Editing Vagina (section)

===Secretions===
{{Main|Vaginal discharge|Vaginal lubrication}}
Vaginal secretions are primarily from the [[uterus]], cervix, and vaginal epithelium in addition to minuscule [[vaginal lubrication]] from the [[Bartholin's gland]]s upon sexual arousal.<ref name="Dutta"/> It takes little vaginal secretion to make the vagina moist; secretions may increase during sexual arousal, the middle of or a little prior to [[menstruation]], or during [[pregnancy]].<ref name="Dutta"/> Menstruation (also known as a "period" or "monthly") is the regular discharge of blood and mucosal tissue (known as menses) from the [[endometrium|inner lining of the uterus]] through the vagina.<ref name=Women2014Men>{{cite web|title=Menstruation and the menstrual cycle fact sheet|url=http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/menstruation.html|website=Office of Women's Health|access-date=June 25, 2015|date=December 23, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626134338/http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/menstruation.html|archive-date=June 26, 2015}}</ref> The vaginal mucous membrane varies in thickness and composition during the [[menstrual cycle]],<ref>{{Cite book |vauthors=Wangikar P, Ahmed T, Vangala S |chapter=Toxicologic pathology of the reproductive system |title=Reproductive and developmental toxicology |veditors=Gupta RC |date=2011 |publisher=Academic Press |isbn=978-0-12-382032-7 |location=London |page=1005 |oclc=717387050}}</ref> which is the regular, natural change that occurs in the [[female reproductive system]] (specifically the uterus and [[ovary|ovaries]]) that makes pregnancy possible.<ref name=Silverthorn>{{cite book|vauthors=Silverthorn DU|title = Human Physiology: An Integrated Approach |edition=6th |publisher = Pearson Education |location = Glenview, IL |year = 2013 | isbn = 978-0-321-75007-5 |pages=850–890}}</ref><ref name=Sherwood>{{cite book|vauthors=Sherwood L |title = Human Physiology: From Cells to Systems | edition=8th |publisher = Cengage |location = Belmont, California | year = 2013 |isbn = 978-1-111-57743-8 |pages=735–794}}</ref> Different [[feminine hygiene|hygiene products]] such as [[tampon]]s, [[menstrual cup]]s, and [[sanitary napkin]]s are available to absorb or capture menstrual blood.<ref name="Vostral">{{cite book|vauthors=Vostral SL|title=Under Wraps: A History of Menstrual Hygiene Technology|publisher=[[Lexington Books]]|isbn=978-0-7391-1385-1|year=2008|pages=1–181|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PWA0yisYPnEC|access-date=March 22, 2018|archive-date=March 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310000252/https://books.google.com/books?id=PWA0yisYPnEC|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Bartholin's glands, located near the vaginal opening, were originally considered the primary source for vaginal lubrication, but further examination showed that they provide only a few drops of [[mucus]].<ref name="Sloane">{{cite book|vauthors=Sloane E|title=Biology of Women|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kqcYyk7zlHYC&pg=PA32|year=2002|publisher=[[Cengage Learning]]|isbn=978-0-7668-1142-3|pages=32, 41–42|access-date=October 27, 2015|archive-date=June 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140628044307/http://books.google.com/books?id=kqcYyk7zlHYC&pg=PA32|url-status=live}}</ref> Vaginal lubrication is mostly provided by plasma seepage known as [[transudate]] from the vaginal walls. This initially forms as sweat-like droplets, and is caused by increased fluid pressure in the tissue of the vagina ([[vasocongestion]]), resulting in the release of plasma as transudate from the [[capillary|capillaries]] through the vaginal epithelium.<ref name="Sloane"/><ref name="Bourcier">{{cite book|vauthors=Bourcier A, McGuire EJ, Abrams P|title=Pelvic Floor Disorders|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4sO5a7R1NNwC&pg=PA20|year=2004|publisher=[[Elsevier Health Sciences]]|isbn=978-0-7216-9194-7|page=20|access-date=June 8, 2018|archive-date=July 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704044806/https://books.google.com/books?id=4sO5a7R1NNwC&pg=PA20|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Wiederman">{{cite book|vauthors=Wiederman MW, Whitley BE Jr|title=Handbook for Conducting Research on Human Sexuality|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L6c11oy8PGMC&q=transudation|date=2012|publisher=[[Psychology Press]]|isbn=978-1-135-66340-7|access-date=June 8, 2018|archive-date=July 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704044837/https://books.google.com/books?id=L6c11oy8PGMC&q=transudation|url-status=live}}</ref>

Before and during [[ovulation]], the mucous glands within the cervix secrete different variations of mucus, which provides an [[Alkalinity|alkaline]], [[fertile]] environment in the vaginal canal that is favorable to the survival of [[sperm]].<ref name="Cummings">{{cite book |vauthors=Cummings M |title=Human Heredity: Principles and Issues |edition=Updated |publisher=[[Cengage Learning]] |isbn=978-0-495-11308-9 |year=2006 |pages=153–154 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Gq06QUuNTugC&pg=PT185 |access-date=October 27, 2015 |archive-date=May 6, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506171032/https://books.google.com/books?id=Gq06QUuNTugC&pg=PT185 |url-status=live }}</ref> Following menopause, vaginal lubrication naturally decreases.<ref name="Sirven">{{cite book|vauthors=Sirven JI, Malamut BL|title=Clinical Neurology of the Older Adult|publisher=[[Lippincott Williams & Wilkins]]|isbn=978-0-7817-6947-1|year=2008|pages=230–232|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c1tL8C9ryMQC&pg=PA230|access-date=June 8, 2018|archive-date=July 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190703211321/https://books.google.com/books?id=c1tL8C9ryMQC&pg=PA230|url-status=live}}</ref>