Ladies, it might be time to take a long, hard look in the mirror and ask, “What is that?”
An estimated ¼ of US women don’t know where their vagina is, according to a new poll conducted by OnePoll, which found that 46% of ladies couldn’t point out the cervix, and 59% suggested a different body part when asked to identify the uterus.
Only one in 10 women passed the anatomy quiz, asking them to name all the parts of a female reproductive diagram.
Intimina, the Swedish women’s health company that commissioned the study, included responses from 2,000 women. A spokesperson said the brand hoped to reveal a critical gap in American education.
“The fact that nearly one in four women in the survey misidentified the vagina and 46% could not correctly identify the cervix shows we need to keep educating the public about how the reproductive system, its monthly processes and hormonal changes can impact a woman’s life,” said Danela Žagar, Intimina’s global brand manager, in a blog post on the website.
OnePoll also asked women to describe the menstrual cycle and found many were confounded by the process. Some described periods as a “detoxification,” like a “periodical body reset button,” or something that “got rid of bacteria.” A quarter of responses described periods more approximately as “the process a women’s body goes through to shed excess blood.” However, 63% of women more accurately explained that the body is shedding its uterine lining.
Menopause was not understood well either, with 13% defining menopause as a term to describe a missed period, while 10% figured it had something to do with turning 40. While age is a factor, the number does not dictate when or why menopause takes place.
Women were divided on whom to blame for their poor understanding of their own bodies: 36% said their teachers failed, 28% resented parents and 27% called for better public education standards.
“This research shows that, even though it is 2020, women don’t know enough about their bodies and as a result, are not able to take an active role in their care,” Intimina added. “Knowing their bodies and knowing how the reproductive system works gives women the power to be able to advocate for their well-being and get the support they need.”