Body & health

Vulva

Alsoexternal genitalsvulvasexternal genitaliavulval area

Not yet reviewed by a clinician. This health entry was written from the public-health sources listed below and is general information only. It is not medical advice.

Definition

The vulva is the external part of the genitals in people typically assigned female at birth, including the labia, the clitoral glans, and the openings of the urethra and vagina.

At a glance

  • The vulva is the outside part of the genitals; the vagina is the internal canal.
  • It includes the mons pubis, the outer and inner labia, the clitoral glans, and the urethral and vaginal openings.
  • Vulvas vary widely in size, shape, colour and symmetry, and that variety is normal.
  • Plain water is usually enough for washing, as scented products can irritate the sensitive skin.
  • Itching, sores, lumps or pain that do not settle are worth checking with a clinician.

In detail

People often say "vagina" when they mean the vulva, but the two are different. The vagina is the internal canal, while the vulva is everything on the outside: the mons pubis (the soft mound over the pubic bone), the outer and inner labia, the visible tip of the clitoris, the urethral opening where urine leaves the body, and the vaginal opening.

Vulvas vary enormously in size, shape, colour and symmetry, and that variation is normal. The skin here is sensitive, so gentle washing with plain water is usually enough; scented products can cause irritation. Itching, sores, lumps or pain that do not settle are worth checking with a doctor or sexual health clinic.

In a sentence

  • The leaflet uses the word vulva for the outside parts and vagina only for the internal canal.
  • At the clinic, the nurse asked whether the itching was on the vulva or further inside.

Where the word comes from

From Latin vulva (also volva), a word that in classical Latin could refer to the womb or a covering. It was later adopted in anatomy for the external genitals.

Not to be confused with

  • Vagina

    The vagina is the internal canal; the vulva is the external genital area.

Common questions

What is the difference between the vulva and the vagina?

The vulva is everything on the outside: the mons pubis, labia, clitoral glans and the openings of the urethra and vagina. The vagina is the muscular canal inside the body that leads to the cervix. In everyday speech people often say vagina for both, but health information is clearer when the two words are kept apart.

Is it normal for my vulva to look different from pictures?

Yes. Vulvas differ a great deal in size, shape, colour and symmetry, and images in media often show a narrow, edited range. Changes such as new sores, lumps, persistent itching or pain are a better reason to see a doctor or sexual health clinic than appearance alone.

Related terms

Sources

  1. Planned ParenthoodWhat are the parts of the female sexual anatomy?
  2. MedlinePlusVulvar Disorders