This word is often mistakenly used in place of ‘vulva’, especially when talking to or in reference to the care of younger children. For example ‘she is pointing at her vagina and saying it is sore’. The vagina is internal and the external female genitals are called the vulva. It is important to use the correct words so that children have accurate information about names for all parts of their body. For child protection reasons, it is particularly important that children know the accurate words to refer to the ‘private’ parts of their body so they can communicate if something has happened to them.  See A-Z Vulva