by Aleece Fosnight · 14 Aug 2020 · 6 min read
As a society, we have allowed old treatments and information to remain stagnant which has failed to evolve with the times. In order for change to be possible, we need to modify our approach and take advantage of, and source new information, products and research while pushing the conversation forward to normalize discussions around menstruation to better support women's health.
My daily work with my gynecology patients has made it apparent that it is time to have a frank talk about sexual health—specifically as it relates to our vaginal anatomy and physiology. For too many women, this topic is avoided and/or misunderstood. As a result, women experience a series of adverse consequences, from poorer health outcomes to lackluster sexual satisfaction. Even in this modern age of female empowerment and the ongoing drive for equity between the sexes, I still see many women who are embarrassed or even ashamed to discuss their own bodies. We've been misled by society to think that our sexual organs—and our very natural, normal concerns regarding them—are somehow distasteful or disgusting to discuss. Far too many women believe those lies and suffer as a result.
At this very moment, millions of American women are in a secret battle with their own bodies. These women are dealing with self-consciousness and shame and staying silent about a debilitating issue that they’re facing every single day. This is a medical issue that unfortunately carries a heavy psychological weight in our current culture. These women may be afraid to put on a swimsuit, afraid to be intimate with their partners, afraid to sweat in the gym or even be afraid to get a pedicure. I’m talking about a condition that is rarely (if ever) discussed in public and mainstream circles, yet it will affect a majority of women across the U.S. – vaginal odor caused by vaginal imbalance.