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
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Just remember doctors/nurses deal with these things everyday.
i just remember all other women go through the same things!
Just be straight and to the point, I have never had an issue with talking about intimate details x x x
Remember I am talking to a professional who has heard it all before
Such a brilliant post!!! It really is something we should talk about more. Even amongst my closest girlfriends, only since a couple of us have had children have we felt comfortable talking about things like this. It’s so wrong! We’d recommend nail polish or shampoo in a heartbeat as you noted. Your intimate areas are just as, if not more important!!! xxx
I don’t have any – I always look like a beetroot when discussing anything like that with a medical professional!
Just remember that everyone is the same and doctors have seen it all before
practice talking to people youre comfortable with first
My partner is a doctor and I would advise all women never to be embarrassed about going to the doctor about intimate problems. They really have seen it all and probably look at about 10 vaginas a day. It’s just part of their job and they don’t bat an eyelid, so don’t put off that doctor’s visit if you feel you need one.x
Its never easy but if you are with friends you will be surprised at how many will have the same experiences so be brave and approach the subject without shyness its something we all deal with and the more you discuss the less taboo it becomes.
My best tip is to find someone your comfortable talking to about this topic, its not easy if your a shy person or you feel uncomfortable. But better safe than to be sorry. I used to be shy myself until i had my first child and ended up with stitches. Then an infection so i had no choice and this definitely gave me the confidence to go to my Dr about any intimate problem and also talking to my friends and sister about everything.
just try & think that everyone get embarrassed & that the doctor has saw hundreds & hundreds of them before
I would prefer to talk to a woman doctor about the problem as she will understand or may have even gone through it.
Don’t forgot there’s probably many more women that have gone through it and will in the future.
Just to remember that Health Care professionals have heard it all before so there is no need to be embarrassed.
Everyone has embarrassing problems
Remind yourself that we all have bodies, parts we are paranoid about and bits that embarrass us. However these issues are not unique and professionals will have heard it all before and so not to worry or be anxious about it.
I’ve always just said what I thought, it is uncomfortable, but at the end of the day they are doctors who have experienced a lot more than what I have to say. Also after giving birth twice and having loads of people see down there I really don’t care anymore!
We are very open in our house about our bits – and have always been. My poor teen son has me and two older teen sisters so he is used to it all too! Kaz x
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It’s their job they have heard and seen it all before , don’t be afraid
Recognize there’s no shame in being female – I work in women’s health, specializing in menstrual health, and it drives me crazy how embarrassed people get because they’ve been TAUGHT to feel ashamed of their genitals and of menstruation. Your body is nothing to be embarrassed about, it’s something for you to learn about and celebrate, healthcare is a beneficial thing you can do for yourself.