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
There is no embarrassment after you’ve sh*t yourself whilst having a baby. Dignity? What’s that??
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Remember we all have private bits and we all come across problems .Its best to be open x
be calm and ask questions you will be more at ease when you have been re assured
tell people you feel comfortable with. be brief and to the point and expand more if the group is receptive.
I find a bit of Dutch courage can help!
Just start talking without thinking too much about the topic.
I’ve never been one to shy away from this topic and even been comfortable with male doctors/nurses performing a smear test on me.
Personally, I don’t see the big issue. A male doctor or a female doctor? Its pretty irrelevant to me. What was more important that I had it done so I could cross it off my ‘to do’ list.
I also would be cool with labouring and birthing with a male midwife. I would be more interested in ther care for me and my baby rather than them seeing ‘down there’
Put the discussion into perspective. If you are talking to a health professional then they know and understand fully.
i dont get embarrassed , ive always been quite open about periods etc with my daughter and freinds i figure we all have them why is it a sin to talk openly about them , im a firm believer in sharing as ive had very bad periods for the past 20 or so years and after many drug routes ive finally been able to have a hysterectomy , if you cant talk about these things how can you know if your period is “normal” or whether there are underlying issues !!
Just approach it as you would do any other part of your body!
Blushing can be a very embarrassing experience for children as they are growing up, and it is not unknown for people to commit suicide over the experience. However, I have come up with a simple treatment for blushing so that sufferers can lead a normal life.
It has been found by scientists that the liver blushes at the same time as the face blushes. From this information I have found that when the face begins to blush all one has to do is concentrate on the position of the liver and it then blushes instead of the face. With a little practice this method becomes very easy.
Talk some one your comfortable with.
I don’t usually get embarrassed, you can’t go wrong with a good euphemism, the more we talk about it the more normal it becomes.
Talk to people you feel comfortable talking to – remember they go through the same problems at some point
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My tip would be that if you are talking to a doctor or nurse to be as honest as possible. After all they’ve heard it all before.
discuss it with someone your close to and then take it from there and talk to others. found this helps your confidence and less shy
I think it’s really important to look after yourself and to keep yourself healthy and if you think you have something wrong to get it checked. The chances are as embarrassed as you are the doctors have probably dealt with worse and you’ll feel much better when you do. I totally get what you mean though it is like a hush hush topic!!!
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I would expect the more informative information via medias such as television, internet, newspapers, magazines etc, then it would become more accepted. Whilst Well Men and Well Women clinics within Health Centres would also be beneficial
Be open and honest. You won’t be the only one in your situation.
Being open and talking with friends & family about any concerns.
If you are worried then approach your health centre to speak to someone there in confidence