You know you’re supposed to be checking the twins every month. Now it’s time to meet their sister.
“As a cancer doctor, I want women doing monthly self-breast exams — but I want them doing self-vulva exams too,” Dr. Clare Bertucio, a radiation oncologist and CEO of vulva care brand Medicine Mama, told The Post.
Bertucio broke down three key reasons why women need to be looking below the belt regularly, how to do a self-exam and when it’s time to see a doctor.
Know your anatomy
One of the biggest benefits of vulva self-exams is helping women become familiar with their own anatomy — because, surprisingly, many aren’t.
In one study, 37% of women mislabeled the clitoris on a diagram of the vulva. Only 49% could correctly point out the labia majora. And just 46% knew women have three separate openings “down there.”
A lot of the confusion, Bertucio said, comes down to language, especially how we use the word vagina.
“The vagina is actually the internal muscular canal that connects the uterus to the external opening,” she explained. “The vulva is the external part of the body.”
It includes seven parts: the mons pubis, labia majora, labia minora, clitoris, urethral opening, vaginal opening and perineum.
Knowing what’s what, Bertucio said, is step one of taking care of your vulva.
Discover your “normal”
“The vulva is like a fingerprint or an iris — everyone’s is completely and totally unique to them,” Bertucio said.
While the parts are the same, the appearance can vary widely. The labia majora — or outer lips — come in many shapes, sizes and colors, and can change over time with puberty, pregnancy, menopause and other phases of life.
“I’ll tell them, ‘This is a perfectly beautiful, normal vulva, and my guess is you’ve just never looked at it.’ They usually respond with, ‘You’re supposed to look?’”
Dr. Clare Bertucio
Discharge is normal too, but it varies wildly in color, texture and volume depending on the woman and where she is in her cycle.
The clearest sign that something might be wrong, Bertucio said, is anything unusual in how your vulva looks or feels.
“Change is what should alert you, but you’ll only know change if you know what normal is for you,” she said.
Bertucio has treated many women who arrive in her office panicked that something is wrong, only to learn that everything is completely healthy.
“I’ll tell them, ‘This is a perfectly beautiful, normal vulva, and my guess is you’ve just never looked at it,’” she said. “They usually respond with, ‘You’re supposed to look?’”
This lack of familiarity can create a disconnect between women and their bodies. It also makes it harder for them to take care of themselves, Bertucio said.
In fact, a 2020 poll found that 52% of women feel their lack of knowledge about their reproductive system keeps them from advocating for themselves at the doctor’s office.
That can delay treatment for serious vaginal health issues and prolong uncomfortable or painful symptoms.
“Your whole body is yours to love, enjoy and explore, but moreover, to take care of,” Bertucio said. “If we don’t look and feel, we’re not taking care of our vulvas, and that’s a very important part of us.”
Spot trouble early
Regular vulva self-checks can help catch infections, diseases and other health issues before they get worse, Bertucio said.
Take bumps, for example. Most are harmless, often just ingrown hairs, razor burn or skin tags.
But they can also signal issues like atopic dermatitis, a rash caused by irritating soaps, detergents or feminine products. In some cases, bumps may be signs of something more serious, such as genital warts or even vulvar cancer.
Other issues to watch for include symptoms of sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia or genital herpes, which can cause redness, itching or pain.
Yeast infections, meanwhile, may the labia to swell and create a thick, white discharge.
“If you feel a bump or a lump, you see something that’s red, irritated or there’s drainage that is abnormal for you, those are going to be signs that you should see your physician,” Bertucio said.
New symptoms — like pain during sex — are another reason to call your doctor, she noted.
How to do a vulva self-exam
- Start by washing your hands and grabbing a handheld mirror.
- Find a a spot where you feel safe and relaxed, perhaps on bathroom floor leaning against a wall or sitting in bed propped against some pillows.
- Remove your clothes from the waist down bend your knees, pulling your feet towards your butt. Spread your knees to fully expose the genital area.
- Use the mirror to do a visual inspection of your vulva. Start by looking at the outer labia, then gently separate the lips to examine the inner labia, clitoris and openings.
“See what this area looks like for you and use your hands to feel,” Bertucio said. “Then you’ll know what is normal.”
Internal exams are trickier, but Bertucio encourages women gently feeling inside your vaginal canal for any new lumps, bumps or indentations.
If you find anything concerning, Bertucio recommends seeing a doctor as soon as possible. Once serious medical issues are ruled out, if irritation, redness, or pain persist, you might try Medicine Mama’s Vmagic Vulvar Balms or Vmagic Lip Sticks.
These all-natural products are clinically tested and proven to provide instant relief for vulvar dryness and other skin issues.
