Although there are some similarities, there may not be a direct comparison in measuring vagina size and penis size.
Like the penis, the vagina expands and may double in size when aroused, and just like there are many different penis sizes (see the Penis Size Topic), there are variations in sizes and lengths among vaginas.
The Kamasutra by Vatsyayana (an ancient Hindu document on sex and pleasure; other spellings include Kama Sutra) has classifications for penis and vagina sizes and ranks them by compatibility.
“Tight” and “loose” are some of the subjective terms some use to describe how a penis feels inside a vagina, either snug (tight) or very little sensation (loose). Some men feel that the vagina may get “loose” after childbirth or some women are slut-shamed (see the Slut-Shaming Topic) as having “loose” vaginas from too much sex. Just as there are stereotypes portraying certain races as having the longest or smallest penises, some people think some races have naturally “tighter” vaginas.
Foreplay and lube can assist with a vagina that seems “too small” or “tight” for a “large” penis (see the Foreplay and Lubrication (Lube) Topics), but there may be other reasons the penis/vagina may cause pain or discomfort during penetration.
Childbirth and age are some factors that may alter the appearance and other aspects of the female genitalia. According to medical professionals, the vagina is elastic even after vaginal childbirth, and some exercises can strengthen “loose” vaginal muscles.
The following sources should provide more information on vagina size.
- Tenting
“n. lengthening and expansion of the inner two thirds of the vagina and elevation of the uterus during the excitement and plateau phases of the female sexual-response cycle. Tenting may facilitate conception by allowing pooling of the semen near the cervix.”
APA Dictionary of Psychology, dictionary.apa.org, accessed 5/24/2022
- Is Your Vagina Too Loose, Too Tight, Or Just Right?
“Vaginal tightness changes over a woman’s lifetime and may sometimes feel too tight or too loose, depending on certain factors. The vagina is designed to have sex and birth a baby, but these events, along with aging, can change the tightness, elasticity, and shape of the vagina. It’s important to understand what is considered normal to recognize if you have a problem and if so, when you should see your doctor.”
Cherokee Women’s Health Specialists, cherokeewomenshealth.com, accessed 5/24/2022
- Does Vagina Size Matter?
“The most commonly used measurements regarding the size of vaginas come from Masters and Johnson’s work from the 1960s. They looked at 100 women who had never been pregnant and found that vagina lengths, unstimulated, range from 2.75 inches to about 3¼ inches. When a woman is aroused, it increased to 4.25 inches to 4.75 inches. Regardless of how long the vagina is, the area that is thought to be important for most women’s sexual response is the outer one-third.”
Tammy Worth; Medically Reviewed by Carol DerSarkissian, MD, webmd.com, 3/6/2022
- Busting The Myths Behind Vaginal Tightness
“What conditions can cause the vagina to feel too tight? Lack of arousal isn’t the only reason a vagina can feel too tight. Pain and the sensation of being too tight during penetration can be a sign of a condition such as infection, injury, or congenital abnormality.
Gabrielle Kassel; Medically reviewed by Valinda Riggins Nwadike, MD, MPH, healthline.com, 1/31/2022
- Cervical Health 101: Exploring Your Cervix For Health And Pleasure
“If you’re really turned on, you may notice that your cervix is farther away from your vaginal opening. That’s because your uterus pulls up and your vagina gets longer when you’re super sexually excited (fun fact: this is called ‘tenting’).”
Miriam @ Planned Parenthood, plannedparenthood.org, 1/28/2022
- How The Vagina Changes Over Time And What To Do If Sex Becomes Less Enjoyable
“The average vagina measures seven to ten centimeters (about two to four inches). However, the vaginal canal is impressively flexible and how deep a vagina is at any given time often depends on the person as well as circumstances like sexual arousal, pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause.”
Carla Delgado, insider.com, 11/10/2021
- Does Vagina Size Vary?
“The average penis, when erect is about 33 percent longer than the average size of the vagina. Even though both the penis and vagina sizes vary, these both accommodate each other.”
Pristyn Care Team, pristyncare.com, 8/23/2021
- Vaginal And Labia Changes During Pregnancy
“The vagina is on average about 3 inches long from the cervix (the neck of the uterus) to the vulva. No two are the same: Every vagina ranges in shape and color. Because it’s highly elastic, the vagina is designed to stretch and accommodate your baby during birth. That said, the hormonal and physical changes that happen during pregnancy and childbirth can cause your vagina and labia to change, sometimes temporarily and sometimes for the long term.”
Colleen de Bellefonds; Medically Reviewed by Lisa Hickman, MD, whattoexpect.com, 4/6/2021
- This Is Why Your Partner’s Vagina Feels ‘Loose’ — Plus, How To Talk About It
“If your partner’s vagina honestly and truly does ~feel~ loose to you, that’s a matter of perception and can happen for a few reasons. But that doesn’t mean that it’s actually bigger or looser compared to other vaginas.”
Adrienne Santos-Longhurst; Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, MD, MPH, healthline.com, 3/22/2021
- 21 Vagina Facts Every Person With One Should Know
“A vagina post-childbirth may not look different from the outside, but it will almost certainly feel different. ‘As a gynecologist, I can almost always tell if someone has delivered vaginally or not,’ Rankin says. ‘I need a larger speculum for someone who has had two kids than for someone who’s never given birth. But from the outside, you can’t tell unless the person has torn during childbirth, in which case they may have a faint scar at the site of the tear or episiotomy.'”
Sarah Jio and Corinne Sullivan, womansday.com, 2/8/2021
- 7 Fascinating Studies On Penis Size (If You Care About Penis Size)
“When it comes to penis size, the Kama Sutra had the right idea. This ancient sex manual advised that penises should be sized to vaginas and vice versa. For example, men were categorized as hares (small), bulls (medium), or horses (large). Women’s genitals were categorized as deer (small), mares (medium), or elephants (large).”
Carlyn Beccia, medium.com, 12/14/2021
- How To Tighten Your Vagina: The Exercises & Avoid These Myths
“You’re going to learn the exact exercises you can use to tighten your vagina so that you can make your man cum in seconds (not minutes) and both of you can have more powerful orgasms. You read that right: I said both of you. But first, we need to dispel a few myths about having a tight or loose vagina!”
Adriana, badgirlsbible.com, 9/26/2020
- Dispelling The Myth That Asian Vaginas Are Tighter
“Dr. Valinda Nwadike, MD and obstetrics and gynecology specialist in California, Maryland, can see how this stereotype exists, and whole heartedly disagrees with the premise. ‘Honestly don’t think [Asian women having small vaginas] is true. I would definitely disagree with this stereotype. We don’t make decisions about size — we don’t have Asian speculums. That in itself would negate the myth. It should be put to bed absolutely.’”
Nian Hu, healthline.com, 8/11/2020
- 23 Facts You Should Know About Vaginas
“Women’s vaginas can vary in size and shape when they’re aroused, says Dr. Orbuch. But thanks to a phenomenon called tenting, it’s totally possible for your vag to double in size. This means the upper two-thirds of your vagina expand, enabling sperm to move up into the cervix more easily.”
Lane Moore and Zoe Ruderman, cosmopolitan.com, 6/22/2020
- Can Having A Lot Of Sex Give You A Loose Vagina? We Asked Ob-Gyns
“What about all the jokes guys make about having sex with a woman who is loose down below? Don’t believe them—it’s unlikely that a man can really notice the difference. ‘I think guys can tell when a woman is a virgin, and they can probably tell if someone’s had two babies or have had a vaginal birth,’ says Dr. Ross [Dr. Sherry A. Ross, MD, ob-gyn at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Southern California and author of She-ology]. ‘But I don’t think they’re really going to notice much of a difference … unless a guy has a really small penis.'”
Jazmine Polk, health.com, 3/3/2020
- Can A Vagina Be Too Tight?
“A woman’s vagina is almost never too tight to have sex. The pain or discomfort is a symptom of other issues. In its unaroused state, the vagina is between 3 and 4 inches long and may not produce enough lubrication for comfortable intercourse. However, when aroused, the vagina expands in width and length and releases lubrication. A woman can address pain, discomfort, or a feeling of being too tight by spending more time gaining arousal before penetration and using a lubricant if needed.”
Jenna Fletcher; Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT, medicalnewstoday.com, 1/24/2020