The V Scene: Gynecology Real Talk for Young Women

The vagina has an amazing ability to get bigger. After all, a baby can come through there. But really, it's only a few inches deep.

When you put in a tampon, it stays in your vagina. The only other opening is at the top of your vagina but it's really tiny. So there's no way the tampon can get out and go anywhere else inside your body.

It doesn't matter if one lip (called labia) hangs down farther than the other side. Or if one is bigger than the other. They don't have to match or look a certain way. Labia come in different shapes, sizes, and colors.

There is no "normal" amount of pubic hair. It depends on when you start puberty. An 11-year-old girl, for example, isn't going to have the same amount of hair as a 15-year-old.

When puberty starts, most girls will usually begin to get breasts and then pubic hair will start to grow. Sometimes it can happen at the same time. The hair usually gets thicker and she'll get more of it the farther along she is in puberty.

Shaving or waxing isn't dangerous, but there's a chance of itching, razor burn, bumps, ingrown hairs, or infection. If you shave, shave in the direction that hair grows. If you decide to wax, you may want to go to a salon and let an esthetician do it.

Tampons can be uncomfortable if you don’t know how to use them right. It's a good idea to ask your mom or an older sister or friend for advice. If you're worried about it hurting, you may want to use a slender tampon labeled for light flow. It may help to use them only on days when your period is heaviest -- just to make it easier until you get used to them.

And remember to change them every 3 to 4 hours. Never leave a tampon inside for more than 4-5 hours. It can cause serious infection.

The reason we wear underwear is to have a soft layer between our private parts and things that can irritate them -- like our clothes. Skip the pain and possible infections by keeping your panties on.

Those spots you see are from discharge from your vagina. When you've started your period or are close to starting your period, you may have it. Sometimes you have more or less than usual, depending on how your hormones are acting that day. In general, it shouldn't be colorful (especially green or gray), should not last for long, and it shouldn't smell. If you are worried, see your doctor.

Sometimes it may seem like you're losing a lot of blood each month. But during each period -- anywhere from 2 to 7 days -- you usually lose only a couple tablespoons. If you feel like you are losing too much or your period lasts longer than usual, see your doctor.

Called "the menstrual cycle," there are usually about four weeks from the start of one period until the start of the next. But some girls might go 24 days. Some might go 30.

When you first start having your period, it's normal for them to be different each time. You may have shorter or longer cycles that last for more or fewer days each month. As you get older, your periods should become more regular.

Sometimes you can get what look like pimples but they're really an infection called folliculitis. These little bumps can come from shaving. It's when shaved hairs grow back and curl back around and bug your skin. See your doctor to find out how best to treat the bumps and how you can avoid them in the future.

Itching can be a sign of a yeast infection. Yeast infections can be caused by some medicine you take (like antibiotics), stress, hormonal changes (like right around your period), and even wearing tight clothes. Infections are usually easy to treat. Just see your doctor to make sure you know what's causing your itch.

There are special sprays, douches, and wipes for "feminine odor," but you don't need them. Just use a gentle soap and plenty of warm water to clean up down there when you're in the shower or bathtub.