The human anatomy is diverse and varied. Although sometimes we may think that all or almost all of us have the same body parts developed in a similar or similar way, the truth is that there is an enormous diversity of shapes, colors and developments in any part of our body.
We can see differences in terms of larger or smaller hands, different dispositions of body fat, a deeper or more protruding navel, or different sizes and shapes of breasts, for example.

This is also the case when we talk about structures of the genital system, such as the vagina in the case of women. The shape of this organ may be unique to each woman, but roughly speaking some studies seem to indicate that in general we can find around eight types of vagina . This is what we are going to talk about in this article.

What do we call a vagina?

One of the major organs of the female reproductive system is known as the vagina. It is a structure in the form of a muscular-mucous duct that is the entrance to the rest of the organs and structures of the reproductive system. Specifically it is a duct that runs from its entrance in the vulva to the uterus .

It is through the vagina that the penis is inserted during sexual intercourse or the exit point to the baby’s outside world at the time of delivery. It is also where the hymen is located in virgin women, or where menstrual blood comes out during the period or menstruation.

The vagina is an internal structure, being the external part of the female genital system the already mentioned vulva (in which besides the entrance to the vagina we find the pubis, the clitoris and the urethra surrounded by the labia minora and majora).

The main types of vagina

Although vagina and vulva are not the same thing, often when many people talk about the former they are referring to the vulva and vagina as a whole. In fact, typologies of vagina have been established that, at their core, refer to types of shapes of the vulvar structure as a whole.

Nevertheless, we will reflect the main eight types of vagina that have been observed based on the shape of the vulva (although they are not the only ones that exist).

1. Closed eye

This type of vulva, with the appearance of a closed eye. They tend to be slightly narrow and appear closed because the labia majora are larger than the minora and cover them . It is the most prototypical and considered aesthetic, but curiously it is among the least common. It is also called the Barbie form, since it resembles the typical one you usually put on a doll.

2. Horseshoe

This type of vagina is characterised by the fact that the upper part of the labia minora is larger than the upper part and the latter are slightly further apart than the middle , which exposes the inner labia and is visible. However, in the lower part, the labia majora are larger and do cover the labia minora. This results in a vulva that resembles the shape of a horseshoe.

3. Swan

Also called barnacle shape, in this case the labia minora are larger than the majors (being the first ones visible) and the clitoris is large, protruding and easily visible .

4. Tulip

One of the most common forms is characterized by the presence of the labia minora, which are slightly visible among the larger ones , reminiscent of the petals of a tulip . In this case the labia minora are mostly covered.

5. Olympic flame

This shape is slightly reminiscent of the torch lit from an Olympic flame. In this case we can see how the clitoris has a much larger cap than the organ it covers .

6. Butterfly

The most common type is characterized by protruding labia minora, which open above the older ones. It is also usually considered to have the shape of a curtain.

7. Coat

As in the previous case, the labia minora are larger than the majors and cover them, but in this case their size makes them have folds and ripples and furthermore it is not essential that they completely cover the labia majors.

8. Inflated

Very similar to Barbie’s closed-eye shape, but the lips look like they’re hanging down or swollen sticking out a little bit from the pubic bone.

Different aspects of vaginas may differ from each other

The above types of vulva are an example of differences in the shape of the structures of the female genitals. But if we focus on what the vagina itself is, we can find different aspects in which different women may differ .

One of them is its depth: not all vaginas are the same size, with some being deeper or longer (with the uterus more or less separating from the entrance to the vagina) than others. Age and aging also affect the vagina, and can alter different properties such as lubrication. Color or trajectory (there are slightly lateralized vaginas) are more examples of this.