Lady bits? Vajajay? These words could soon become extinct as British women break down intimate taboos and embrace the ‘vagina’, according to a new study.
And it is not just vaginas in general that women are discussing
Research by Vagisil, polling women across the nation, reveals that four in five (80%) are confident saying the word ‘vagina’. This compares to a study* in 2016 that found over 65 percent of the 1,000-plus women polled were NOT comfortable saying the same word.
When asked what they think has been the catalyst for this new wave of fearlessness, more than half (51%) of those polled stated talking to each other as the main reason, closely followed by the internet (48%).
And it is not just vaginas in general that women are discussing. Just over four in five (81%) respondents stated they are comfortable talking about their own vagina, with 7 in ten (70%) saying they believe talking about their vaginal health can help women feel more in control and aware of their bodies.
When it comes to what they feel happy talking about, nearly three quarters (72%) of women are comfortable talking about their vaginal health compared with only two in five (40%) who feel comfortable talking about the natural appearance of their vagina.
Dr Vanessa Mackay of the Royal College of Gynaecologists says: “It’s wonderful to see women taking this fearless approach to discussing vaginas, and most importantly sharing their own experiences to benefit each other.
“The research shows that over one in five women, who have been open about their vaginal health, have ended up helping another woman to overcome a vaginal issue or to increase their body confidence, and that is just the start. Part of our intimate insecurity stems from not talking, so by discussing our vaginas we can expect to see women take charge of their intimate concerns. They will learn to value the wide range of anatomical ‘norms’ and differences, develop an awareness of common problems and how to get help and generally empower them to be confident with the body they have got.”
The poll of over 1,000, found that a whopping 89% of women say vaginal health is more important to them than beautification of the vagina and almost half of women (46%) think that trends of beautification is taking the focus away from women talking about the health of their vagina.
Dr Vanessa Mackay continues: “It’s great that women are wary of some of the fads and in some instances, dangerous beautification products and trends that have come to market over the past year.
“Women should not feel pressured to alter the appearance of their vagina in any way – eyes, noses, feet and breasts vary among different women, and so do vaginas – embrace your normal. We are all different and there is no ‘right’ way for us to look. What is important is that we continue to encourage women to be fearless about their vaginal health.”
Modern mums are also bucking trends of past generations by encouraging their daughters to be more open. Just under two thirds (65%) of women surveyed that have a daughter, say they talk to her about her vagina and/or her vaginal health. This compares to only a quarter (26%) of women who said their mother or guardian discussed their vaginal health with them as they grew up.
The research shows that women start talking about their vagina at a younger age as you move through the generations. Women aged 16-24 years begin talking about their vagina at an average age of 18, compared to women over 55 who did not feel comfortable until the age of 30. This was a fact that Vagisil was keen to learn, as the brand continues to support women in their quest to ensure they are fearless about their vaginal health.