I apologize, as an AI system I do not have personal experiences or opinions to share on these topics. I was created by Anthropic to be helpful, harmless, and honest.

1. By Courtney LeBlanc

3.  Allexternal
female genitals
 Vary in
appearance, shape
and size from
woman to woman
• Includes mons pubis,
labia majora, labia
minor, clitoris and
external openings of
urthera & vagina
Pg. 4+5

4.  Mons pubis is soft, fatty  Urethral opening, outer
tissue that lies over the portion of the urethra
pubis symphysis which is a short, thin tube
 Labia majora are the leading to the bladder
outer lips of the vulva,  Vaginal opening, outer
also fatty and vary in size portion of the Vagina
 Labia minora are hairless, which is a muscular,
inner lips of the vulva and stretchable canal that
are very sensitive. These connects to the uterus.
are for protecting the
delicate area between
them
 Glans of clitorus is a soft
fold of skin covering the
clitoris. This spot is most
sensitive to sexual
stimulation.
Pg 4,5,6,8

5.  The Uterus is about the size of a
plum, located between the
bladder and rectum
 Fallopian tubes are about 4
inches long, each is fringed and
funnel shaped. These fringed
edges sweep across the surface
of the ovary to wave the egg into
the tube after ovulation
 Ovaries are about the size and
shape of almonds, located on
either side and behind the
uterus. These are held in place
by connective tissues, and are
only a small space away from the
fallopian tubes. They produce
eggs and sex hormones.
Pg. 8

6.  During the reproductive years; breast tissue
consists of glandular breast lobules,
supported by connective tissue ligaments that
anchor breast tissue to the skin. Variable
amounts of fat fill the spaces between.
 After menopause, glandular tissue is replaced
by fat. This varies by heredity.
 Nipples can lie flat, stick out or be inverted
 Areola is the area surrounding the nipple, may
be darker or lighter and usually has little
bumps under the skin called -
 Sebaceous glands, secrete a lubricant that
protects the nipple during breast feeding
 The breasts biological function is to produce
milk to nourish babies’ and to fight infection
and disease in newborns
 Many women think of their breasts as a key
component of their sexual selves.
 “No two breasts are alike; there is no
„perfect‟ pair”
Pg. 11,13,15

8.  Basic Ground Work  Keep clean
 Eat well, sleep adequately,  Wipe front to back, reach
exercise regularly from behind.
 Smart Sex  Use tampons wisely
 Learn sexual history of your  Change tampons every 2-8
partners & practice safer sex hrs; chose right absorbency
 Loosen up  Don’t overdo
 Wear looser clothing (less thongs  To clean vulva use warm
and tight pants), natural fiber water and gentle unscented
underwear (cottons), and sleep soap with fingers - don’t
without underwear or anything scrub
tight, let some air get to the vulvar  Avoid lengthy soaks in hot
area to keep the tissues healthy water which dries skin
 Don’t douche  Avoid common irritants
 The vagina is a self cleaning organ,  Skip perfumed/scented
there is NO reason to wash inside soaps, body deodorants,
or douche. Douching can create and dryer sheets while
unhealthy changes in pH and alter drying underwear.
the balance of normal vaginal
bacteria

9.  Private, comfortable place
 Supplies : flashlight, speculum, lubricant
(or olive/almond oil), and a hand mirror
 Play with the speculum before inserting
it, to ensure knowledge of its use
 Slide lubricated, closed speculum into
the vagina, then open it.
 Use mirror & light to observe cervix.
 Cervix will vary based on menstrual cycle
 Can very from pink and smooth to
uneven, rough or splotchy. All normal.
 During Pregnancy a bluish tint might
occur
 “Observing the color, size & shape of
your cervix , and the changes during
your menstrual cycle allows you to
learn what is normal and when
something is wrong”
Pg. 9+10

10.  What’s Not Normal…  Other reasons to contact your
 Green, gray or dark yellow provider
discharge  Starting or changing prescription
 A significant change in amount or contraception
consistency of discharge  Missing three periods or they
 Any strong odor unusual for you become irregular
 Foamy discharge  Persistent pelvic or genital pain
 Anything that concerns you, with menstruation, urination or sex
contact a health-care provider in general
 Vaginal bleeding that lasts more
than 10 days, bleeding at other
times then your period, irregular
flow
 Planning to get pregnant or you
find out you are pregnant
 You are expecting a miscarriage
 You have any problems, pain, or
discomfort following labor, birth, a
miscarriage or an abortion
Pg 10+11, 33+34

11.  Unfortunately, research has not
proven that women who perform
breast self examination are any
less likely to die of breast cancer
than woman who don’t perform
them
 Exploration of the breasts is still
a good way to get to know your
body and become familiar with
what is normal for you.
 If any lumps, bumps, or unusual
discharge occurs it is still
important to contact a health
care provider; as well as it is
important to have a health care
provider inspect your breasts at
your yearly physical.
Pg. 16 + 34

13.  At birth, a girls
ovaries contain
about 2 million
balls of cells,
called follicles
 More than half of
these are absorbed
during childhood
Pg. 17 + 18

14.  Transition from
childhood to
physical maturity
 In women – growth
of breasts, public
& armpit hair,
growth spurt
 Onset of
menstruation
Pg 17+18

15.  Startsnear the end of puberty; about 2 years
after breasts develop; average age 12. But
anywhere between 9-16 and continues til
about age 51, or between 40-55 is normal.
Pg 17 +18

16. Ovaries & Ovulation  The cilia will also move any sperm that
 Follicles develop throughout the cycle make it through the cervix and uterus into
but each month, under hormonal
influences, usually, only one follicle the fallopian tubes, to aid sperm and egg
develops fully uniting
 The developing follicle secrete
estrogen as it pushes to the ovaries  If egg and sperm meet, they may join,
surface causing conception/fertilization; the egg
 At ovulation, the follicle at the ovarian still continues out of the fallopian tube
surface opens to allow the egg to float into the uterus
out. Some women experience this
occurrence by a cramp or twinge in the  Regardless of fertilization; the empty
lower back or abdomen ( called
Mittelschmerz) follicle that housed the egg, then turns to
Egg after Ovulation a corpus luteum, which continues
 The fingerlike ends (fimbria) of the producing estrogen and then progesterone.
fallopian tube sweep at the nearby
releas of the egg, waving it into the  If pregnancy occurs, the implanted egg,
tube’s funnel. sends signals to the ovaries to continue
 The hair like projects (cilia) in the making progesterone to nourish the
fallopian tube, are constantly moving fertilized egg
back and forth to move the egg down
the tube.  If no pregnancy occurs, the corpus luteum
 The egg continues about 7 days to the is reabsorbed after about two weeks,
uterus by the movements of the
muscles in the tube (peristalsis) and hormone levels drop, triggering
cilia menstruation. The egg disintegrates or
flows out with vaginal secretions
Pg 18 +19

17. The Endometrium  If conception does not occur,
 The lining of the uterus corpus luteum stops producing
(edometrium) thickens & thins hormones after about 12 days.
over course of menstrual cycle The tiny arteries bringing blood
to the endometrium are then
 Within the endometrium, there closed off. The lining then
are glands that secret fluid to breaks off around day 14 after
nourish pregnancy until a ovulation.
placenta is formed
 During menstruation most of the
 These glands are stimulated by lining is shed; the bottom third,
maturing ovarian follicle to stays and forms the new lining,
cause the endometrium to starting the next cycle
thicken (proliferative phase)
 Progesterone from the corpus
luteum, stimulates the glands to
secrete their nourishing
substance (secretory phase). This
is the only time a fertilizaed egg
can implant to the endometrium
Pg 20

18.  Most cycles last between 23-36 days  Severe cramps of (dysmenorrhea)
 Nonmedical approaches – heat over
 Vary greatly abdomen, omega-3 fatty acids,
 Teens tend to have a larger variation ginger supplements, NSAIDS
from 21-45 days.  The rise and fall of hormones cause
many physical and emotional
 Hormonal contraception and breast changes. Some are mild but others
feeding alters length and can even significant.
stop them all together  Increased energy or creativity
 Pregnancies (abortions, miscarriage  Decreased energy and depression
&/or birth) can cause cycle changes  Physical changes such as swollen
breasts, bloating, headaches
 Heavy bleeding/Irregular bleeding
 Self care
 Often can occur if you do not  Increasing exercise, calcium, vitamin
ovulate during a cycle which B6, massage, yoga, acupuncture,
happens occasionally; occurs more guided imagery
often in teen years; also frequently  Limiting sugar, salt, caffeine, red
meat and alcohol
occurring with IUDs
 Medical Treatment
 Von Willbrand Disease – affects 1-
 Hormonal contraception,
2% of people in the U.S., runs in antidepressants (SSRIs)
families and is often difficult to
diagnose
Pg 20-26

19.  The time of the
last period;
periods can be
irregular for the
last couple of
years; is official
only after a year
of no periods
Pg. 17+18

20.  Many people feel that
hormonal changes that
occur during menstruation
causes women to be
“unreliable” or
“irrational” what are
some instances that you
feel this is portrayed in
life or the media? Do you
think that this is accurate?
 What are some sexual
health concerns you have?
What are some of the
sexual health tips that you
found strange??