Taking an interest in your intimate health and sexuality means consciously improving the quality of both your own life and the life you share with someone else—at every age. Caring for them is incredibly important for your physical, mental and emotional health, as well as for your sexual experience and function. And because you deserve to feel good in every way, let’s talk openly about intimate health.
Leave taboos in the past
Throughout their lives, women’s bodies go through a number of sensitive stages accompanied by many changes, joys, worries and taboos—from the first period and intimacy during pregnancy to menopause.
Let’s break down the unnecessary taboos surrounding intimate health.
From the first period to menopause
Most women begin to become aware of their intimate health with the arrival of menarche—their first period. This milestone, and the cycles that follow until menopause, are often shrouded in shame. During menstruation, women are accustomed to keeping quiet about their entirely natural bodily processes and needs. Yet taking an interest in and caring for your intimate health is just as natural as caring for your skin. Your body deserves it both when you are young and during menopause.
Focus on the pelvic floor
Menstruation is only one piece of the puzzle. A woman’s intimate health is closely connected to the condition of her pelvic floor. It helps her carry the weight of a baby during pregnancy and is subjected to intense strain during childbirth. Throughout life, it changes under the influence of hormones, injuries and movement patterns. Although it is the centre of the human body, the pelvic floor is still surrounded by many taboos, particularly those concerning incontinence after childbirth or menopause and intimacy.
The magic of (self-)pleasure
Society’s view of female sexuality is changing for the better, but we still have a long way to go. Masturbation remains heavily stigmatised, even though it brings nothing but benefits to the body and mind—feel-good hormones, better sleep and a healthy expression of sexuality that leads to confident communication of your needs with your partner.
Pleasure and sexual health are closely connected and form an important part of women’s health as a whole.
Shame has no place in intimacy
The first step towards breaking the taboos surrounding women’s intimate health? Talk about it—naturally and without shame. Talk to a friend, daughter, sister, mother or partner. You will probably discover the relief that comes from knowing you can share your troubles, worries and experiences. There is great strength in open communication and being informed.