There are two main openings in the area most people refer to as the “vagina”: the vaginal opening and the urethral opening. They sit very close together, which is why many people assume there’s only one. A few additional, much smaller openings from glands are also present but are nearly invisible to the naked eye.
The Two Main Openings
The area you can see on the outside is technically called the vulva, not the vagina. The vagina is actually the internal canal, and its opening is just one of two distinct holes located within the folds of the vulva. Here’s what’s there:
- The urethral opening sits below the clitoris and above the vaginal opening. This is where urine exits the body. It’s small, and in many people it’s difficult to spot without a mirror and good lighting.
- The vaginal opening (sometimes called the introitus) sits just below the urethral opening. This is the entrance to the vaginal canal, which serves as the passage for menstrual blood, sexual intercourse, and childbirth.
A very common misconception is that urine comes out of the vagina. It doesn’t. The urethra and the vagina are completely separate structures with separate openings. The confusion exists because the two openings are so close together that they can be hard to distinguish, especially without intentionally looking.
Smaller Gland Openings You Can’t See
Beyond the two main openings, several tiny duct openings exist in the surrounding tissue. These aren’t “holes” in the way most people mean, but they are real anatomical openings.
The Skene’s glands have two small ducts on either side of the urethral opening. They secrete fluid, but the openings are nearly impossible to see with the naked eye. The Bartholin’s glands sit within the tissue beside the vaginal opening, one on each side. They produce lubricating fluid during arousal. Their duct openings are also very small and not something you’d notice during a casual look.
So if you’re counting every opening in the vulvar area, the technical answer is closer to six (the urethral opening, the vaginal opening, two Skene’s gland ducts, and two Bartholin’s gland ducts). But for practical purposes, the answer that matters is two: one for urination and one that leads to the vaginal canal.
Why the Vaginal Opening Can Look Different
The vaginal opening doesn’t look identical from person to person. One reason is the hymen, a thin rim of tissue that partially surrounds the vaginal opening. In most people, the hymen naturally has an opening that allows menstrual blood to pass through, and it gradually wears away over time from normal activities like exercise, tampon use, or sexual activity.
However, the hymen can vary quite a bit. Some people are born with a septate hymen, where a band of tissue runs across the opening, making it look like there are two smaller holes instead of one. Others may have a microperforate hymen, where only a very tiny opening exists. In rare cases, an imperforate hymen completely covers the vaginal opening with no hole at all. This typically becomes apparent at puberty when menstrual blood has no way to exit, and a minor procedure can correct it.
The Anus Is Separate
Some people searching this question are also wondering about the anus. The anus is a third opening in the general region, located further back between the buttocks. It is not part of the vulva or the reproductive system at all. It belongs to the digestive tract. The space between the vaginal opening and the anus is called the perineum, and while the distance varies from person to person, these are entirely separate structures with no internal connection.
How to See the Openings
If you want to identify these openings on your own body, a handheld mirror and good lighting will help. The urethral opening is the trickiest to find because it’s so small. It sits in the area called the vestibule, the smooth tissue between the inner lips (labia minora), just above the vaginal opening. The vaginal opening is larger and more obvious, especially if you gently part the labia. Don’t be surprised if it takes a moment to locate everything. The structures are compact, and the surrounding tissue folds can make individual openings hard to distinguish at first glance.