Neither stupid nor bizarre. Too few of us know what is going on down there and there are many sources of the dampness we have.
First, forget the cervical mucuous. There is a plug in the cervical os for most of our cycles that falls out at ovulation (to allow the entry of sperm) and menstruation (to allow the menstrual flow out. Though there is some mucuous present all the time, it is not really a factor in lubrication.
The lubrication we experience during arousal is a plasma excreted by the vaginal walls. Some women produce much of this and some, only a little. We all vary during our cycles with the most being produced around ovulation and much less at either end of the cycle. Medications also greatly affect this secretion. Cold remedies can dry me up in an instant. This is the primary lubricant we rely on to accept our partners into us. As we learn to enjoy and anticipate the penis coming into us, excitement rises and likely do produce a bit extra.
The Glans of Bartholin are two small glands with openings beside the vaginal entrance. Some still believe these to be the source of lubrication. There is too little secretion to do much good and it is too viscuous to be effective. The more modern theory is that the waxy substance they secrete is a holdover from past evolution and emitted an attractive smell for getting men interested.
The female ejaculation comes from the Skene's Glands, now sometimes referred to as the "female prostate," which have openings beside the urethra. Recently it has been determined that many women have additional openings internally along the short length of the urethra between the bladder and the exit opening.
Different from, but functioning similarly to, the underside of the clitoral hood excretes a lubricating fluid somewhat like the vaginal walls. This secretion is less dependent upon sexual arousal and protects the clitoris from abrasion as the hood, and surrounding muscles, move whether walking or when attacked by some ham-handed male.
Add to all this the normal perspiring that anyone does, a few dribbles of urine, skin cells that have flaked off, semen leftover from the last encounter, perhaps some menstrual drainage and whatever migrates from the anus and you have quite a brew in that ten centimetre crack from your tail bone to your pubic bone. The need for good hygiene should be apparent.
Short answer: vaginal lubrication is secreted by the vaginal walls in the vagina proper and the ejaculate, by the Skene's Glands (also called peri-urethral glands) beside and through the urethra.
OP: Brandye 06/23/2010
Posted: 23 Sep 03:30