Do you know your own vulva? Experts say it’s time we all got better acquainted with our anatomy — and why it matters.
Many of us regularly check our breasts for lumps, bumps or changes — and rightly so. But a growing number of women’s health experts are urging us to extend that same level of care and familiarity to another area: the vulva.
A recent campaign launched by PAUSE Live and expert in intimate health Dr Shirin Lakhani is calling for more awareness around vulval health. But what’s driving this?
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Why is vulva health important?
While awareness of breast cancer is widespread, many people don’t realise that the vulva — like any other body part — can develop various health conditions.
These conditions — like lichen sclerosus, vulval cancer, psoriasis, eczema, herpes and vulval intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) — may not always be life-threatening, but they can be painful, distressing and harmful to health if left untreated.
Worryingly, many are frequently misdiagnosed, mistreated or ignored altogether — something we see often with women’s health conditions like endometriosis and PCOS.
Take lichen sclerosus, for example. “Many people see their GP four or five times and are repeatedly told it’s chronic thrush,” explains Dr Lakhani. “Only when they reach me do we realise it’s actually lichen sclerosus.”
Why are vulva conditions often dismissed?
A major part of the problem is that many people simply don’t know their anatomy well enough to spot changes, according to specialist in pregnancy and postnatal care Dr Julie Hammond.
There’s also the stigma. Dr Hammond recognises the discomfort that comes with consulting a GP about these symptoms: “You worry you’re wasting the doctor’s time,” she says. “Only really debilitating symptoms seem to be taken seriously.”
Dr Lahkani agrees: “There’s still internalised misogyny around ‘dirty’ genitals — embarrassment and shame are huge barriers to checking ourselves or speaking up.”
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In her experience, Dr Hammond has seen women go eight or nine years without a proper diagnosis for chronic issues. And when they do finally raise the concern, it often comes up as an awkward and embarrassing afterthought.
She adds that shortfalls in the healthcare system don’t help either: “Appointments are short. We rarely see the same person twice. If you’ve waited weeks to be seen, it’s even harder to bring up something intimate — especially if you’re dealing with chronic symptoms and trying to get to the bottom of them.”
What to know to help prevent against vulva cancer and lichen sclerosus
Contrary to unrealistic images in media, advertising and pornography, there’s no such thing as a single, ‘normal’ vulva. Every vulva is unique.
Instead of comparing, Dr Lakhani advises: “Know your norm.” Understanding what’s typical for your own body helps you spot changes early.
Inclusive, online resources like Labia Library can also help you become more familiar — and educate on the natural diversity of vulvas.
How to check your vulva/ what to look out for
Dr Lakhani recommends a monthly check — ideally after your period or alongside a breast self-exam.
You’ll need a mirror, good lighting and a comfortable space. Check either standing with legs apart or sitting with knees bent — whichever is more comfortable. Use the mirror to see clearly and gently explore the area.
What to look for:
- Changes in labia majora or minora (shape, size, texture)
- Lumps, bumps or swelling
- Changes in skin colour, texture or thickness
- Persistent itching, soreness or pain
- Bleeding unrelated to your period
- Any noticeable changes in shape, size or colour
Read more: How to safely track your period without using an app — 4 best techniques
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If something doesn’t seem right, don’t panic, but don’t ignore it either. Use correct anatomical terms when talking to a healthcare professional.
And if you feel dismissed or not taken seriously? Get a second opinion. Most importantly, as Dr Lakhani urges, know that you deserve to be heard.
What else can be done to better our vulval health?
The Check Your Vulva campaign aims to empower women to advocate for themselves — especially in medical settings where they’re too often dismissed or misdiagnosed. As Dr Lakhani says: “Education is the foundation of self-advocacy.”
A key part of this is breaking down stigma and that starts with language and education. Using the correct anatomical terminology not only builds confidence but also helps us communicate clearly with healthcare professionals.
Sadly, as Professor Joyce Harper from UCL acknowledges, reproductive health still isn’t prioritised in school health education or PSHE lessons, where it’s often taught by form tutors with limited specialist training and barely covering the essentials.
She calls for more comprehensive, specialist-led education that’s “thorough and accurate — covering more than just abstinence or safe sex.”
GP Dr Sarah Jacques adds that early education using proper terminology: “It improves body image and confidence, removes secrecy and makes it less likely that bad things happen because children and young people know their bodies.”
Read more: ‘I got my hormones tested to fix my irregular periods — the results shocked both me and the experts’
Gaps in medical training
It’s not just schools that fall short — healthcare professionals need better training, too.
Dr Sarah reflects that during her training, practitioners received only six weeks of women’s health education, mostly on niche topics. This means when you go to your GP about a women’s health issue, that’s likely to be all the knowledge or training they have.
She urges that medical training should make women’s health a central part of education: “Make it the norm for all medical professionals to talk about women’s health — it stretches all the way from birth to death.”
That way, when women see a GP, they’ll be in better hands and more likely to receive appropriate care, diagnosis or referrals.
Feature image: Freepik
