Women and their bodies

The womb and ovaries

The female external sex organs

A woman’s sex organs are mostly inside her body. Outside the body are the outer lips of the vagina, also known as the labia majora (see below).

When parted, these show the thinner, inner lips, the labia minora. These join at the front to cover the clitoris with a hood. The clitoris is usually sensitive to touch. The head of the clitoris, when not aroused, is about the size of a pea. All together, these form the vulva. Just beneath this, towards the vaginal opening, is the outlet for urine (the urethra). Further back still is the vagina itself. Behind the vagina is an area of skin called the perineum. Beyond that is the anus (opening to the back passage).
Inside a woman’s body lie the uterus (womb), the cervix (neck of the womb), the fallopian tubes and the ovaries (see diagram below).
Other sexual areas on the body include the breasts and nipples, which change in hardness and sensitivity when touched. Women also have other sensitive areas on their bodies which respond to direct touch, such as the nape of the neck, behind the knees, the buttocks and inner thighs. The sensitivity of these areas, known as erogenous zones, varies from woman to woman.