#GetComfortable with feminine health & win a £50 John Lewis voucher

Feminine health

Photo Credit: Roberto Condado via Compfight cc

Comfort is something I am really big on. I very rarely stray from my favourite jeans, I always have a pair of fluffy slippers on my feet and if I can be wearing pyjamas, I will be. The postman is used to seeing me in pyjamas now, it’s fine.

If you talk about being comfortable most people will mention things such as soft pyjamas, fluffy new socks, a duvet day on the sofa or a pair of shoes that cushion your feet even after hours spent Christmas shopping. But comfort goes deeper than that – comfort starts with the bodies underneath the clothes.

Now I have never been one to feel totally comfortable in my own skin. As a teenager, I had the usual discussions with my friends – how to get rid of spots, the best hairstyle for my face shape, how to get away with wearing that short skirt to school. But would I have talked to them about my private parts? Would I heck! There may have been giggling references to period pains, but never anything more than that. I guess that’s considered ‘normal’ at that age – but really, should it be? Or should we actually be encouraging our teens to discuss their vaginas as they would any other part of their body? Is it really any different to our arms, legs or boobs? 

Things changed a bit when I had children. Growing and birthing 4 children has meant I have had to be a lot more open about my feminine areas. I have had people stick their hands and surgical instruments up there – and in all honestly why should that be an issue? It’s a part of my body that is designed to birth a baby. That’s the primary function. That’s what it was made for. I am a big advocate of breastfeeding, and allowing women to feed uncovered and un self-consciously whenever and wherever they choose. So why should talking about a vagina be any different? 50% of the human race have one. Most of those have, or will have, a child. As nature intended. 

Post birth, it’s also something we don’t talk about – but this maybe the time when we really should. Supporting other women who need advice about stitches, episiotomy scars, bleeding, thrush, post birth sex, and all the other things that go hand in hand with childbirth and the recovery. If we all just admitted that we were struggling, that childbirth is a major trauma, that we all need some advice about remedies and cures that could help us, maybe we would all feel a lot more comfortable.

It’s a part of our body. It’s a part of our body that has a very important function, and yet we still forget that, and shy away from talking about it to anyone – parents, siblings, friends, even healthcare professionals. I am as guilty as anyone else of not being open enough, but I want that to change. It’s important. A smear test could save your life. A chat about symptoms could save someone elses. 

On that note, remember how important it is to keep your vagina clean and healthy – why that is such a taboo topic I don’t know. We clean the rest of our bodies without a second thought, we recommend shower gels and moisturisers, but we don’t recommend vaginal care products do we? Well now I am. Wear cotton underwear, don’t use perfumed products down there, and keep a stock of the new Canesten products – they have a great range of feminine care products to help you take care of an important part of your body at all times. #GetComfortable

Do you think you have enough knowledge about how to take care of your intimate health on a daily basis? Do you, as a woman, feel awkward about discussing feminine intimate health?

What are your best tips for not feeling embarrassed about discussing your intimate health? If you feel able to leave me a comment below, you could be in with a chance to win a £50 John Lewis voucher – good luck!

This post has been supported by Canesten, but all thoughts are my own.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms and conditions. Giveaway runs from 17/12/2015 to 7/1/2015. To enter the Prize Draw, entrants must post a comment in response to this Canesten ‘Get Comfortable’ post, via the
Rafflecopter Widget. Only one entry per person will be accepted. Multiple or third party entries are not permitted. The Prize Draw is open to UK residents aged 18 or over, excluding employees of the Promoter, their families, agents or anyone else connected with the Promoter. One winner will be selected at random from all valid entries received on or before the closing date.The winner will be notified by email from the promoter, within 28 days of the closing date. The winner must notify the promoter of their postal address for delivery of the prize within 28 days of being notified that they are the
winner. If the winner does not respond within 28 days a new winner will be selected at random from the remaining valid entries. The prize is not transferrable or exchangeable and cannot be taken as cash. Competitions at ThePrizeFinder

Follow:

561 Comments

  1. Ann T
    January 6, 2016 / 10:41 pm

    after having a difficult first birth and then a c section I always find my midwife was really supportive and forums especially are a good way to start if you need advice from women in the same situation or if you just have a question . I love on the Canesten website the knowledge hub http://www.canesten.co.uk/en/female/female-knowledge/ lots of info on there.
    most gps now have a nurse on site they are usually nice and open and friendly and welcome any questions or try to answer any worries you have. I think it would be great if boots had someone who you could ask too as not everyone likes to approach pharmacists for advice like kind of a friendly private sit down area would be wonderful maybe things may change for the better in the future and I think the main objective we have to overcome as women is embarrassment and fear

  2. Kelly Ellen Hirst
    January 6, 2016 / 10:42 pm

    If your uncomfortable talk online first, use a chat room or forum where you can remain anonymous. Once you’ve stated chatting online it might help you become more able to discuss with your closest friends in ‘real life’… It’s always good to talk

  3. Patricia Avery
    January 6, 2016 / 10:49 pm

    I think knowledge is the key. The more I know about a subject the easier I find to talk about it. Plenty available for free on the Internet just make sure you use trusted websites 🙂

  4. Terrie-Ann Wright
    January 6, 2016 / 10:54 pm

    just be open, and at ease.

  5. Megan Davies
    January 6, 2016 / 10:55 pm

    Just do it. The more you talk about it the less embarressed you will feel.

  6. Graham Antony Wright
    January 6, 2016 / 10:55 pm

    Thgis is an awesome comp

  7. Laura Vitty
    January 6, 2016 / 10:59 pm

    Don’t use silly words, just be frank about it… I teach sex ed so I have to do this as my day job, some of the questions I get asked by my students are brilliant. I never laugh and always answer them in full, but only in a scientific way. It’s just biology at the end of the day!

  8. Andrea Jayne
    January 6, 2016 / 11:04 pm

    getting drunk would be my only one. Hate that kind of conversation, yuk

  9. Tammy Neal
    January 6, 2016 / 11:11 pm

    i always say its better to talk about it then keep in inside even if its about certain things xx

  10. SHAZZ
    January 6, 2016 / 11:12 pm

    Don’t focus too much on the issue because it will stress you out- just talk about it

  11. Jodi hill
    January 6, 2016 / 11:25 pm

    Bite the bullet and talk about it with someone who you’re really close with, like your best girlfriend! Once you’ve talked about it , it won’t be so uncomfortable to approach the subject again.

  12. Judith Luscombe
    January 6, 2016 / 11:55 pm

    Have a baby, once you have given birth intimate embarrassment goes out of the window.

  13. Amy Rowlands
    January 6, 2016 / 11:57 pm

    Just not to think to much a bout it just be confident

  14. ellie spider
    January 6, 2016 / 11:57 pm

    talk lots about it – the more you discuss it the less embaressing it is

  15. ALK
    January 7, 2016 / 12:40 am

    Facing the fact that intimate health is as much an isdue to discuss when needed as any other issue.

  16. January 7, 2016 / 6:39 pm

    Talk about it with someone you’re comfortable with, and just treat it like it’s nothing because its so natural it practically is nothing!

  17. May 5, 2018 / 8:02 am

    Why so hesitant about it? I think mothers should take initiatives first.

    • kate
      Author
      May 6, 2018 / 7:01 pm

      I agree – it’s important to teach our daughters to be comfortable with their own bodies.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badge

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.