The rounded, fleshy mound directly above the vaginal opening is called the mons pubis. You might also hear it referred to by its older Latin name, mons veneris, meaning “mount of Venus.” It sits over the pubic bone, is covered with skin and a layer of fatty tissue, and is the area where pubic hair grows after puberty. Despite being one of the most visible parts of the external female genitalia, it is one of the least talked about, and many people have never learned its name.
Where Exactly the Mons Pubis Sits
The mons pubis is part of the vulva, which is the collective term for the external female genitalia. The vulva includes the mons pubis, the labia majora (outer lips), labia minora (inner lips), the clitoris, and the vaginal vestibule (the opening area).1Handbook of Clinical Neurology. Anatomy and physiology of genital organs – women People sometimes use the word “vagina” to refer to all of this, but technically the vagina is the internal canal. The mons pubis is the soft, padded area at the very front and top of the vulva, sitting right over the point where the two pubic bones meet at the midline.
Below the mons, the tissue transitions into the labia majora, the outer folds of skin that run along either side of the vaginal opening. The boundary is gradual rather than sharply defined. From the mons, the internal reproductive structures including the vagina, cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries are all deeper inside the pelvis.2PubMed Central. Normal vulvovaginal, perineal, and pelvic anatomy with reconstructive considerations
What Is Inside the Mons Pubis
If you press on the mons, you can feel the hard surface of the pubic bone underneath. Between that bone and the skin is a distinct pad of fatty tissue. Anatomists have identified this as a defined structure, sometimes called the presymphyseal fat body, that is present in both men and women. Cadaver studies have found it consistently, describing a butterfly-shaped fat pad that sits directly in front of the pubic symphysis (the joint where the two halves of the pelvis meet). In women, this fat pad extends downward into the labia majora.3Europe PMC. The presymphyseal corpus adiposum The thickness of this fat pad varies substantially from person to person and is influenced by overall body weight, hormones, and genetics.
The skin of the mons is somewhat thicker than the skin on, say, your inner arm, and it contains a dense concentration of hair follicles along with both sebaceous (oil-producing) and apocrine glands. Apocrine glands are found in a handful of specific body areas: the armpits, the nipple area, the groin, the ear canal, and the mons pubis. They remain dormant until puberty, at which point they enlarge and begin producing a milky secretion. Body odor in the groin (and armpits) comes from bacteria acting on these secretions rather than from the secretions themselves.4Neonatal Dermatology. Structure and Function of Newborn Skin – Section: Apocrine Glands
What the Mons Pubis Actually Does
The mons pubis is not just decorative. Its primary mechanical function is cushioning. The fat pad absorbs impact and reduces pressure on the pubic bone during physical activities, including sexual intercourse. The area is also densely supplied with nerve endings. Sensation to the skin of the mons comes from the genitofemoral nerve, which originates from the lumbar spine area and also supplies the upper inner thigh.5Europe PMC / StatPearls. Anatomy, Abdomen and Pelvis: Genitofemoral Nerve This nerve supply means the mons is sensitive to touch and pressure, and it plays a role in sexual arousal for many people, though the degree of sensitivity varies.
The sebaceous glands on the mons may also play a role in releasing pheromones, chemical signals involved in sexual attraction. The evidence on human pheromones is still debated, but the gland concentration in this region is real and measurable. It is worth noting that these glands also sometimes cause trouble: blocked sebaceous glands or inflamed hair follicles are among the most common reasons people develop bumps or irritation in the mons area.
How It Changes Over a Lifetime
The mons pubis looks quite different at various stages of life. In childhood, it is smooth and relatively flat. At puberty, rising androgen levels trigger the growth of pubic hair in both sexes.6PubMed. Androgens and hair growth The fat pad also becomes more prominent, especially in women, due to the influence of estrogen on fat distribution. This is part of the broader pattern of fat redistribution that gives the adult female body its characteristic shape.
Weight gain and loss are among the biggest factors that change the appearance of the mons. Because it sits over a defined fat compartment, the mons tends to enlarge as body fat increases and can remain enlarged or develop loose, sagging skin after significant weight loss.7PubMed. Mons pubis ptosis: classification and strategy for treatment This can be a source of frustration for people who have lost a large amount of weight, because even when the rest of the body slims down, the mons may retain a prominent or drooping appearance.
During pregnancy, increased blood flow and hormonal shifts can make the mons appear puffier or more swollen. After menopause, falling estrogen levels cause the fat pad to thin, the skin to lose elasticity, and pubic hair to become sparser and lighter. These changes are entirely normal and mirror what happens to fat and skin elsewhere on the body as hormone levels shift.
Skin Conditions That Affect the Mons
Because the mons has a high concentration of hair follicles, sebaceous glands, and apocrine glands, and because it spends much of its time in a warm, occluded environment under clothing, it is prone to certain skin problems. Folliculitis, which is inflammation of a hair follicle from infection or irritation, is common. Contact dermatitis from soaps, detergents, or grooming products can cause redness and itching. Fungal infections like tinea (essentially the same organism that causes athlete’s foot) thrive in the warm, moist skin folds of the groin.
A more serious condition linked to the mons and surrounding area is hidradenitis suppurativa, a chronic inflammatory skin disease that targets hair follicles and tends to cluster in areas with apocrine glands, including the groin, armpits, and mons pubis. It causes painful, recurring nodules and abscesses that can form tunneling tracts under the skin and often requires long-term medical and sometimes surgical treatment.8JAMA Surgery. Multidisciplinary Update on Genital Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Review Because the mons is not a body part most people casually discuss with their doctor, conditions like this sometimes go undiagnosed or are mistakenly treated as simple boils.
Pubic Hair Removal and Its Consequences
Grooming practices around the mons pubis have shifted dramatically over the past few decades. Surveys find that the vast majority of women have removed at least some pubic hair at some point, with one large study reporting that about 87% of participants were currently removing hair. Among those who groomed, roughly 60% had experienced at least one complication, with the most common being small skin abrasions and ingrown hairs. Women who were overweight or obese were almost twice as likely to report complications from pubic hair removal compared to those at a lower weight.9American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. Complications related to pubic hair removal
The most frequent issues are ingrown hairs, razor burn, small cuts, and folliculitis. Waxing can cause burns, bruising, or allergic reactions. Shaving creates micro-abrasions that can serve as entry points for bacteria, occasionally leading to cellulitis or abscesses. These complications are usually minor and self-limiting, but for people with conditions like hidradenitis suppurativa, grooming in the mons area can trigger or worsen flare-ups. If you experience recurrent painful bumps after shaving or waxing, it is worth checking with a dermatologist rather than assuming it is just razor burn.
Surgery on the Mons Pubis
Monsplasty is a surgical procedure designed to reduce the size or improve the contour of the mons pubis. It usually involves removing excess skin, fat, or both, and is most commonly performed after significant weight loss. A large mons that sags or protrudes can cause practical problems beyond appearance: difficulty with hygiene, discomfort during exercise, and interference with clothing fit and sexual function.10Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. Pubic Contouring after Massive Weight Loss in Men and Women: Correction of Hidden Penis, Mons Ptosis, and Labia Majora Enlargement These deformities tend to persist even after someone has lost the weight, which is why surgical correction exists as an option.
Monsplasty is often combined with abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), since both procedures address the lower abdominal and pubic region. Newer surgical techniques focus on anchoring the mons tissue to the underlying fascia to maintain a natural contour and preserve lymphatic drainage in the pubic region.11Chinese Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. A new technique of monsplasty as an adjunctive procedure in cases of abdominoplasty: A prospective clinical trial One study found that patients who underwent monsplasty after massive weight loss reported improvements not just in appearance but also in self-esteem, ability to exercise, personal hygiene, and sexual experience, with all participants reporting satisfaction with the results.12PubMed. Monsplasty after massive weight loss: Assessment of its aesthetic and functional impact
Liposuction of the mons is another option for people who have excess fat but adequate skin elasticity. This is a less invasive approach, though it does not address loose skin. The choice between liposuction and excisional monsplasty depends on whether the main issue is volume, skin laxity, or both.
Why So Many People Do Not Know This Term
If you had to search the internet to learn what the area above your vagina is called, you are far from alone. Research consistently shows that public understanding of female genital anatomy is poor. One questionnaire-based study found widespread gaps in people’s ability to identify basic external structures of the vulva.13PubMed Central. Public understanding of female genital anatomy and pelvic organ prolapse (POP); a questionnaire-based pilot study A qualitative study of obstetrics and gynecology patients found that participants described a deep lack of health education about their own genitalia, combined with internalized shame that left them struggling to communicate with healthcare providers about their bodies.14The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality. At a loss for words: A qualitative exploration of female genital knowledge among obstetrics and gynecology patients
This knowledge gap has real consequences. If you cannot name a body part, you are less likely to mention symptoms in that area to a doctor, less likely to search effectively for information, and less equipped to make informed decisions about your health. The mons pubis is a good example: conditions like hidradenitis suppurativa, lichen sclerosus, or suspicious moles can appear there, and delays in recognition and treatment matter. Simply knowing the term “mons pubis” gives you a vocabulary you can use with a healthcare provider.
The Name Behind the Name
The term “mons pubis” is straightforward Latin: mons means “mountain” or “mound,” and pubis refers to the pubic bone area. The older term “mons veneris” translates to “mound of Venus,” linking it to the Roman goddess of love. That name lingered in medical texts for centuries, and while it has been dropped from official anatomical terminology, you still see it in older literature and in casual usage.15DergiPark / Anatomy. The world of gods and the body of man: mythological origins of modern anatomical terms The mythological naming convention was common in early anatomy. Terms like “hymen” (named for the Greek god of marriage) and “atlas” (the first cervical vertebra, named for the Titan who held up the sky) survive in formal medical terminology. “Mons veneris” and “nymphs” (an old term for the labia minora) did not make the cut when anatomical nomenclature was standardized, likely because committees preferred neutral descriptive terms over mythological ones.
In everyday English, you will sometimes hear the mons pubis called the “pubic mound,” the “FUPA” (a slang abbreviation for “fat upper pubic area”), or simply “the mound.” None of these are wrong in casual conversation, but “mons pubis” is the term a healthcare provider will recognize and use, and it is the one most likely to get you accurate results in a medical search.
The Mons Pubis in Men
Although this article focuses on the area above the vagina, it is worth knowing that men have a mons pubis too. The anatomy is essentially the same: a fat pad over the pubic symphysis, covered with hair-bearing skin containing the same types of glands. In men, the fat pad extends partially along the spermatic cord rather than into labial tissue.3Europe PMC. The presymphyseal corpus adiposum Excess fat in the male mons can cause a condition called “buried penis,” where the penile shaft becomes hidden under surrounding tissue. This is one of the primary reasons men also seek pubic contouring surgery after significant weight loss.10Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. Pubic Contouring after Massive Weight Loss in Men and Women: Correction of Hidden Penis, Mons Ptosis, and Labia Majora Enlargement The shared anatomy means that many skin conditions, grooming complications, and appearance concerns related to the mons apply regardless of sex.