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.
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
Just remember that we all have private parts, nothing new here!
Take a deep breath and let It all flow
Make yourself comfortable – e.g a cup of tea and a biscuit. This should reduce the anxiety a bit!
Just remember that all women are the same and most will suffer some kind of intimate problemat some time in their lives
Ohhhhhhh what an interesting blog! As a former school teacher I had to deliver talks about intimate health to secondary school girls! My way of coping with it was to try to deliver it in a light humourous way…this worked most of the time! I had witnessed older teachers getting really embarrassed by the subject so I tried to learn from their mistakes!
Remember that when talking to professionals, they are bound by confidentiality and also see similar issues on a daily basis.
I think it’s important to remember that we all often deal with the same problems or have the same questions, so we shouldn’t be too embarassed to discuss these out loud
As a mother to a daughter, I think it’s important to remember that what I say and do will impact her. I need to get over any discomfort and let her know that no part of the body is shameful. I do let her see me getting dressed (and it’s hard to keep 3 year olds out of the bathroom) and try not to get embarrassed at her pointing out parts of my body. (With her obsession with counting my nipples, it can be difficult.)
I’m happy to talk about it with a nurse re a smear test, or the doctor or my partner but that is all
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Remind yourself that everyone has the same bodies.
women go through far more embarrassing situations in life than just having to chat about their bits ! they are just parts of the body !
Humour is a great way of feeling relaxed talking about issues
Have a baby, after all the procedures you go through nothing can embarrass you any more.
I think that you’ve got to remember that we’re all made either one way or the other, so your doctor will be used to talking about it and seeing it so there’s nothing that would surprise them.
I find speaking to a female doctor is less embarrassing
Discuss it with your pals over a glass of vino! More honesty… always!!
you have to be confident in what you saying then you dont need feel embarassed
At the end of the day it’s your health. Everyone gets embarrassed. But better a moment of embarrassment than a lifetime of regret if it’s something serious.
im not embarrassed to talk about it. i guess just realize everyone is the same
humour