Is my vag normal? What's a vulva? And other questions answered

Labia, vagina, vulva: do you think yours is normal? Due to their intimate nature, we don't tend to see (and size up) the different types of genitals, which is how so many people can end up with insecurities. But here's the thing: no matter what the shape, size, colour of your labia (unless, you know, it physically hurts), it's probably completely normal.

The problem is, most of us aren't all that familiar with what a normal vulva looks like, where in our body our actual vagina is located and what the different parts of our junk are called. In fact, half of young women don't even know where their vaginas are, according to Gynae Cancer charity The Eve Appeal.

We asked the experts - Mr Mofid Ibraheim MB BCh, MRCOG, an expert surgeon in gynaecological procedures at MYA and Doctor Rumbi Mutenga, a women's health specialist and ex midwife - about normal vaginas, what labia should look like and everything in between.

According to Mr Ibraheim, there are more or less seven types of labia. But just in case you're not proficient in vag-talk, we thought we'd clarify what's what. When we talk about the 'labia majora', that's the fleshier outer lips of the vulva. Think of the cushioning between your inner thighs and your labia minora. Your 'labia minora', on the other hand, are the thinner, inside lips which start below the clitoris and are either visible or not depending on the way your vulva looks.

Remember: whether your vulva fits exactly into any of the below descriptions, or whether you have variations of a few; unless it's causing you physical discomfort then it really is absolutely normal. They're meant to look different to one other, after all.