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
Do a little research before talking about your intimate health so you will feel less emberassed.
Just try to think of it like any other part of the body, healthcare professionals will have heard it all before!
Approaching it in a factual way. I have three daughters so have had a lot of practice.
Talk to people you can trust and who you know will be open with you. We all have the same bits and chances are, people are having the same questions as you.
Talk to people you trust.
It is vitally important to attend smear tests and encourage friends to go also-5 minutes of discomfort could save your life! This is also a good opportunity to discuss any problems with the nurse
Just remembering that it we’ve all got the same bits!
Remember that people have heard it before (and worse) and good health comes from being open and dealing with problems.
The first step to getting over any embarrassment is to remember that you are not alone. Your doctor has many other patients. This means it’s likely that your doctor has encountered people with the same concerns/problems that you have. Your doctor will not mock or laugh at you for asking questions – even about intimate issues. You could also write it down; if you know that you will struggle to talk to your doctor about your concerns, try writing down your questions before your appointment. I think once you have had children, the embarrassment lessens too!
I just say to myself ‘they’ve seen it all before’
Talk with close friends. Surely you can tell them anything, and once you start talking, they will look, and eventually it will be totally normal
Why should you feel embarrassed, like you say it’s just another part of your body. If I have a problem that I feel needs to be discussed I just think well all women have one, the GP/nurse sees several a day, I’m sure much worse condition than mine (lol) and the last time I did feel the need to discuss an issue we actually had a bit of a laugh about it which put me at ease.
Don’t discuss at all!
Being a nurse i just have a strong cup of tea as all my Gps were junior doctors i helped teach in A&E. No secrets in my pants blush.
I don’t need to say anything I just tell people at my age (60ish) I’m allowed to smell of pee, only taking the pee. Why should anyone have a problem speaking about it
Just find one person you know you can confide in fully…
You just need to remember that we’re all the same underneath, and that everyone will have problems at some point.
Don’t go to your usual Dr, nurse or other professional, I prefer going to see someone I’m not likely to see again.
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we are all the same, and they see it day to day – to them, it is the equivalent of a mcdonalds worker seeing a new burger bun — ok it’s a different burger bun to the last one, but it’s the same 😉
Being comfortable in your own skin will help you to talk about issues.