(Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)

Today in slightly worrying news for our current sexual education curriculum, a poll has found that half of men can’t point to where the vagina is on a human body.

The Eve Appeal asked 1,000 men to label the vagina on a diagram showing the vagina, vulva, cervix, ovaries, and Fallopian tubes of a human body.

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Of those 1,000 men, 500 were unable to correctly label the vagina on that diagram.

Now, that sample size is fairly small, so it’s possible that the Eve Appeal just managed to find 500 men who have no clue about genitals. The charity also hasn’t revealed the ages of the men they surveyed, so it’s possible that the younger generation may be more skilled in knowing their vaginal stuff.




But considering that last year it was found that 44% of women have no idea where the vagina is, the stats are more than a little concerning. Clearly, a lot of us wouldn’t be confident in correctly declaring where the vagina actually is.

The research has been published by the Eve Appeal as part of Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month (that’s September, FYI), to point out how few of us know the essentials when it comes to gynaecological cancers.

Think about it – if we don’t even know where the vagina is, how are we supposed to know when something’s wrong?

Even more worryingly, the poll also found that one in six men know nothing about gynaecological issues, and don’t feel that they need to know – as it’s a ‘female issue’.

Half of the men surveyed said they wouldn’t feel comfortable chatting about gynaecological issues with a female partner, and many said they still see the vagina as ‘shrouded in mystery’.

This isn’t just concerning for our sexual pleasure (seriously, how are men supposed to make women orgasm if they don’t even know what they’re touching?), but also for our sexual health.

For many women, the main person who comes into contact with our vagina is the man we’re sleeping with. It could be crucial that our partners can identify when something doesn’t feel quite right, and will be comfortable encouraging us to go to the doctor if there’s something wrong.

That’s especially essential considering that many women let embarrassment stop them from going to the doctor, and may need some encouragement to get checked out.

One in five of the women surveyed said they wouldn’t go to the doctor if they had abnormal vaginal bleeding – despite that being one of the major symptoms of cancers of the womb, ovaries, cervix, and vagina.

Half of women wouldn’t go to their GP for help with persistent bloating, and 15% wouldn’t go to the doctor even if they found a lump or growth in their vagina.

More than 21,000 women are diagnosed with a gynaecological cancer each year.

Key symptoms of gynaecological cancers: Irregular bleeding

Blood-tinted vaginal discharge

Persistent bloating

Persistent abdominal pain

Difficulty eating and feeling full quickly

Pain during sex

Unpleasant smelling vaginal discharge

A lump or swelling on the vulva or inside the vagina

An open sore or growth on the vulva

A vaginal itch that won’t go away

‘These survey results show shockingly low levels of awareness of the symptoms of gynaecological cancer among both men and women,’ said The Eve Appeal’s chief executive, Athena Lamnisos.



‘We know from the many calls that we receive at The Eve Appeal from men, that they can play a vital role in identifying the symptoms of gynaecological cancer, prompting their partners to visit the GP. Early diagnosis really is key and can save lives.

‘This is not about having better sex. It’s about men helping women to look after their health. Gynae awareness and taboo busting are all of our responsibility, men and women alike.’

If you’re worried about potential symptoms of gynaecological cancer, such as irregular bleeding, blood stained vaginal discharge, and pain during sex, please, please go to your GP. If you want more information before heading to the doctor, you can also contact the charity’s Ask Eve service at nurse@eveappeal.org.uk, or give them a call on 0808 802 0019.

Do you know where the vagina is? Find out with our quiz:

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