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
talk to the person you most feel comfortable with as then they should be ok with any talk
Remember that we are all the same. The more open we are about these things, the easier it is to know when something’s not right!
Just pretend you are talking about somelse
I found breast feeding helped me feel more comforatble talking about anything like that, once I’d got over the fear!
Tell someone you trust first, after the first time you’ve shared it becomes easier!
Remember the feeling when your son or daughter asks a question about their bodies, and when you were cleaning up their bums- you didn’t feel embarrassed at all. That’s how the nurse/doctor feels about your questions.
Oh I love my PJ’S and mŷ Bridgit Jones Comfy Knickers lol
Weirdly enough practice saying the words for your intimate parts….it’s not so embarrassing once you get used to saying it….or you could always come up with a cute word instead to make it sound less medical.
I agree with your comment that 50% of the population have vaginas, why do we seem to get so embarrassed? men seem to have more bravado than women. Referring to your earlier point about your teenage years, there is such a fine line between staying safe & equipping young people with the knowledge they need to know about their bodies, it’s tricky and not something I am looking forward to when my daughter is older. Not a tip as such, but good education is so important and finding ways to remove fear. Too many women miss smear tests due to embarrassment or not knowing what to expect which is so sad.
Do it with humour….a light hearted laugh can clear the air to a more serious conversation
Ladies come in different shapes and sizes but generally we are all the same. I have always discussed issues that may occur during adolescence ie Thrush/ Periods growing body etc with my daughter and with the information she has been able to not only recognize problems bur embarced her changing frame herself & also helped friends that don’t have such an open relationship with their mothers. Comes from having a mother from the 60’s myself 🙂
To be yourself and remember us ladies are all the same whatever size or shape we may be. Try to have an open relationship with female members of your family, especially your daughter/s. Honesty and trust can go a long way.
Remember – we’ve all got the same bits and your problem will likely be something others have had too!
great article – thanks
Trying to remember that when going to a doctor they have seen/heard it all before 🙂
Remembering everyone has something ‘icky’ going on – and the more matter of factly and openly you can talk about it, the less icky it becomes. Just need to push through the initial reticence and its all ok
Talk about it with someone whose job is to discuss feminine health
Use humour,it helps in any situation x
If you are embarrassed about talking to a health professional, just remember they have seen it all before.
It is easy to be objective if you try and think they have heard it before and you are not unique