The vagina. It has more nicknames than just about any other body part, and when you say it out loud there are some people who will still look at you like you’re insane. I once had a health teacher who made the entire class yell “penis” and “vagina” to break the ice before we started our sex ed unit. Say it with me everybody, vagina!

In the spirit of that teacher, I’ve put together some crazy facts about the vagina. We already brought you ten facts this summer, so here are ten MORE things you probably didn’t know about your special lady parts.

initiating the gallery...

Garnet is a student at Columbia University in New York City. When she’s not dancing or writing, she can be found exploring the city, and let’s be honest, spending way too much time on the internet. Follow her @garnethenderson.

Remember when you were in middle school and your mom refused to tell you what a blow job was so you had to go into an AOL chatroom and ask a stranger because you were too embarrassed to admit to your friends that you didn’t know? No? Only me…okay, that’s cool. And unfortunately that wasn’t the last time that I was confused about sex. Actually, the older I got, the more questions I had…and the less the internet could help me (but thanks for trying, Yahoo Answers!).  For example, I believed the majority of these sex myths…until I read this. And I had no idea that there are legitimate sex dangers….besides the walk of shame.

I’m not going to lie and say I have it all figured out now, but I’m getting closer…kinda.

We all know the movies don’t necessarily contain the most accurate depictions of actual life. Or do we?

Whether we realize it or not, we all pick up subtle things from movies that we expect to find in our actual lives. And while I’m willing to overlook some of the media’s follies (like the fact that people in any foreign country all speak English), some of their depictions of sex are just. so. wrong.

Sex requires a soundtrack.
Sure, some people like to have sex to music and watching couples do it to some big, romantic song in the movies makes us all think music will enhance our orgasms, too. But how many times have you set your iTunes to random and had the Spongebob theme song come on in the middle of your session? Awkward! Sometimes it’s best to leave the music off while you’re getting frisky (unless you’re trying to drown out the noise so your roommates don’t hear). It will still be just as good.

Couples always finish together.
Not only do women orgasm every time they have sex in movies, but they always do it at the exact same time as their partner. Anyone who’s ever had sex in the real world knows this couldn’t be further from the truth for most sexual encounters.

Women never walk around naked after sex.
I don’t know about you girls, but I have never, ever ripped a sheet off of a bed to cover myself when I need to walk around the morning after sex. Nor do I immediately dress myself in my boyfriend’s oversized, button-up shirt.

Sex makes babies, no matter what.
Of course, sex can lead to pregnancy. But the recent barrage of unplanned-pregnancy movies and TV shows (Knocked Up, Juno, Secret Life of the American Teenager) would make you think birth control had never been invented.

Losing your virginity is a really, really, really big deal.
If you’re a female TV character, chances are you spend at least a season deciding if, when, and with whom you lose your virginity. And when you finally do make the choice, you either A. hurt someone you love, B. get pregnant, or C. feel horribly insecure afterward. And if you’re in a slasher movie, your virginity was probably the only thing keeping you alive!

Only beautiful women have sex.
Or husbands, careers, educations, friends, or any type of life worth living, for that matter.

[This story was originally posted by Kylie - Simmons College]

Likey? Don’t worry, there are plenty more faves where this came from.

I still remember the date I had sex for the first time. It was July 16^th, and I was 16 years old. It’s odd that I remember the date, I realize, especially because it wasn’t any kind of mind-blowing experience. Looking back now, 16 seems really young – but it worked for me because I was ready. I had gotten on birth control, bought condoms, and, for lack of a better term, was ready to “get it over with.”

While I was far from the last of my friends to “lose it,” many of my close friends had already had sex, which put me in an advantageous position; I got to ask lots of questions. During these girl talk sessions, I heard the regular tidbits: it will hurt, you will bleed, and (what I was most mentally prepared for), you’re going to feel intensely attached to whoever “deflowers” you.

After a lot of anticipation, on a hot Monday afternoon,  I had sex for the first time. The moment came, the deed was done, and as I sat on the couch watching Yes, Dear with the guy I just had sex with, more than anything, I was confused. I didn’t feel any different. I didn’t instantly fall in love, I wasn’t sore, and I didn’t really understand what all the fuss was about. What’s the big deal with virginity if I’m going to be the exact same person after I do have sex?

In the interest of full disclosure, I’ve been reading The Purity Myth by Jessica Valenti for the last little while, and it’s sparked a new interest in me about the phenomenon that is virginity. I’ll avoid the topic of purity and measuring the morality of a woman by her hymen (we’ll save that for another day), but the book has made me realize all the lies we are told about virginity. Even the language – “losing” it, being “deflowered,” having your v-card “stolen,” makes it sound like sex is some kind of black hole for innocence.

So, let’s tackle some virginity myths that need to be debunked.

Pain and blood. While, for some women, the first time having sex can be uncomfortable and slightly painful, it’s not always the case. The pain and bleeding comes from breaking the hymen – which not all women will still have intact, even if they are virgins. Sports, tampons, and masturbation are just a few of the ways that your hymen can break before having intercourse, so don’t be surprised if there’s no blood or pain. Being well lubricated, relaxed, and lots of foreplay will definitely help with making your first time more comfortable.

Stage 5 clinger. Yes, dopamine and serotonin are released during orgasm, which can lead to feelings of love and deep attraction.  But, as any one that has used a vibrator will tell you – that doesn’t mean you’re going to fall in love with what gave you that orgasm. Plus, I hate to say it, but most women won’t have an orgasm during their first time (especially since 75% of women can’t orgasm through intercourse anyway). Feelings don’t necessarily hinge on sex – but don’t be too surprised if you feel more connected with whoever it was you had sex with. That is the point, after all.

Goodbye, old self. The idea that consensually having someone’s penis inside of you is going to change who you are as a person is kind of preposterous. You’ll still be the same person, you won’t suddenly be immoral, and a switch won’t flip in your head that will make you promiscuous.

Oh, baby. If you don’t use protection, you can get pregnant. It doesn’t matter if it’s your first time, or 201^st time, sperm + egg = embryo. Same goes for STIs – there isn’t some kind of “get out of disease free” card just because it’s your first time. Be smart.

Was that it? Sex gets better, I promise. The first time can be awkward and uncomfortable, but with time and practice, it all works out. But…

Low expectations. Just because it’s your first time doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not going to be pleasurable. Enjoy it for what it is — you only get one first time!

I tried my best to find the truth about sploodge last week and we’ve already covered movie myths about sex, so this week I’m going to take a crack at some general misconceptions about sex. The lies we’re all fed by our friends, by the media, and by our own unrealistic expectations; let’s forget all of that and take a straight-forward look at the not-so-romantic but very realistic parts of sex.

It doesn’t always just come naturally. Sometimes sex is really awkward, as much as we want to believe it’s this natural and organic experience. It can be messy, and tender intimate love-making isn’t always what happens. With contraception, sounds, positions, and a multitude of other things on our minds, sex becomes a little less romantic and a lot more mechanical. While the times will come when it’s like being swept away in a wave of passion, sometimes things don’t happen that easily. Even two people who are madly in love can have sex that doesn’t end the way both partners expect it to. As with anything in life, sex isn’t always going to be perfect – and that’s okay.

Sometimes you just don’t feel like it. If there’s one thing about sex I was lead to believe that I wish I wasn’t, it would be that men are ALWAYS in the mood. That myth leads to guys feeling a lot of pressure and girls feeling a lot of rejection when maybe he’s just too tired to go for the fifth time that day. Sometimes you won’t be able to get in the mood, sometimes he won’t be able to get in the mood, but both of those things are okay (sorry, I know I’m being hetero-normative). We can’t be sex machines all the time; sometimes we just need to sleep.

Sex is a reasonable deal-breaker. It tends to be believed that breaking up with someone because the sex is bad is just an awful thing to do. In reality, if you’re planning on being in a monogamous relationship for the rest of your life, it’s a completely rational thing to want that one person you’ll be having sex with forever to be a good match for you – in bed and out. Of course, some problems can be worked through (like technique) but if the basics of sexual compatibility are off – you want it eight times a week and he only wants it twice, his penis is really big and you have a small vagina, you need a certain thing in bed to be happy and that thing is something your partner never be willing to do – no amount of love is going to fix it. Those things will always be a problem, and sometimes it’s better to just nip it in the bud before you’re married with three kids (now can you understand why I say you shouldn’t wait?).

Orgasms don’t always happen, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t good. Regardless of what we see in movies and porn, it doesn’t always end with a bang… sometimes it just ends. It’s generally believed that 50-75% of women can’t orgasm through intercourse alone, which means it’s not very common for both partners to finish at the same colossal moment every single time. Whether if it’s that you’re just not quite feeling it, it all happened too fast, or he’s already gotten off a couple times that day (by himself, I presume) – sex without orgasms is going to happen. From the male sexperts I listen to frequently, I get the impression that men have a hard time fathoming that sex can be good without the orgasm – but sometimes that’s the case, and sometimes it’s still completely awesome. Be grateful you’re having sex at all, don’t feel guilty, and make the lack of an orgasm up to your partner the next time. Relax, it happens.

Both partners need to learn what works. There’s really only so much raw materials that a person can bring into a relationship – the rest needs to be learned and sorted out over the course of a couples’ sex life. Sex isn’t always going to be awesome the first time with a new partner, but once you get some practice and find your way around each other’s bodies, most people will learn how to make the effort to do what their partner likes best.

Sometimes a roll in the sack will go off without a hitch, and sometimes we won’t be so lucky. What are some of the misconceptions you had about sex before you actually started having it?

Whether we realize it or not, we all pick up subtle things from movies that we expect to find in our actual lives. And while I’m willing to overlook some of the media’s follies (like the fact that people in any foreign country all speak English), some of their depictions of sex are just. so. wrong.

Sex requires a soundtrack.
Sure, some people like to have sex to music and watching couples do it to some big, romantic song in the movies makes us all think music will enhance our orgasms, too. But how many times have you set your iTunes to random and had the Spongebob theme song come on in the middle of your session? Awkward! Sometimes it’s best to leave the music off while you’re getting frisky (unless you’re trying to drown out the noise so your roommates don’t hear). It will still be just as good.

Couples always finish together.
Not only do women orgasm every time they have sex in movies, but they always do it at the exact same time as their partner. Anyone who’s ever had sex in the real world knows this couldn’t be further from the truth for most sexual encounters.

Women never walk around naked after sex.
I don’t know about you girls, but I have never, ever ripped a sheet off of a bed to cover myself when I need to walk around the morning after sex. Nor do I immediately dress myself in my boyfriend’s oversized, button-up shirt.

Sex makes babies, no matter what.
Of course, sex can lead to pregnancy. But the recent barrage of unplanned-pregnancy movies and TV shows (Knocked Up, Juno, Secret Life of the American Teenager) would make you think birth control had never been invented.

Losing your virginity is a really, really, really big deal.
If you’re a female TV character, chances are you spend at least a season deciding if, when, and with whom you lose your virginity. And when you finally do make the choice, you either A. hurt someone you love, B. get pregnant, or C. feel horribly insecure afterward. And if you’re in a slasher movie, your virginity was probably the only thing keeping you alive!

Only beautiful women have sex.
Or husbands, careers, educations, friends, or any type of life worth living, for that matter.

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There are a plethora of factors separating teenagers from adults. You know you’re an adult when you start practicing various combinations of adult-like things. Paying your own bills, making important decisions by yourself, working, and having sex, amongst other things, encompass adulthood.

But when you’re a teenager looking onto your sexuality from afar, you’ll believe just about anything you’re told about sex, particularly if you’re being told by someone who has actually had it. Once you merge further into your adulthood and sexuality, though, you start to realize that a lot of things you were told about sex (or made to believe in some other way) are bullsh*t.

Some of the biggest myths about sex:

1. Men want sex more than women.

Um, no. There are always exceptions, yes. BUT, lots of women love lots of sex. Do women always love sex with a guy who’s being a punk? Nope. Do women always love sex when they’re exhausted or emotional? Nope. But none of this has to do with how much women want sex. In fact, I almost always want more sex than my boyfriends do.

2. Size doesn’t matter.

It doesn’t matter to everyone. But, sadly, size does make a difference. Sure, it’s ‘not about the size of the boat, it’s the motion of the ocean’, yada yada yada. But, that will only get a guy so far if he’s greatly lacking in size.

3. Women don’t like porn.

Untrue. Not all women like porn, but saying women don’t like porn is about as barbaric as saying women don’t fart, either. While I completely respect the fact that some ladies view porn as derogatory toward women, I simply don’t (fully) agree. And I, last time I checked, am still a woman.

4. You can’t get pregnant when ______.

Here are some facts: You CAN get pregnant on your period. You CAN get pregnant if he pulls out. You CAN get pregnant from standing up sex, as well as shower sex. You CAN get pregnant while using condoms, the pill, or any other form of birth control other than abstinence.

5. Men can’t feel anything with condoms.

Men can feel stimulated with condoms on. Is it the same, or even close to the same, as how sex feels for them without a condom? No, but that doesn’t mean that condom sex has to suck. I’ve been having it for years and the men are always satisfied. With that said, if a guy gives you a problem about having sex with a condom, offer him no sex at all in exchange. There are far too many STDs running rampant these days to risk it, plus having sex without a condom increases the risk of pregnancy greatly. Are you really ready for that?

[Photo from: rd.com]