Vagina Museum

This month, our #VulvaDiversity topic is a peek under the hood. Or more accurately, a peek *at* the hood. We're looking at all the various shapes and sizes that clitoral hoods come in!

As always, you'll get blocked for making sexualised remarks or vulva-shaming comments, so don't do that. Also, this thread will include photos of real human vulvas so if you don't have content filters switched on, don't complain when you see vulvas on your screen!

Apr 6, 2023 at 1:22pmWeb
Show threadVagina MuseumApr 6, 2023
The clitoral hood is sometimes called the prepuce. It forms from the same parts as the foreskin if a foetus develops with a penis. The hood is made from a type of tissue called mucocutaneous tissue - somewhere between mucous membranes and skin.
Show threadVagina MuseumApr 6, 2023
One of the roles the clitoral hood plays is protecting the glans of the clitoris. This means it covers all or most of the glans. It's normal if you can see some glans, and normal if it covers it entirely!
Show threadVagina MuseumApr 6, 2023
Hoods vary a lot in size. Some hoods are around 20% of the length of the entire vulva, while others are up to 50%!
Show threadVagina MuseumApr 6, 2023
Hoods also vary a lot in width. Some are wide, others are very narrow. And guess what, it's all normal!
Show threadVagina MuseumApr 6, 2023
Clitoral hoods come in a whole variety of shapes, too. Sometimes they come to a point at the top. Sometimes they're square-ish with two "corners". Sometimes they're wedge-shape, and sometimes rounded. All normal!
Show threadVagina MuseumApr 6, 2023
Different hoods have very different textures. Some might be smooth, some might be wrinkly, and some are anywhere in between!
Show threadVagina MuseumApr 6, 2023
Of course, the clitoral hood isn't just for protection - it plays a vital role in sexual pleasure too! Some people find the glans too sensitive, and the hood protects the glans. Many people enjoy the friction as the hood rubs against the glans.
Show threadVagina MuseumApr 6, 2023
Because of its role in pleasure, some people choose to get a piercing in the clitoral hood and find it increases sensitivity.
Show threadVagina MuseumApr 6, 2023
Sadly, some modifications to the clitoral hood are not made for such happy reasons. Some people undergo surgery to reduce the size of the clitoral hood, often when undergoing labiaplasty. The hood is also sometimes removed during FGM procedures.
Show threadVagina MuseumApr 6, 2023
There is no right or wrong way for a clitoral hood to look. They vary in shape, size, texture and how much of the glans they cover... it's all normal, and it's unique for everyone!
Show threadVagina MuseumApr 6, 2023
All images in this thread courtesy of the Gynodiversity project, who have a large collection of photos of vulvas to showcase the huge variety of ways they look! https://gynodiversity.com/
Gynodiversity - A Crowd-Sourced Photography Project Showcasing Female External Genitalia | Gynodiversity

Explore the vast diversity of female external genitalia with Gynodiversity, a crowd-sourced photography project aiming to educate and break taboos surrounding female genital appearance.

Gynodiversity
Show threadkalizoid313Apr 6, 2023

@vagina_museum

πŸ§™  βš‘ I think the first photos of this sort that I ever looked at as art works were Tee Corrine's at Good Vibrations in San Francisco. Back when.

Show threadit's B! Cavello 🐝Apr 6, 2023
@vagina_museum I had no idea! Thanks for sharing this.
Show threadAlisonW β™ΏπŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆβ™ΎοΈApr 6, 2023
@vagina_museum
It's not a hood, it's a bonnet!
Show threadFluffgar 🏴󠁧󠁒󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 HAS MOVEDApr 7, 2023
@vagina_museum I can't believe we weren't taught more about our own bodies in school... Except I definitely can. Given some of the attitudes at the time (and it has been *some*). Thanks for this.