Our vaginal health is one of the areas that we neglect the most.

We all know how to do a breast check after we get out of the shower, but very few of us know how to do an at-home vaginal health check. These checks are very important because common STIs and other infections if left untreated can lead to serious issues down the line like infertility. I have to admit I've never performed a check 'down there' myself so I found this step by step guide really useful. 1)To begin, remove all your clothes from the waist down. 2)Sit on your bed or on a towel on the floor against a wall with your back propped up by pillows. Pull your feet toward your butt and spread your legs. 3)Examine the parts of the vulva: the clitoris, and the outer and inner labia. Take note of the colour and size of each part, so if anything changes you’ll notice it easily. 4)Make sure to see your doctor if you notice anything unusual or any of the following: · Vaginal bleeding between periods, after sex or after menopause · A mass or bulge in your vagina · Pain during intercourse Some conditions like Bacterial Vaginosis are often mistaken for an STI or thrush, but it's actually very common and can be treated at home. The bacterial infection is caused by a pH imbalance in the vagina and may cause an unfamiliar smell and unusual discharge from her vagina. Between 12% and 29% of women will suffer from BV at some stage, therefore up to 320,000 Irish women annually are likely to develop this unpleasant infection. While unpleasant it can be easily dealt with by over the counter products like Relactagel. If you are worried that it could be something else then it is always best to visit your local GP for advice. In a recent survey, it was discovered that over 61% of young girls were embarrassed about their period, which is absolutely shocking. With young girls continuing to feel uncomfortable talking about their bodies, particularly their vaginal health, it's a cause of concern as to whether these young women would even seek out medical advice if an issue arose. Looking after your health is incredibly important and the more educated we all are on how to do that, the quicker we can respond to a medical issue.