Let's talk about vaginas for a second. Chances are your knowledge about your intimate area came from school, your own experiences, visits to the OB-GYN, and girl talk. But now that you're an adult, do you really know everything there is to know down there? Here are some things you should know about your vagina:

1. It’s the narrow canal in your reproductive system.

What you're seeing down there is the vulva—the actual term for your external genitalia. It’s common to refer to the whole area as your “vagina,” but if we’re being precise, the vagina is actually the canal that connects the vulva and the cervix.

2. Your intimate area comes in all shapes and sizes.

Though the vagina looks more or less the same for every woman, the clitoris and labial folds come in different sizes. Also, skin tone isn’t an indicator of the color of the area (a light-skinned woman can have a brown labia), and different parts can have different colors. In short, there's no such thing as a perfect vagina!

3. You can exercise it.

If you want to tighten your vaginal muscles, try this workout: Contract your vaginal muscles as if you’re stopping your menstrual flow, hold for 10 seconds, then release. Repeat 10 to 20 times a day, and feel the difference in about a month.

4. It has a distinct smell.

Your diet, menstrual cycle, and personal care habits can affect the way your vagina smells. This is usually not a cause for alarm, but if you notice that your vagina is a bit pungent, a visit to the OB-GYN would be best.

5. Childbirth won't really affect your vagina's size.

While your vagina will stretch in the process of giving birth the natural way, it should go back to its usual size once the baby's out. 

6. Your discharge varies depending on where you are in your cycle.

During ovulation, you will have more discharge that’s thin and clear. Prior to that, it will be thick and creamy. There will also be times when everything feels dry down there. Again, if it starts to smell weird, itch, sting, or discharge liquid that looks like cottage cheese, you know who to call.

7. Douching can do more harm than good.

Douching flushes out the natural microorganisms in your vagina that help keeps it healthy, increasing your risk of infection. Instead, use a mild cleanser like pH Care Naturals Intimate Wash with Guava Leaf Extract. It’s a gentle feminine wash that’s safe for daily use, providing natural anti-bacterial protection for your intimate area.

To learn more about pH Care, click here.