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Some bodies HaveVaginas All bodies are equal and unique in their own special way. These bodies can be tall, short, toned, soft, curvy, round, smooth as a whistle or covered in hair. ALL body types are natural and are as unique as the person inside. Some bodies have vaginas. Vaginas can be many different shapes, colours, and sizes it just depends on the shape of you. The Vulva (commonly referred to as the vagina) is all the external organs you can see on the outside of your body. The vulva has an anatomy that serves many functions to help keep you healthy.
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Some bodies HaveVaginas The anatomy of a vulva from top to bottom: The Pubic Mound: soft fatty tissue called the mons covers the joint of the pubic bones, which are part of the pelvis. You can feel the pubic bones beneath the pubic mound. Clitoral Hood: where the inner lips join to form a soft fold of skin, or hood, covering the glans, or tip of the clitoris. Labia Majora and Labia Minora (Outer and Inner Lips): the hair-covered labia majora are also soft. The size, color, and shape of these parts differ considerably among women. The labia minora are hairless and very sensitive to touch. If you spread apart the inner lips, you can see that they protect a delicate area between them. *** Clitoris/ Glans: If you pull up the clitoral hood you will see the glans. The glans is the spot most sensitive to sexual stimulation. Many people confuse the glans with the entire clitoris, but it is simply the most visible part. Clitoral shaft: The clitoral shaft is below the surface of the vulva. It starts off as one unit at the glans, and then slowly splits into a Y shape that surrounds the other sexual organs. A clitoris can be about three inches long. Urethral Opening: This is the urinary opening. The outer opening of the urethra, is a short (about an inch and a half), thin tube leading to your bladder. The urethra is not considered a sexual organ. Vaginal Opening: The vaginal opening is the entrance into the vagina where a whole world of wonders awaits for you! This is where penetration occurs during sex. Vaginal openings can also vary in colour, size, and shape. Vaginal Corona/ Hymen: This is a thin membrane just inside the vaginal opening, partially blocking the opening but doesn’t usually cover it completely. Vaginal coronas come in widely varying sizes and shapes. Despite popular belief, the stretching of the hymen isn’t painful. After the hymen has been stretched, little folds of tissue remain. Anus: Anus is the opening of the rectum. It can be used in sex play, if you choose.
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Some bodies HaveVaginas
Getting your period is the start of puberty for females. Most commonly known as the menstrual cycle, this completely natural process occurs monthly and every person experiences it differently. Simply explained, this is when the lining of your uterus sheds away because you are not pregnant and your uterine muscles push it out of your vaginal opening (GO UTERUS GO!).
Stages of Your Menstrual Cycle
Phase one is the follicular phase, this is when the egg starts ripening in the ovaries. At the same time, the hormone estrogen tells the lining of your uterus (the endometrium) to make a cushion of blood and tissue for a potentially fertilized egg. This is the end of the follicular phase. Phase two of the menstrual cycle is the luteal phase (premenstrual phase). When the egg is ripe it leaves the ovary and starts travelling down the fallopian tubes. This is called ovulation. The hormone progesterone helps the estrogen keep the lining of your uterus thick and ready to receive a fertilized egg. If the egg is not fertilized (if it is not combined with active sperm), then the levels of the hormones that helped to thicken the lining of your uterus (progesterone and estrogen) drop. This causes the lining to break down so that the unfertilized egg and lining can be shed from your uterus. This is the end of the premenstrual period and the beginning of your period. Most people have premenstrual symptoms. These include emotional symptoms such as feeling angry, irritable, depressed or anxious – and physical symptoms – such as tender breasts, bloating, headaches or pimples. Sometimes these symptoms are so strong that they make normal day-to-day living difficult. This could be a sign of PMS (premenstrual syndrome) and you might want talk to a friend or an adult you trust and they can help you decide where to go from there.
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Some bodies HaveVaginas
Phase three is the Menstruation phase, this is the day you start to bleed. It is when the thickened lining of the uterus begins to shed causing menstrual bleeding from your vaginal opening. Menstruation, or bleeding, can last anywhere from two to seven days. Most of your menstrual blood loss happens during the first three days. The flow of your period can range from light to heavy. This is also when you might have cramps and pain in your pelvic area, legs, and back. This is because your uterus is contracting to help get rid of the lining. Cramps can be mild to severe (to severely severe). Having a period is a normal part of growing up. In the beginning it may seem hard to adjust to but it gets easier and before you know it, your period will not be a big deal. Talk to a friend or an adult you trust and they can be a great source of knowledge about how to handle your period on an monthly basis.
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Some bodies HaveVaginas There are many products you can use to help with menstrual flow. Here you will learn about items you can start putting in your period tool kit. We’ve included items that will help to soak up the menstrual flow during your period as well as help you to feel more clean and comfortable during your period.
Period Tool Kit Tampons: Tampons are used to soak up the menstrual flow during a period. It’s made of small cotton tube shaped device with a string attached. When inserting a tampon into your vagina, it’s best to find a position you feel comfortable; sitting down or squatting works well. A great tip is to take a deep breath and move your legs into an 80-100 degree angle, in order for your vaginal muscles to relax. Take the tampon with the string facing away from your vaginal opening and slowly feel for the opening. Once you feel the opening, gently insert the cotton tampon into your vagina so that all of the cotton tube is inside and only the sting is still sticking out. The tampon will not fall out by itself, don’t worry! Tampons can come with a plastic applicator to help insert the cotton tampon into your vagina. The instructions on how to use the applicator are on the box of tampons. It’s a good idea to read the instructions before attempting to insert for the first time. Pads: Pads are another way to soak up the menstrual flow. Pads can vary in size, thickness, and materials depending on the brand and how much menstrual flow it is supposed to soak up. Pads can stick to your underwear so it will stay in place. Some pads have wings that have adhesive that will help to keep your pad in place. Liners: Liners are like pads but smaller and thinner so they can handle a lighter menstrual flow. They can be put into your underwear the same way a pad can. Liners can also be bought in cloth versions to be reusable.
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Some bodies HaveVaginas
Moist wet wipes: Wet wipes can help you to feel cleaner while you are on your period. These can be used after toilet paper when going to the washroom or while changing your, pad, tampon or liner etc. Wet wipes should not be used to soak up menstrual flow and are for hygienic purposes only. The wipes are for external use only. Remember the wet wipes you use should never be scented or perfumed in any way. This is because it can irritate the skin in your pelvic area as well as upset the good bacteria balance of your vagina and can lead to discomfort, irritation and in worst cases an infection of the pelvic region.
Enviromentally Friendly Options Menstrual underwear have the same function as a tampon, pad, or liner. They can be made of a variety of soft fabrics that you can wear like normal underwear. These are machine washable and can last up to five plus years. A menstrual cup is a silicone cup that can be inserted into the vagina much like a tampon. This cup, once inside the vaginal opening, uses suction to create a vacuum between the inner walls of the vagina and catches the menstrual flow. Taking it out is easy as well, you can reach inside your vaginal opening and pull the cup out. Empty, clean, and re-insert it as preferred. Menstrual cups can be washed and reused for years. **Just a reminder that these feminine hygiene products are meant to be changed up to every six to eight hours, with some exceptions, depending on the product you’re using. Leaving these products in longer can result in skin irritation, discomfort and in some cases infections like toxic shock syndrome caused by a buildup of bacteria that was not previously there.
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Some bodies HaveVaginas During puberty, your body is maturing and growing. Breasts start to deveop and they can grow a little or a lot. It is normal to get stretch marks on your body in places you wouldn’t expect because you are growing so quickly. You can get stretch marks on your arms, back, shoulders, stomach, and on your breasts as well. Don’t worry, this happens to almost everyone when they are growing up! You will also start to grow hair in places where there was little or no hair before. Hair will become more noticeable on your legs, arms, underarms, genital area, and even on your face. Depending on your skin tone and the colour of your hair, this new found hair can be not seen at all or a bit more noticeable. You are free to love all the hair on your body and not want to remove it. It’s also okay to feel more comfortable with less hair on your body. If you want to get rid of your body hair, here are some ways to help keep you clean, hygienic, and happy. You can always talk to a friend or an adult that you trust about shaving, waxing or trimming your hair to look and feel the way you want. One of the best ways to stay healthy is to keep your growing body clean. Proper hygiene can help you feel confident and ready to tackle anything. It is important to wash all over your body when in the shower or bath. You need to wash under your arm pits, behind your ears, under your breasts, as well as your genitals. Remember when washing your genitals, only use warm water. Don’t use any perfumed or dyed substances near your sensitive parts. Scented body wash often has chemicals in it that are bad for your health, especially around your lovely bits. It can cause skin irritation as well as wash away the good bacteria, leaving you susceptible to a build up of bad bacteria.
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Some bodies HaveVaginas As you get older and more mature you might start feeling differently than you did before. You may start liking other people in a “more than friends” way, or you may not, and that is perfectly fine. It is all a part of growing up and figuring out who you are. You may start to notice that your body reacts in new ways now, too. Somebody grazing your hand can make you feel tingly inside, or you might feel like you want to kiss somebody because you are attracted to them. This is natural and not something to feel shy or embarrassed about. It is also normal to feel pleasure around your vulva. It’s a good idea to explore this pleasure by touching yourself in this area. This can help teach you what works for your body as well as what your body responds to and doesn’t. This is a perfectly healthy and harmless act called masturbation. If you have any more questions about masturbation you can always talk to an adult you trust or your health care provider. You may begin to feel sexual urges! This is a-okay. Arousal is expressed in your body by a rush of blood to your sexual regions. You’ll start feeling pleasureable and excited in a new way. You may find that your vagina feels wet, and this is normal. When your body anticipates sexual activity it will prepare itself by lubricating the vaginal opening. Do not embarrassed if this happens to you when you are not sexually aroused. When there is dampness around your vaginal opening when you are not sexually aroused this is called vaginal discharge. Vaginal discharge has several purposes; such as cleaning and moistening the vagina, and helping to prevent and fight infections. Although it’s normal for the color, texture, and amount of vaginal fluids to vary throughout a girl’s menstrual cycle, some changes in discharge may indicate a problem. Normal vaginal discharge can have a texture that is anywhere from thin and slightly sticky to thick and gooey, and can vary from clear to off-white in colour. Vaginal discharge should have a slight odour and shouldn’t cause itching or irritation. If you do have any of these symptoms, (or notice a sudden change in odour or colour such as to brown, gray, dark yellow or green) this may be a sign that you have a vaginal infection. Reach out to someone you trust as well as your doctor.
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Some bodies Have Penises
If you are between the ages of nine and twelve, you are most likely noticing some changes starting to happen to your body. These changes are part of a process called puberty. It’s okay to be alarmed about these changes – after all, things that never happened to you before are beginning to happen now. Your voice is deepening because your vocal folds (called the larynx) are descending in your throat, and as your voice deepens it sometimes cracks (this may happen at inopportune moments). You are beginning to grow hair in places you didn’t have hair before. You may have mood swings. You are beginning to have erections more frequently. You might even be having wet dreams (called nocturnal emissions). You may find yourself attracted to your peers in ways you were not before, and it might be confusing. But don’t worry, this is all part of growing up. This book is here to help you understand your body and the changes it is going through and reassure you that everything is going to be okay!
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Some bodies Have Penises Every person has a reproductive system. Some reproductive systems are different than others. When you were born, or even before you were born, you were assigned a gender and sex based on your reproductive system. Your reproductive system may resemble this one, with a penis, testicles, and various internal parts. Many people feel comfortable with their assigned gender and sex throughout their lives, but some do not. If you are confused about your gender or your body, talk about it with a close friend or an adult that you trust.
The penis consists of a shaft with a head at the tip. The head is called the glans. The shaft is made up of spongy tissue - it does not have any bones. The urethra, where urine passes through when you go to the bathroom, runs through the middle of the penis. When you have an erection, the shaft fills up with blood, causing the penis to get bigger and become hard. For some people, the penis will also curve upward or to the side. For others it will stick straight out, or point downward.
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Some bodies Have Penises Every person with a penis is born with foreskin on it. This is a fold of skin that covers part or all of the glans when your penis is not erect. As your body grows and changes, it is important to remember to gently clean under your foreskin when you shower or bathe. If you do not have foreskin, that means you were circumcised. Most people who are circumcised have the procedure done as a baby. During circumcision, the foreskin is removed by doctors, and can be done for many reasons. However, it is important to note that there are no health benefits to being circumcised. If you are insecure about being circumcised or about not being circumcised, it’s okay! It’s normal to feel insecure sometimes, but your body is valid no matter what it looks like.
Your testicles are glands that sit in a pouch of skin called the scrotum behind your penis. Most people with testicles have two of them. Testicles produce hormones that help your body develop and grow, especially a hormone called testosterone. These hormones are responsible for the changes your body experiences during puberty – the voice cracking and deepening, the growth of body hair, the increased oiliness of your skin, and more. Testicles also produce sperm, which are little cells that live in semen.
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Some bodies Have Penises Semen is a sticky white fluid that is mostly produced by glands called the seminal vesicles, which are inside your body behind your bladder. Another gland called the prostate, which surrounds the urethra just below your bladder, also makes part of your semen. Semen travels from the seminal vesicles through tubes called the vas deferens to the penis. Once the semen reaches the testicles, it mixes with sperm. When you have an erection, touching your penis in certain ways might cause you to ejaculate. When you ejaculate, semen comes out of your urethra. This might seem gross or embarrassing at first, but it is perfectly normal and nothing to be ashamed of. Not every person likes to touch themselves and that is also okay. You can also ejaculate without touching yourself during the night while you are asleep. You’ll know if this has happened when you wake up in the morning and your pajamas, underwear, or bed sheets are damp with semen. This is called a wet dream, or a nocturnal emission. This is different from having an accident during the night and wetting the bed. You might feel awkward or ashamed, but this is just another normal part of puberty. Don’t worry though, you will eventually stop having wet dreams in the next few years.
During sex, ejaculating into your partner can cause them to become pregnant, if your partner has a vagina, a uterus, and ovaries. This is because one of your sperm will combine with your partner’s egg inside of their uterus, and grow into a baby over the span of nine months. If your partner has a penis like you, they cannot get pregnant. Regardless, it is important to use protection when having sex, such as condoms. When you are an adult, you can also get a vasectomy - a simple procedure that prevents semen from mixing with sperm before you ejaculate.
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The Importance of Consent Perhaps the most confusing part of puberty is the changing feelings you begin to experience about your peers. You might find yourself developing crushes on some of your friends or classmates. You may start wanting to hold hands or kiss or go on dates with people. This can be a very exciting but confusing and stressful time, and you may feel pressured to do things you aren’t ready for yet. If you are ready to kiss, go on dates, or have a relationship with somebody who also wants to do the same with you, then go for it! But if you find yourself worried, afraid, or just don’t think you’re ready, that’s okay too! If you want to, talk to your friends or an adult you trust about how you’re feeling and they can support you.
It is important not to touch people without their permission, in both a friendly or sexual way. If somebody does not want you to hug them, kiss them, hold their hand, or touch them any other way, do not force them to. This doesn’t necessarily mean that they don’t like you, they just might not want to be touched. It is also important to remember that if someone gives you permission to touch them once, they can change their mind and ask you to stop. They also might let you hug or kiss them one day but not the next. Somebody might not verbally say no, or they might say yes but not really mean it so it is important to watch their body language, tone of voice, and choice of words so you don’t accidentally hurt or upset anybody. Similarly, it is important to not let anybody touch you when you don’t want to be touched. This is especially when it comes to your private parts. If an adult asks you to play a game that involves touching their private parts or them touching yours, run away if it is safe to do so. Tell an adult you trust as soon as possible. If one of your peers touches you in a way or a place you don’t like, tell them to stop and if you are able to, leave. Once again, tell an adult you trust as soon as possible.
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The Importance of Contraceptives When you are at a certain age you may start thinking about having a sexual relationship with another person. Sexual relationships are not restricted to males and females only. Many people do not fall into the label of male or female and may identify differently. As long as both parties have communicated that they want to have sexual relations with one another then it is okay to pursue the relations. The best thing you can do is communicate with your partner so that you both feel safe and comfortable at all times. And if you don’t feel comfortable you are always able to stop what you are doing and leave the situation. When you are ready to start being sexually active you need to remember that the best way to practice safe sex is to use the appropriate contraceptives to protect you from sexually transmitted infections as well as unwanted or unplanned pregnancy. Contraceptives that can used to make sure pregnancy doesn’t happen are: Condoms: Condoms are a barrier method of contraception. There are male condoms and female condoms:
An external condom is a thin sheath (usually made of latex, a type of rubber) that is worn on the penis.
An internal condom is a polyurethane sheath with a flexible ring at either end. One end is closed and inserted into the vagina; the other end is open and the ring sits outside the opening of the vagina.
Birth control pills: This is a daily pill that contains hormones to change the way the body works in order to prevent pregnancy. Hormones are chemicals that control the functioning of the body’s organs. In this case, the hormones in the Pill control the ovaries and the uterus. Intra-Uterine Device: These are typically a t-shaped device that is inserted into a woman’s uterus by a doctor to stop her from becoming pregnant. Some IUDs are just plastic, Some IUDs are wrapped in copper, some IUDs contain hormones and some do not.
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The Importance of Contraceptives Birth control Ring: the birth control ring is a soft, flexible, ring 5 centimeters in diameter. It is inserted into the vagina, where it slowly releases hormones the hormones in the ring affect the ovaries and the uterus in order to prevent pregnancy. Abstinence: Abstinence is the one true way to not get pregnant or contact an STI. The act of abstaining and not participating in sexual acts at all. This does not mean you are cold frigid or mean. If you do not feel comfortable having sex in any form then abstinence is the right choice for you. These are just some examples of Contraception that helps to prevent pregnancy, this is not all of the options available to you. Please feel free to talk to an adult you trust or a health care provider I order to learn more about contraception. Some Contraceptives that help to keep you safe while having sex and STI’s are: The condom: is a great way to protect yourself and your partner from STI’s because there is no skin to skin contact during intercourse while wearing a condom. Rubber Gloves: Rubber gloves help to protect you and your partner from disease as well as keeping each other safe from bacteria during sexual acts where a glove would be needed. Dental Dam: is a thin square of latex that can be used during oral sex. They can be bought in some stores, or you can make your own using a condom or a latex glove. Abstinence is the only way to truly protect yourself from sexually transmitted infection.
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The Importance of Loving Yourself As mentioned earlier, when you were born (or even before you were born) a doctor assigned you a gender and a sex based on your reproductive organs – either boy/male or girl/female. Lots of people feel comfortable with their assigned gender and sex throughout their lives, but not everybody does and this is okay. It doesn’t make you weird and it doesn’t mean something is wrong with you. Some people who are not comfortable with their assigned gender and/or sex identify as transgender. This means they are more comfortable living as a different sex and/or gender than the one they were assigned at birth. If you don’t feel comfortable being labeled a boy or girl or having your body called male or female, talk to an adult you trust or your close friends. They just might be a great source of support and help you find ways to feel more comfortable with yourself. Remember, things like clothes, toys, haircuts, and activities are often designated by adults as being “for boys” or “for girls” but that doesn’t make it true. You can wear whatever you want and do whatever you want regardless of your gender or your body! It’s normal to feel down about your appearance sometimes, but you are valid and perfect just the way you are. Ads on television and in magazines often tell us we have imperfections and encourage us to buy products to fix them. You don’t need these products to be attractive. Being yourself is already attractive! However, if there is something about the way you look that you really dislike and can’t accept, that’s okay too. Having acne as a teenager is normal but if it is causing you distress, talk to an adult you trust about getting treatment products for it. If there are other parts of your appearance that cause you distress and are harder to change, such as your nose or your breasts, there are things you can do as an adult to change them. If you still feel the same way about them when you are an adult, you can talk to a doctor about surgical or other cosmetic options. Remember everyone is going through their own journey and their own struggles, Try talking to a friend about how you feel, you will probably find that they feel similar to how you feel about their situation. Your body is unique to you and you can play with your image to make it best represent you. You can dress the way you want, and act in the way that represents the person that you feel you are.. Life and growing up can be fun and clumsy and even a little bit awkward but enjoy it.
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