A woman's vagina, also called the birth canal, is part of the reproductive tract and extends from the womb (uterus) to outside the body. The opening to the vagina is located between the bowel opening (anus) and the opening for the bladder (urethra).
Blood from a woman's menstrual period flows through her vagina. During sexual intercourse, sperm are ejaculated from the man's penis into the vagina and travel through the cervical canal and uterus to the fallopian tubes, where fertilization can occur.
| Author | Jeannette Curtis |
| Author | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Tracy Landauer |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Last Updated | May 25, 2007 |
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise