What do you call your vagina? Estimates suggest there are several thousand euphemisms for female genitalia, from the humorous to the downright bizarre. All jokes aside, for Irish women with problems “down there”, the reluctance to use the proper terms may be hindering their vaginal health.
A recent survey by PrecisionBiotics found that 87 per cent of a poll of more than 1,000 women believe there is embarrassment around simply using the word “vagina”. Indeed, more than three-quarters of women surveyed – 78 per cent – admitted they would rather suffer in silence than talk about vaginal health concerns.
While women have increasingly opened up about health problems related to the menopause in recent years, Catherine O’Keeffe, founder of Wellness Warrior Ltd, says there is still a stigma attached to more intimate health concerns. O’Keeffe encourages women to bring these types of issues to light, including those that are related to their sexual health or any vaginal discomfort.
“We are really trying to encourage women to go to their doctor, go to their pharmacist or their women’s health physiotherapist, and talk about whatever it is that’s bothering them,” she says, “whether it’s inflammation or repeat thrush infections or concern about odour.”
Yet many women don’t. The same survey found that 36 per cent of people said they would feel uncomfortable asking for a vaginal health product in a pharmacy. Younger women are even more uncomfortable asking for help – some 43 per cent of those aged 18-29 admitted they would struggle to request help from a pharmacist.
Maeve Davis, a GP in Carrig Medical Centre in Co Cork, is used to discussing vaginal and vulval issues with her female patients but admits that she is often the instigator. “They may not necessarily bring it up themselves but if I was doing, for example, a menopausal consultation, it’s absolutely something that is part of my [it] in terms of understanding their urogenital health. I generally find that patients are quite receptive to it once it’s brought up.”
Yet Dr Davis admits that many of her patients will find it difficult to say the word vagina – and very very few will use the word vulva. “There is a huge discomfort about it, and if there is someone who cannot bring themselves to even use the word, then you can imagine it’s difficult for them to use it in a pharmacy if they need to ask for help.” She points out that most pharmacies now have a small consultation room, so women can explain their problem discreetly.
“Women can be really uncomfortable ‘down below’ and they might be buying inappropriate products for years over the counter and just never discussed it to a healthcare provider before. That happens a lot,” Davis says, noting that she does a lot of family planning and menopause care so is used to bringing up this topic with her patients, as many GPs will never mention it.
The first step to a healthy vagina may be simply saying the word out loud
Many women will also not realise that the vagina has its own unique microbiome, similar to the gut, which can easily become unbalanced. Populated mainly by Lactobacillus bacteria, these create an acidic environment that makes it hard for unhealthy bacteria or other microorganisms to grow, maintaining optimum vaginal health. “It is a delicate microbiome in its own right,” O’Keeffe explains. “It’s very, very different [from] the gut microbiome because it’s a much smaller body of bacteria, but lots of women use things like douches and heavily fragranced washes and these can make any problem worse.”
Davis adds: “A lot can be caused by disruption in the vaginal pH balance, or they may suffer from bacterial vaginosis where there is a mild vaginal infection.” Lifestyle factors or the use of certain condoms or lubricants can throw this delicate balance off, while antibiotics are also a common cause of pH disruption in the vagina. Even the natural fluctuations of oestrogen during the menstrual cycle can cause disruption of this delicate environment.
Probiotics, such as PrecisionBiotics Women’s Flora, available over the counter in most pharmacies, can help restore this delicate balance, says O’Keeffe. “These issues can respond really well to a specific probiotic that has an affinity with the vaginal microbiome, so women should take the chance to speak with their pharmacist in private if they can.”
“When the numbers of Lactobacilli are reduced,,” Davis explains, “there’s a much higher risk of thrush infections, urinary infections or bacterial vaginosis. All of these can be traced back to an imbalance in the microbiome of the vagina.”
The first step to a healthy vagina may be simply saying the word out loud, O’Keeffe says. “We need to keep talking about it and promote vaginal health awareness, because far too many women are suffering in silence.”
Daily Women’s Flora
Daily Women’s Flora is designed to support a balanced vaginal microbiome. This new supplement from PrecisionBiotics, the makers of Alflorex, is formulated with Astarte and LA-5, these clinically researched bacterial strains belong to the Lactobacillus genus and are recognised for their benefits to women’s health.
The vaginal microbiome, dominated by the Lactobacillus genus, plays a key role in regulating pH levels and maintaining a healthy balance of bacteria and yeast. Throughout life, a woman’s body undergoes various changes due to factors such as stress, certain medications, menstruation, pregnancy and menopause. These may disrupt the natural balance of bacteria in the vaginal area and alter pH levels, which can lead to feminine issues.
Daily Women’s Flora can be taken to help support vaginal balance as needed, including: during and after antibiotics or other medications; during and after menstruation; after intimacy; during pregnancy and breastfeeding; and during menopause.
For more information visit precisionbiotics.ie or talk to your local pharmacist or healthcare provider for more information
