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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Online forums and support groups are great if you don’t feel up to saying it face to face.
If you need to discuss things with the doctor you can write down your symptoms to make it easier to discuss
We are all human and we all have things we need to talk about just ne open
Remember that it is completely natural and normal, and most likely others have trouble talking about it too so share in your discomfort together! 😉
Just take a deep breath and look them straight in the eyes, what’s to be embarrassed about, everyone has these issues at some point.
I talk to a female nurse or doctor
Realising that it is very important to know symptoms and that you need to be able to recognise them has helped me be less embarrassed about intimate health. Also having a biopsy on a lump in my breast scared me enough to know that I would rather be safe than sorry xx
I am not embarrassed at all. It is all completely natural and every women goes through it so there should be no need to be embarrassed
Natasha Mairs recently posted…Serene Surprises November Box
To be honest i am not embarrassed at all…..I have a little story to tell about what happened to a lovely young girl when she was baby sitting my daughter… After coming home from a night out with my partner her friend told me that she had started her period and was to embarrassed to say anything, so i took her upstairs and gave her a pair of new knickers and a pad, took the soiled pair off her and popped into a bag to dispose off. She went quite red and like i said to her “we have all gone through it” and you will encounter more womens problems along the way, just be yourself and don’t feel embarrassed about your body no matter where you are or who you are with..accidents happen! She couldn’t thank me enough and her mum.. 🙂
its all natural and normal
To be honestI’m the embarrassed. If I think it I say it.
I don’t have any tips, because I don’t feel embarassed.
I don’t get embarrassed anymore, although I did when I was younger. After having four kids not a lot embarrasses me.
I just try not to think about it and just act as natural and normal as possible.
Whenever I’m embarrased I just ask myself how other people in much worse shape and with worse conditions than me cope and remind myself how lucky I really am compared to some.
Don’t be afraid of saying the word VAGINA! We all have one!
It doesn’t bother me, you are dealing with a professional.
be open about it, we are all made the same way and have the same parts!
Start off with the little stuff and work up to the bigger stuff.
Watch an episode of embarrassing bodies & realise that they’ve seen it all before!!