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
I totally agree. It should not be a ‘taboo’ topic and especially not to teenagers. There is nothing to be embarressed about. Xx
I think the most important factor for me is to find a Dr / Nurse I feel comfortable with. I have a lovely nurse who I know really well and we just get on with whatever we need to do whilst talking about all sorts of other random bits and bobs. It makes life much easier.
Colette B recently posted…#GetComfortable with intimate health and thrush
Everybody was born the same, what you have… so do many others so your not alone x
im quite open so i don’t get embarrassed c
I don’t know why it’s so taboo. It’s ridiculous really, after all as women we all share the exact same body parts, and knowing how to care and look after ourselves propeller is so important.
Just remembering that it’s something everyone has to deal with
Jessica Powell recently posted…2015 Year In Review
always be honest and remember you will not have been the first with the problem
understand the doctors seen it all before
LOL, feel comfortable about it, recently at the drs me and my husband were in with my gp talking about contraception as we have just had a baby and been advised not to conceive for at least another year after complications . My husband asked the gp if they gave out free condoms , my gp said yeah we have got some, he came back with a variety including strawberry and fizzy cola!! i was a little embarrassed but we all had a giggle about it . Its natural x
Just remember that you dont have anything unusual, we all have the same, and once you start talking to you friends about feminine products etc it will seem natural.
As someone with Endometriosis, I am extremely used to intimate exams and talking about women’s health issues.
Try to remember that everyone has been through embarrassing and uncomfortable situations.
We are all human and we should never be ashamed of what our bodies do.
If it’s happening to you then I can almost guarantee that a Doctor has seen it, heard it or known a lot worse.
Be strong, be bold and listen to your own body.
You are Woman, hear you roar!!!!
Talk about it as often as you can so it feels normal. Chat with your friends too.
Just relax and talk to family and close friends about it as other people in the same boat and it helps to talk about it
Anything that your experiencing you can bet your not alone and others are going through the same thing.
I always bring humour into it which has always helped.
They have seen and heard it all! As I have a partner who is a paramedic and lots of medical friends I know that it really is ok to discuss intimate health as it really isn’t a taboo subject.
Have a bit of humour
If you feel uncomfortable talking to your doctor, ask to see a nurse. I do this and feel far more comfortable …
Discuss it with a health professional and think of them as a tool – just something to fix you
Try and have good humour