How Long is the Vaginal Canal?

Every woman is unique, and that goes for our vaginas too. Our sex organs are internal (the cervix, fallopian tubes, ovaries and vaginal canal) and external, also known as our genitals.
Each woman’s genitals and vaginal canal are different, including size, depth, width and color. So, how long is the vaginal canal typically?

In this article: 📝

How long is the average vaginal canal?
What about the whole genital area?
What affects vagina size?
What about comparing a vagina length and penis size?

How long is the average vaginal canal?

Studies suggest the average vagina depth is around 9.6cm; and the average range of the length of the vaginal canal may be about 7.6 to 17.7cm.

For context, this is roughly the length of your hand.

But just so you know, variations in vaginal canal size between people are not usually obvious, even to a sexual partner.

What about the whole genital area?

The outside of a woman’s genitals is the vulva. The vulva includes the labia minora and majora — the lip-like parts. This area leads to the vaginal canal.

The vulva can vary in how it looks, the labia can be darker than the rest of the body and each woman’s labia can vary in size and shape. And there is also the clitoris of course, which can vary in size between about 5 to 35 mm. Again, everyone’s different.

What affects vagina size?

Your vagina’s size and depth can change shape in certain situations, because it’s so “elastic.” It can accommodate a tampon, or change during sex – or during childbirth.

When you’re aroused, more blood flows to the vagina. Your cervix and uterus lift up, meaning your vaginal canal lengthens. This allows for deeper penetration.

If you have a vaginal birth, then your vaginal canal and opening will stretch to 10cm to allow your baby to pass through. Afterwards, your vagina might feel a little different, and it might also be painful if you have had stitches. But within a few weeks to months of childbirth, things usually return to pretty much their pre-birth location, shape, and tightness.

During menopause, your hormones can change – especially the level of estrogen. This can also affect your vaginal canal depth.

There are things you can do to take care of your vagina and help its muscle strength, and number one on the list is Kegel exercises. These exercises can be very effective at strengthening these muscles, which may help your vagina change size when needed.

Doctors also recommend that you avoid douching, that you try to eat healthily as much as possible, and be aware of any side effects from any medicines that you need to take.

What about comparing a vagina length and penis size?

The average penis is about one third longer than the depth of an average vagina.

And yep, like we said, both can vary in size and width. But generally they can accommodate each other. It’s possible that a penis (or a sex toy) can be too big for you, which means it can hit your cervix. This can be uncomfortable, and your doctor may recommend lube to help.

So, in summary, every vagina is unique. How long your vaginal canal is, how your vagina looks, plus how it feels, will be different for each woman. It’s an amazing part of our body that stretches when it needs to. But if we’re looking for rough numbers, the “average” vaginal canal length is around 9.6cm, with a common range of between 7.6 to 17.7cm.