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
just relax and think im a grown up now this is all natural and normal ! 🙂 x
The more you talk about it, the easier it gets. If you talk about it without it seeming embarrassing then whoever is listening will feel more comfortable about it too.
Just to remember that everyone is human and has their own intimate problems, it tends to be that what you may think is really embarrassing is actually quite common!
just say whats on your mind and dont worry about what others may think
Join an online support group/forum if it’s something you really can’t bring yourself to talk to anyone about,.
Since having the kids I’m a lot less embarrassed about discussing ‘my bits’! Childbirth puts an end to all modesty! x
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Spend time talking about it and be honest, part of the issue is that we don’t talk so lets change that. I also don’t think it helps when to hide our embarassment we don’t use the proper names for body parts.
Be open with those you feel comfortable with, a little humour can help too x
TO BE OPEN AND LIGHTHEARTED ABOUT IT
I just try to think how little and insignificant it really is in the grand scheme of things – we are all just tiny little dust particles in a great big universe… 🙂
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Just think that your health is more important than avoiding embarrassment.
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the nurse or the consultant deal with these things daily and they are there to help us. if we can be more honest and open might able to get a good result soon.
Go on a forum, so many people will have the same problems, plus nobody on there will know you
Just to be honest and tactful at the same time.
writing things down & then reading them out loud to yourself first could make it easier for you when you actually have to talk about things
Remember that doctors are human too and have heard it all before.
i think saying something as soon as its on your mind is a good thing, the more you think about talking about it the more you put it off 🙂
Support groups are the way forward I think. Then your talking about things with people experiencing similar things so it’s not so embarassing. I joined a breastfeeding support group after my little boy was born and we used to talk about all sorts of stuff that I wouldn’t dare to discuss otherwise, because we were all in the same boat.
If you are visiting a health professional and you feel too embarrassed to discuss things, then write your symptoms down
Use words you feel comfortable with.