HALF the population has one.

Yet still us gals shy away from talking about our vaginas.

They can bring about intense pleasure, deliver babies into the world, but many women don't know all they should about their lady bits.

Last year a survey of 1,000 British women found half could not pinpoint the vagina on a medical diagram of the female reproductive organs and just 35 per cent could correctly label their anatomy.

But even if you can correctly label each part of your anatomy, there are some surprising things about your vagina that you probably didn't know.

1. You should blow dry it after sex

Yes, you read that correctly.

Once you are done getting down and dirty you should switch on your hair dryer, gynaecologist Alyssa Dweck told Medical Daily.

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Blow drying your vulva can help reduce your risk of yeast infections.

While not considered a sexually transmitted disease, yeast infections like thrush and vaginitis can uncomfortable and triggered by sex.

Dr Dweck says you should rinse down there after sex, and then blow dry your vulva – on the cool setting, of course.

The slightly bizarre act helps get rid of moisture – a breeding ground where bacteria can thrive.

2. It's normal for your vagina to smell

There is a common myth that your vagina shouldn't smell, but that is not the case according to gynaecologist Dr Karen Morton.

She told Net Doctor that every woman's vagina should have a scent but it shouldn't be a strong or unpleasant one.

She said: "Vaginal secretions contain pheromones, which are chemical signals and smells that impact the behaviour of another individual.

"Smell is one of the things which connects mother and baby and vaginal smell also attracts our partner to us sexually."

But if it smells strong and fishy it may be a sign of bacterial vaginosis.

It occurs when the bacteria inside the vagina becomes disrupted.

If you think you may have this you should see your GP.

3. There is no such thing as normal

If you spend time worrying whether your vagina looks normal, relax – there is no such concept.

More and more women are going under the knife for designer vaginas, but in reality there are many different types.

Dr Dweck, author of a new book called Complete A to Z for Your V out on June 1, said: "I do get a lot of questions if everything looks normal, if they’re too big, how will they know whether things are normal.

"There are hundreds of thousands of shapes and sizes of what a vulva should look like, so it’s what’s normal for you."

4. Your vagina is self cleaning

While it may be tempting to douche and use soap every time you shower, you actually don't need to.

In fact, douching could actually be bad for your health.

Several studies have linked douching to an increased risk of contracting the human papillomavirus (HPV) and developing ovarian cancer.

The HPV virus is responsible for around 90 per cent cervical cancer diagnoses in the UK, experts have said.

The vagina actually keeps itself clean and healthy using discharge, so it is completely normal to see that every day.

Natika Halil, chief executive of the sexual health charity FPA, said: "There’s no need to try and clean inside the vagina to get rid of discharge, the vagina is really good at cleaning itself.

"Using perfumed products particularly can do more harm than good.

"The best way to wash this part of the body is to use plain, unperfumed soap and water to clean the vulva."

5. Too much sex will not make your vagina saggy

We've all heard it – if you have regular sex your vagina will stretch.

That is, in fact, a big fat lie.

Dr Morton explained there will always be an initial amount of change when you first become sexually active, but after that it stays relatively the same.

She said: "The vagina is an infinitely stretchy and elastic organ, otherwise we would never be able to pass a baby through it and then for it to be restored to its normal shape and size."

6. Discharge is perfectly normal

You may think it's gross and get put off by the damp feeling down there, but vaginal discharge is a perfectly normal part of being a woman.

As mentioned above, it is actually the vagina's way of cleaning itself.

The amount of discharge a woman's vagina produces can vary based on where in her menstrual cycle she is.

A white or clear coloured discharge is normal, but if it changes colour and becomes grey or a green/yellow colour it is important to see a doctor.

A grey discharge is a sign of bacterial vaginosis and a yellow/green discharge could indicate gonorrhoea.

Dr Virginia Beckett, spokesperson for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists told the Sun Online: "The amount of vaginal discharge varies throughout a women’s menstrual cycle, and most pregnant women will get a pregnancy discharge.

"Healthy discharge doesn’t have a strong smell or colour, but women may feel an uncomfortable wetness."

7. There are thousands of nerves in your clitoris

There is one main function of the clitoris – and yep, you guessed it, pleasure.

Dr Dweck also told Prevention that the clitoris has more nerves per millimetre than any other organ in the body.

It is estimated to have about 8,000 nerve endings and men don't have an equal counterpart.

8. There are four pathways to pleasure

That's right, ladies, there are four ways you can reach the heady heights of the big O.

A recent study published in the journal NeuroQuantology found women can have several different types of orgasms – clitoral, vaginal, blended and multiple.

The first two are fairly self explanatory when it comes to how the orgasm is achieved.

But, chances are for most women, the latter two are less common.

A blended orgasm is the most powerful finale and occurs by combining clitoral and vaginal stimulation.

Meanwhile, multiple orgasms do what they say on the tin.

These occur one after the other, not at separate times during sex.

9. It's beneficial to sleep naked

It's time to ditch your PJs,  sleeping in the buff is good for your lady garden, helping to prevent infections.

Dr Vanessa Mackay, from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said: "Sleeping without underwear may be beneficial to women with vaginitis, which is inflammation of the vagina, and those who suffer from thrush, a common yeast infection.

"Thrush thrives in warm, moist parts of the body, so avoiding tight-fitting underwear or tights can help prevent the infection.

"If you have vaginitis, wearing loose-fitting cotton underwear or not wearing underwear while you sleep, may improve the condition."

10. We need our pubic hair

While many women are fans of the Brazilian wax, our pubic hair actually acts as a barrier to keep germs out of our vaginas.

It also helps control the moisture levels of our nether regions, which helps prevent yeast infections.

Dr MacKay said: "If women shave their pubic hair, they are putting themselves at a higher risk of contracting venereal disease, like genital warts.

"Although pubic hair doesn’t completely prevent STIs, it helps avoid skin on skin contact with someone who may already have it.

"Removing pubic hair also irritates and inflames the hair follicles left behind, leaving microscopic open wounds.

"When that irritation is combined with the warm moist environment of the genitals, it becomes a happy culture medium for bacterial pathogens."

11. The vagina needs exercising too

You go to the gym to maintain a fit and toned body.

But your vagina needs to be kept toned too – or more specifically, the muscles that make up your pelvic floor.

They hold the uterus, vagina, bowel and bladder in place.

As women age the muscles weaken, which can lead to problems such as incontinence.

Dr MacKay said: "Doing regular pelvic floor exercises can help improve muscle tone, bladder and bowel control and sensitivity during sex.

"If women are pregnant, or planning to get pregnant, they should start doing pelvic floor exercises as soon as possible as this will reduce the risk of experiencing incontinence after child birth.

"To exercise the pelvic floor muscles, women should sit or stand comfortably with knees slightly apart and then draw up the pelvic floor muscles as if trying to avoid passing urine or wind.

"It is important not to tighten the stomach, buttock or thigh muscles during the exercises.

"Women should do ten slow contractions, holding them for about 10 seconds each.

"The length of time can be increased gradually and the slow contractions can then be followed by a set of quick contractions.

"The whole process should be carried out three or four times a day."

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