A woman's vagina, also called the birth canal, is part of the reproductive tract and extends from the 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.

By	Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer	Sarah Anne Marshall, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology
Last Revised	June 8, 2010