1. Community
  2. Women's health
  3. Lichen Sclerosus

Mirrors for Vulvar Health!

Posted , 9 users are following.

Morrell1951
Morrell1951

Nannylin has had a brilliant idea. Like breast self-exams. But women need to know what 'normal' looks like. How on earth can we do this with all the internet porn focusing on this in the wrong way?

Remember the book from the seventies, Our Bodies, Ourselves? There were drawings of what it looked like. Why didn't I find LS symptoms in there?

0 likes, 18 replies

18 Replies

Next
  • ChrissyC
    ChrissyC Morrell1951

    Posted

    You only need to know what is normal for YOU and be able to note any changes from that norm. There is tremendous variety in the look of everyones vulva so difficult to say what is normal. Same with breasts really. My husband is completely unmoved by porn pictures. The breasts have all been augmented to look the same. The vulvas have all been shaved and surgically trimmed to look the same so that they look like plastic or like children. Give him a natural 'real' woman any day smile
  • marey
    marey Morrell1951

    Posted

    oh thank you morrelll....you seem to be taking on board the things that are really important to me....the porn thing is major. actually it is a profound assault on the dignity of women....

    its kind of also a paralysing to keep us 'in our places'.....doesn't work tho...tee heee!!

  • marey
    marey Morrell1951

    Posted

    yes a specifically designed mirror...i'll share the patenting with you ...proceeds in aid of LS Research ! xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Morrell1951
    Morrell1951

    Posted

    I think the place to start is with girls and women we know and maybe our sons, although I'm not there yet with mine.

    One postive thing about this 'Brazilian' fashion is that women must be using a mirror to make sure they shaved well. So, at least they're looking more than I ever did. I don't believe I used a mirror till age 30 after my first child, to see my episiotomy stitches. And I'm not 100% sure I even looked then.

    • nannylin
      nannylin Morrell1951

      Posted

      Ditto. Girls need to know what is normal for them and not be embarrassed talking amongst friends after all we seem to manage to chat fairly happily about periods and menopause. When sex became uncomfortable I thought it was my fault and I thought I was frigid. I automatically assumed everyone else was having an active sex life. Again why can't we be honest about this? I told a friend the other day of my condition and she was embarrassed/shocked/sympathetic and had never heard of it. But she said it's now something she will check herself for and be aware of if she hears of the symptoms in anyone else. Was hard having the conversation but I wouldn't be embarrassed if I had asthma, I haven't caused it so why should I hide it (feeling brave that day). Mirrors and more talk is the way forward.
    • Morrell1951
      Morrell1951 nannylin

      Posted

      I told a good friend last night and it turns out she's been to five doctors in 25 years without a diagnosis of LS, but all the symptoms. I told here there aren't a bunch of other things it could be.

      She has thyroid trouble and is celiac, so I brought LS up 'just in case'. She's asking for an appointment with my great gynae ASAP.

    • suedm
      suedm Morrell1951

      Posted

      Re telling the sons, I told mine that I had an auto immune condition that can affect men as well as women.I explained that the conditon can cause the skin to become  itchy and sore, so if they ever found they suffered similar symptons not to immediately think if STD but check it out with a medic

      They understood auto immune conditons as their father has MS- altho  not at the "bad" end of the spectrum - they are concerned that they too may be afflicted with MS as it is said to be familial. I have asthma as has one ot he sons. We then had another glass of wine and chatted about something else

  • kate207
    kate207 Morrell1951

    Posted

    I have to agree with you all, nobody encourages you to look down there regularly.  A special mirror would be briliant, especially to see round the episiotomy area, which I find tricky! I bought a small shaving mirror which magnififes by five, very useful for spotting small changes.
  • Chrisy
    Chrisy Morrell1951

    Posted

    Great idea, I take pictures that make it easier to view then delete them, an idea I got from someone else of this forum I can't remember who...sorry.  Things do change from time to time.
    • nannylin
      nannylin Chrisy

      Posted

      What a good idea to take pictures at least that way you can compare and spot subtle changes - brilliant !!
  • Morrell1951
    Morrell1951

    Posted

    I've been watching a cable series, 'Orange is the New Black' about women in a minimum security American prison. Episode 3 of Season two is called 'A Whole other Whole'. One bright (really, she is) inmate has invented a funnel & hose device to avoid sitting on the stainless steel toilets. Someone suggests she simply insert the hose. Sophia, the transsexual who 'designed' her own vulva before surgery is pretty much the only inmate who doesn't know about the urethra. She explains that the vagina and the urethra are separate. A purse mirror is eventually passed around in the showers and all the women are enlightened. Even our lead charater, the bisexual Smith College alumna, Piper is fairly vague on what's down there. I don't think the writers have exaggerated women's general ignorance too much.
  • Morrell1951
    Morrell1951

    Posted

    I really wish this site let us fix our typos. Sophia is the only inmate who DORES know about the urethra.
Back to top
Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.