Anatomy
The parts, where they are, what they do, and the hormones that affect everything from the brain to the gut.
- 1The vulva and its three openingsThe vulva is the outside of the genitals. It has three openings, the urethra, the vagina and the anus, and no two vulvas look the same.
- 2The organs insideInside the pelvis are the vagina, cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries, held up by a sling of muscle called the pelvic floor.
- 3What the hormones do, by body partEstrogen, progesterone and testosterone act far beyond the reproductive organs, on the brain, breasts, skin, gut, bones, heart and sleep. Everyone makes all three, in different amounts.
- QuizA short quiz on this section. Try again for new questions.
Where can I learn more?
- Cleveland Clinic: Vulva
- Cleveland Clinic: Clitoris
- Public understanding of female genital anatomy and pelvic organ prolapse: a questionnaire-based pilot study, Int Urogynecol J 2022
- NHS West Yorkshire Healthier Together: My vulva and vagina
- Cleveland Clinic: Hymen
- Devon Sexual Health (NHS): Genital hygiene
- Development of the human penis and clitoris, Differentiation 2018
- Cleveland Clinic: Vagina
- Cleveland Clinic: Female reproductive system
- Cleveland Clinic: Uterus
- Cleveland Clinic: Fallopian tubes
- Cleveland Clinic: Ovaries
- Cleveland Clinic: Pelvic floor muscles
- Cleveland Clinic: Sperm
- Cleveland Clinic: Testicles
- ACOG: Ectopic pregnancy
- Cleveland Clinic: Estrogen
- Cleveland Clinic: Progesterone
- Cleveland Clinic: Testosterone
- Towards understanding the biology of premenstrual dysphoric disorder, Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023
- Sex hormones, appetite and eating behaviour in women, Maturitas 2012
- Menstrual-associated gastrointestinal symptoms and their impact on IBS diagnosis in adolescents, 2026
- Cleveland Clinic: Hyperandrogenism
- NIAMS (NIH): Osteoporosis
- Temperature regulation in women: effects of the menstrual cycle, Temperature 2020
- Circadian rhythms, sleep, and the menstrual cycle, Sleep Med 2007