People don't always tell the truth, Rhiannon. I might well have said it was all wonderful, I had very strong expectations but quite honestly I am not disappointed about it. If I'd tried for years it would've been a different matter but it wasn't like that, it happened successfully within a week of first trying and I was happy.
Men often have problems first time too - first few times - but with patience & a bit of love, we all get there in the end.
Not sure that Cosmo was particularly helpful, I used to read it regularly at one time but the articles were 'samey' & always fell a bit short of what I wanted to know as a teenager. Never seemed realistic.
PS Still don't get the vulval pants even though they are pink and frilly.