This doctor wants you to take regular autonomous exams: what are you looking for and the right way to do

You know that you should review the twins every month. Now it’s time to meet her sister.

“As a cancer physician, I want women to take monthly self-mams breast exams, but I want to also take autonomous exams,” Dr. Clare Bertucio, a radiation oncologist and CEO of the Vulva Care Market Brand Market Brand.

Bertucio broken down three key reasons why women have to look below the belt regularly, how to make a self -examination and when it is time to see a doctor.

Know your anatomy

One of the greatest advantages of vulva self-exams is to help women familiarize themselves with their own anatomy, because, surprisingly, many are not.

In a study, 37% of women damaged their clitoris in a vulva diagram. Only 49% could correctly point out the Majora labia. And only 46% knew that women have three separate openings “down there”.

A lot of confusion, Berucio said, refers to language, especially how we use the word vagina.

“The vagina is actually the internal muscle channel that connects the uterus to external opening,” he explained. “The vulva is the outer part of the body.”

Includes seven parts: The Mons Pubis, Labia Majora, Labia Mina, Clítoris, Urethral Opening, Vaginal Opening and Perineum.

Knowing what is, Bertucio said, is the step of taking care of your vulva.

Discover your “normal”

“The vulva is like a fingerprint or an iris; everyone is completely and totally unique to them,” said Bertucio.

While the parts are the same, the appearance may vary widely. The Major Labia (or the outer lips) has many shapes, sizes and colors and can change over time with puberty, pregnancy, menopause and other phases of life.

“I will tell them,” This is a perfectly beautiful and normal vulva, and I guess you never looked at it. “They usually respond with:” Are you supposed to look? “

Dr. Clare Bertucio

The discharge is also normal, but it varies in color, texture and volume depending on the woman and where she is in her cycle.

The clearest sign that something may be wrong, Berucio said, is anything unusual in the way you look or feel your vulva.

“Change is what should be alert to you, but you only know change if you know what is normal,” he said.

Bertucio has dealt with many women who come to their panic office that something goes wrong, just to know that everything is completely healthy.

“I will tell them:” This is a perfectly beautiful and normal vulva, and I guess you never looked at it, “he said.” They usually answer with: “Are you supposed to look?”

This lack of familiarity can create a disconnection between women and their bodies. Bertucio also makes them harder to take care of themselves.

In fact, a 2020 survey found that 52% of women feel that their knowledge of their reproductive system prevents them from defending themselves in the doctor’s office.

This may delay treatment due to serious vaginal health problems and extend uncomfortable or painful symptoms.

“All your body is yours to love, enjoy and explore, but also to take care,” Bertucio said. “If we do not look and feel, we do not take care of our vulvas, and this is a very important part of us.”

Spot problem soon

Bertucio said Bertuccio said that regular self -conjunctions can help to catch infections, diseases and other health problems before he worsened.

Take hit, for example. Most are harmless, often only rooted hairs, razor burns, or leather tags.

But they may also indicate problems such as atopic dermatitis, an eruption caused by irritating soaps, detergents or female products. In some cases, bumps may be signs of something more serious, such as genital warts or even vulvar cancer.

Other problems to see include symptoms of sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia or genital herpes, which can cause redness, itching or pain.

In the meantime, yeast infections can cause the labia to inflict and create a thick white discharge.

“If you feel a stroke or a piece, see something red, irritated or there is abnormal drainage for you, these will be signs that your doctor should see,” said Bertuccio.

He pointed to new symptoms, such as sex pain, are another reason to call your doctor.

How to make a self -examination of vulva

1. Start by washing your hands and holding a hand mirror.
2. Find a place where you feel safe and relaxed, perhaps on the bath floor leaning on a wall or sitting on the bed resting against some pillows.
3. Remove clothes from the waist down, bend your knees, pulling your feet to your ass. Spread the knees to completely expose the genital area.
4. Use the mirror to make a visual inspection of your vulva. Start by looking at the outer labia, and then gently separate your lips to examine the interior labies, clitoris and openings.

“Look at how this area looks like and use your hands to feel -vos,” said Bertucio. “Then you will know what is normal.”

The internal exams are more complicated, but Bertucio encourages women who feel gently inside the vaginal channel for any new groups, blows or bleeding.

If you find something about, Bertucio recommends seeing a doctor as soon as possible. Once serious medical problems are ruled out, if irritation, redness or pain persists, you could try the vulvar vmagic balms of breast breast or vmagic lips.

These natural products are proven clinically and are shown to provide instant relief for vulvar dryness and other skin problems.