Vaginal health can often get overlooked due to embarrassment and misinformation. As women continue to grow and change throughout their lives, it’s important to normalize the conversation surrounding vaginal health. On this episode of The Wellness Conversation, Sarah Froman, MD, OhioHealth OBGYN, helps to break this barrier and empower women by sharing her expertise.
The embarrassment that comes with talking about vaginal health can start from a young age, but it is not something women are born with. “Girls are not born to be ashamed of themselves. They learn that. If you use the correct names for body parts from the beginning, it becomes very matter of fact. It’s just, ‘girls have this, boys have that,’ and there’s no embarrassment attached to it,” Dr. Froman said.
It’s common for parents to teach their children nicknames when describing their anatomy to keep it lighthearted and simple, but this can be harmful for a child’s self-esteem. Teaching children early on about respecting their own and other bodies can provide the support they need to understand that it’s normal and healthy to discuss.
“The anatomy is actually fairly simple. The vulva is what’s external, and the vagina is internal, but a lot of people don’t know the difference. I’ve heard so many nicknames over the years that sometimes we as doctors don’t even know what a patient is referring to,” Dr. Froman said.
It may be difficult to decide when it’s appropriate to discuss your child’s anatomy with them. Dr. Froman said, “When children start asking questions, that’s when they’re ready to know. Before that, they’re not really thinking about it, but once they ask, it’s important to answer honestly and help them understand their bodies.”
Normalizing this conversation is incredibly important at any age, but it’s also crucial to stay educated on how to keep yourself healthy and clean. This can be increasingly challenging with how prevalent social media is in many people’s lives.
Dr. Froman said, “The marketing machine is huge when it comes to feminine hygiene. People are told they need sprays, fragrances or special products, but the truth is the vagina is self-cleaning, so water is really all you need.”
For women dealing with bad odor, itching or burning, Dr. Froman recommends going to your provider. These symptoms are not something women need to be ashamed of, but they do need to be addressed and treated. There are over-the-counter products for women’s health symptoms, but it’s important to receive a diagnosis to make sure you’re receiving the correct treatment.
Taking care of your vaginal health as you age is important to stay healthy at every stage of life. Dr. Froman recommends seeing your gynecologist annually, even after you’re done having children. Receiving gynecological care is something that should continue throughout your life cycle to keep women educated about their bodies.
To learn more about vaginal health and actionable steps you can take to maintain your health, click here.
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