3 great reasons to seize a mirror and look at your vagina

Yes, it can be tricky for vulva-havers to actually get a good look, but there can also be shame and stigma attached to getting intimate with their own anatomy.

But if you're ready to take a look, start out slow and use your fingers to explore first. It doesn’t have to be tough for pleasure. It can be tough just to get to know what it feels like down there. Below are three reasons why you might want to make an effort to look at your vulva.

1. Your sex life could improve

In sex-negative cultures, the vulva can be seen as a dirty place, or something that's just out of sight, out of mind. But if you’re uncomfortable with looking at it, how comfortable will you be with your partner looking at it? Once you're well-acquainted with your vulva, you might find that it's easier to communicate with your partner about what is pleasurable during sex. If we don’t get to know our vulva, how can we expect others to honour it?

2. Taking control of your body image

Looking at and feeling your vulva can help you embrace your sexuality — and help to dispel any self-imposed stigmas or hang-ups you might have about your anatomy. It seems unfair that the comments that women get on their vagina tissue are based on [their] partner, and not [from] seeing it themselves. Some women may have had a partner who made them feel self-conscious about the way they look down there, and that can have harmful effects on body image.

3. By helping your gynaecologist detect any abnormalities

If you're going in for regular check-ups, your gynaecologist will likely only see your vulva every one to three years. You, on the other hand, interact with it daily. And while your doctor will be able to catch any glaring issues, they're simply not seeing your vulva enough to notice slight irregularities that you could easily pick up on. So it's better for women to look at their vulva because they can see evidence of ingrown hairs that might need medical treatment or vaginal infections.

Do you need someone to talk to about your sexual lifestyle? Do you have questions about sex? Do you want your sex life to be better? Send your questions to hotpulse@pulse.ng