These 5 Women’s Health Facts Will Make Your Jaw Drop. But Actually.

Let’s be real: There are far too many incomprehensible, jargon-packed, fear-inducing health facts out there. They are 0 fun. Ain’t nobody got time for that.

But the five facts that await you in this post—these ones are money. Check ‘em out. And if your jaw hasn’t hit the floor by the end…well, we’ll consider a refund :)

Fact 1: Women’s Feet Can Grow With Each Pregnancy
Yep. Some of it is due to simple swelling. And that’s temporary. But women also tend to develop flat feet during pregnancy (some believe that all the extra weight has a foot-flattening effect). Additionally there’s a pregnancy hormone called relaxin which is needed to loosen the ligaments of the birth canal and pelvis, in preparation for child birth—and can also allow for ligaments in the feet to stretch. These two variables combined can lead to a more permanent lengthening and widening of a pregnant woman’s feet. One little study done on 49 women found that the majority of the women (60-70%!) had bigger feet after giving birth than they did during their first trimester. The length of their feet increased anywhere between .1 to .4 inches! That’s practically a shoe size. After that, shoe-shopping spree = essential.

Fact 2: The Clitoris Grows, Too
Shut the front door. This is definitely a thing—and not just during pregnancy. The clitoris grows throughout a woman’s life. In fact, by the time a woman is through menopause her clitoris can become several times larger than it was when the same woman was a teenager. This could be related to the fact that some women report having stronger orgasms as they get older. Here’s one to get your local know-it-all really riled up: The longest clitoris on record was 12 inches long! Yes, that’s a foot. Yes that’s hard to fathom; we learned it here. But full disclosure: research is inconclusive as to whether or not clitoris size leads to better orgasms. One study did prove that the distance between your clitoris and your vagina can make a difference, though. The shorter the distance between the two, the more likely you are to orgasm during sex.

Fact 3: Women Cry More Than You Probably Think
According to recent research, adult women cry 5.3 times a month; adult men, about 1.4 times. While it is easy to assume that this is because of the way that people of different genders are socialized, the research suggests that is not the entire explanation. Under a microscope, cells of female tear glands look different than men’s. Also, the male tear duct is larger than the female’s, so if a man and a woman both tear up, the woman’s tears will spill onto her cheeks quicker. Additionally the hormone prolactin, which is essential to lactation, also regulates the development of the tear glands and aids in the production of tears. By the time a woman reaches age 18, she could have 50-60% more prolactin in her bloodstream than a male of a similar age. And it shows. According to a recent Glow survey answered by 7800 women, 43.2% of women cry at least weekly. Only 2% said that they never cry.  

Fact 4: A Crying Baby Can Yield Leaky Breasts
As strange as it sounds, this phenomenon is well-known to many a breastfeeding mom. The leaking can be traced to the let-down reflex, which signals for the brain to release milk from the breasts. Usually this reflex only takes hold when a baby has been sucking on a mother’s breast for a few minutes. But for women with sensitive reflexes, hearing the sound of a crying baby can trigger a let-down and sudden milk-flow—even when the baby is not nursing. All the more reason to cry over spilled milk. 

Fact 5: “Blue Balls” Can Happen To Women, Too
Men can get “blue balls” when they have been sexually aroused for a length of time without achieving release. Women can experience a similar sensation—also due to vasoconstriction.  A woman’s labia, vagina, and clitoris swell and lubricate when she is sexually aroused; blood rushes to the area. If a woman orgasms successfully, then blood quickly drains from the genitals, which relieves pressure from arteries and veins and returns them to their normal size. However, when there is no orgasm, it takes longer for the physical signs of arousal to subside. Women will often experience an aching feeling in the vagina as a result of sustained vasocongestion. Or a “blue” vulva, if you will.