The vulva: external female anatomy
The vulva covers everything visible from the outside: the mons pubis, the outer and inner labia, the clitoris and its hood, the urethral opening and the vaginal opening. Shape, size and colour vary enormously from person to person — there is no standard anatomy, whatever stylised images suggest. Rising demand for cosmetic genital surgery among young women is, on the evidence, driven largely by exposure to those unrepresentative images.
Internal female anatomy
The vagina is a muscular, elastic canal linking the vulva to the uterus. The uterus, where a pregnancy develops, connects to the two fallopian tubes and the ovaries, which produce eggs and the sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone. This system drives the menstrual cycle.
Male anatomy
The penis is built from erectile tissue that fills with blood during arousal, producing an erection. The glans at the tip carries the greatest concentration of nerve endings; in uncircumcised men it is covered by the foreskin. The testicles, held in the scrotum, produce sperm and testosterone. Some men find the foreskin difficult to retract fully (phimosis); this is not automatically a problem, but it is worth raising with a doctor if it interferes with sex.
The pelvic floor
Present in both sexes, the pelvic floor is the sling of muscles between the genitals and the anus. It supports continence, plays a major role in childbirth, and contributes to sensation during sex. Pelvic floor exercises are recommended after childbirth, for urinary leakage at any age, and after prostate surgery in men — usually with far better results when taught by a specialist physiotherapist than when self-directed.
Where to ask
For any discomfort, pain or worry about your anatomy, a GP, sexual health clinic, gynaecologist or urologist can answer confidentially. In most countries, sexual health clinics see people without a referral and do not report back to your family doctor unless you ask them to.