Why getting to know your vulva can be a life saver

Vulva cancer is a rare kind commonly diagnosed in those aged 65 or over. Symptoms include:

• Open sore on the skin of the vulva.
• Burning pain when passing urine.
• A mole on the vulva that changes shape or colour.
• Lump or swelling in the vulva.
• A lasting itch, pain or soreness on the skin.

Vaginal cancer is also very rare, but it’s still good to be aware of the symptoms:

• Blood-stained discharge.
• Bleeding after sexual intercourse and pain.
• Problems with passing urine.
• Pain in the rectum.
• Vaginal itch that won’t go away.

The most common cancer in women under 35 years old. Cervical screening such as smear and pap tests are essential in spotting abnormalities, which can be treated to prevent the cervical changes developing into cancer. Many vulva owners miss their screening appointments due to vulva shame, so it’s SO important that we break that shame down. Symptoms include:

• Unusual / severe bleeding.
• Discomfort from sex.
• Pain in your lower back or pelvic area.
• Unpleasant vaginal discharge.
• Urinary or bowel incontinence.

More than 8 out of 10 ovarian cancers occur in people over the age of 50. In the UK, it’s the 5th most common cancer in women, after breast, lung, bowel and womb cancer. Symptoms to be aware of are:

• Feeling constantly bloated.
• Discomfort in your tummy, pelvic area or back.
• Feeling full quickly when eating.
• Unintentional weight loss.
• Fatigue.

Around five in every 100 cancer diagnoses in women are womb cancers. The most common type is endometrial, meaning it starts in the endometrium – the lining of the womb. Symptoms include:

• Abnormal bleeding.
• Watery discharge.
• Pain in back, legs or pelvis.
• Loss of appetite and/or sickness.
• Tiredness.

• Look At Your Vulva. Hold a hand mirror between your legs to get familiar with what your vulva looks like. Remember, every vulva is unique but understanding what normal looks like for you and vulva will make it easier to spot when there’s something out of the ordinary going on.
• Get Hands On With Your Vulva. Experience the different textures of every part of your vulva. Your vulva is all your external genitalia, so feel your mons pubis, labia, clitoris glans and vaginal opening. There’s so much awareness around copping a feel of breasts; think of this in the same way.
• Masturbate. So, there’s feeling yourself and then there’s loving yourself. Self-love sessions should already be high on your priority list, but using a vibrator or hands for sexual pleasure regularly allows us to learn about our vulval and vaginal sensations. We become familiar with what feels good, and can flag when something feels not-so good!
• Acknowledge Your Intimate Fluids. There is nothing icky about discharge or mucus. In fact, knowing what’s going on in our pants is a key way to establish when something unusual is occurring. If you menstruate, the fluid’s structure can change throughout your cycle due to hormones, which is just as interesting to notice!

References: All info and stats are from Lady Garden Foundation.

Related: Are pap smears enough to prevent cervical cancer?

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Related: Ditch these everyday bad habits that put your vaginal health at risk

This article was first published in Smile Makers. Smile Makers is a sexual wellness brand on a mission to inspire vulva owners to set their own standards for good sex. As a brand, they bring sexual wellness products into mainstream spaces, remove limiting beliefs around vulva sexuality and foster a global, pleasure-positive and light-hearted conversation about sex.