Breaking News: Scientists Finally Define a “Normal” Vagina—so You Can Stop Googling

Photo: Stocksy/Lumina
Even if the only vagina you've ever seen IRL is your own, you're likely aware that they don't all look the same. Well, just to be sure—really sure—scientists embarked on a study to examine a whole lot of vulvas (aka the external opening) to find out what constitutes as "normal."

More than 650 lady bits later, they learned that (drumroll) there's no such thing as a normal vulva. Published in the British Journal of Gynaecology, they found that vulvas are like snowflakes—no two are exactly the same. In other words: Anyone trying to sell you something to "rejuvenate" or otherwise alter your most private area is someone you can continue to ignore.

The work the seven researchers—five of whom are female, by the way—conducted constitutes the biggest vagina study ever (even so, they only looked at the vulvas of white women). But that just proves their conclusion even more: Imagine how much more variety they'd have seen if they'd been more inclusive.

Vulvas are like snowflakes—no two are exactly the same.

The results, of course, are what most people already know, but if not, hopefully now it will put an end to panicked "is my vagina normal" Googling. Chances are, if you were born with it that way, the answer is: hell yes.

If you have more vagina questions on your mind, here's why vaginal discharge exists and if you need to do anything special to keep everything "clean." 

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