The vulva plural vulvas or vulvae; derived from Latin for wrapper or covering consists of the external female sex organs. The vulva includes the mons pubis or mons veneris , labia majora , labia minora , clitoris , vestibular bulbs , vulval vestibule , urinary meatus , the vaginal opening , and Bartholin's and Skene's vestibular glands. The urinary meatus is also included as it opens into the vulval vestibule. Other features of the vulva include the pudendal cleft, sebaceous glands , the urogenital triangle anterior part of the perineum , and pubic hair. The vulva includes the entrance to the vagina , which leads to the uterus , and provides a double layer of protection for this by the folds of the outer and inner labia.
This illustrator’s vulva gallery is a glorious reminder to love your body
8 Vulva Illustrations Every Woman Needs To See | Women's Health
The obvious answer? We should be seeing more vulvae. Hilde was inspired to create The Vulva Gallery after learning about the huge increase in the number of young women getting labiaplasty in recent years. She explains that the only way to change how people view their bodies is to educate them about natural variation, and get them to embrace and love their differences.
Dutch artist Hilde Atalanta wants women to know that no two vulvae look alike—but all are beautiful. On this account, she shares one watercolor painting of a vulva aka the external female genitalia each day, and the illustrations are beautifully diverse. Some have carefully sculpted pubic hair, some have asymmetrical labia, some have labia that extend below the rest of the vulva, and others even have a tampon string dangling out of them—and all are uniquely delightful.
Every day for the last year and a half, Hilde Atalanta has painted a picture of one vulva. At first, inspiration came from her imagination; then, from the internet; and, most recently, from women who send her photos of their goods. For the Amsterdam-based illustrator who also paints full bodies and faces, vulvas are compelling portrait subjects. A vulva, by the way, is the name for the visible part of what most people just dub "vagina.