Asymmetry, where one side is longer or shaped differently than the other, is completely normal. Research has shown that people with protruding or asymmetric labia minora are typically free of any physical discomfort, confirming that protrusion alone is not a medical concern.
Color varies widely too. The vulvar skin is often a different shade than the rest of the body, ranging from light pink to dark brown or even purplish. This pigmentation is influenced by skin tone, hormones, and age. It’s common for the labia minora to be darker than the surrounding skin, and this darkening can increase with puberty and hormonal changes. None of these color variations indicate a health problem.
How Appearance Changes During Puberty
Before puberty, the vulva looks relatively simple: the labia are small, the tissue is thin, and there is no pubic hair. Puberty triggers a series of hormonal changes, primarily driven by rising estrogen levels, that gradually transform the appearance of the genital area over several years.
Pubic hair development happens in stages. It begins with fine, downy hair, progresses to coarser hair concentrated in a triangular pattern over the pubic area, and eventually (in some people) extends slightly onto the upper thighs. Pubic hair typically starts appearing one to one-and-a-half years after breast development begins. At the same time, the labia become fuller, the tissue gains more pigmentation, and the overall structures become more defined. These changes usually begin between ages 8 and 13 and continue into the late teens.
The Internal Canal
The vagina is an elastic, muscular tube that connects the vaginal opening to the cervix (the lower part of the uterus). It’s typically about 3 to 4 inches long when not aroused, though it stretches significantly during arousal and childbirth. The internal walls aren’t smooth. They’re lined with folds called rugae that give the tissue a ridged texture, which allows the canal to expand and contract. The walls are normally pinkish in color and stay moist through natural secretions.
What Normal Discharge Looks Like
Vaginal discharge is a normal, healthy function, and its appearance changes throughout the menstrual cycle. In a typical 28-day cycle, discharge follows a predictable pattern. Right after a period ends, it tends to be dry or tacky with a white or slightly yellow tint. Over the following days, it becomes stickier and white. Around mid-cycle (days 7 to 9), it takes on a creamy, yogurt-like consistency that feels wetter. Near ovulation (days 10 to 14), discharge becomes clear, stretchy, and slippery, often compared to raw egg whites. After ovulation, it dries up again until the next period begins.
Healthy discharge is generally white, clear, or slightly yellowish and doesn’t have a strong or unpleasant odor. Changes in color to green, gray, or a thick cottage-cheese texture, especially when accompanied by itching, burning, or a foul smell, can signal an infection worth getting checked out.