When was the last time you had a good look 'down there'?
We'll take a guess that it's been a really long time. Heck, we bet some of you have never even grabbed a mirror and had a long, hard look at your vulvas.
But rest assured, you're not the only one. In a recent survey of 1,000 British women, 44 per cent were unable to identify the vagina on a medical illustration of the female reproductive tract. Even fewer were able to identify the vulva, with a whopping 60 per cent failing to do so.
So, that's why a sexual health charity is has created a new online reference tool that helps women find out if vulva looks 'normal'.
The Brook website resource gives visual examples of the vulva and advice on how female genitals change in puberty, reports the BBC.
And while the website is directed towards female girls, given the rise of labiaplasty (cosmetic vulval surgery) in recent years, we think it'll do the rest of us a world of good in teaching us to love our bodies and recognise that all vulvas are beautiful.
Yes, even yours.
The 'So What Is A Vulva Anyway' booklet explains the function of the vulva, clitoris, labia, mons pubis, urethra, pubic hair, as well as clearing up any misconceptions regarding female sexual organs and advice on how to take care of your 'lady bit'.
As the website highlights: 'It's difficult to know what a "normal vulva" is.
'You don't really get to see other peoples so it's difficult to appreciate that labia come in different shapes and sizes.'
It also emphasises the way in which porn and photoshopped images skew society's perception of what is a 'normal' or desirable vulva. Basically, as long as your vulva isn't causing you pain or discomfort, it's all good.
Ms Louise Williams, clinical nurse specialist at University College Hospital and co-lead of the project, told the BBC: 'This educational resource will help young people to understand their vulva and how it develops during puberty, particularly if they are worried about how they look or feel.
'We hope it will reassure young people that vulvas come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and if they need advice and support, they can know where to go.'
According to NHS figures, more than 200 girls under 18 had labiaplasty – the reshaping or shortening of vaginal lips or labia – and more than 150 of the girls were under 15 in 2015-2016.
While labiaplasty's are commonly performed on the NHS is the vaginal lips are abnormal or causing a patient pain or distress, GPS are not meant to refer women for the surgery on cosmetic reasons alone.
In 2016, a survey from the UK charity Eve Appeal found that only one third of the women questioned could correctly place six labels on a diagram depicting the vulva, vagina, cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries.
'The lack of basic knowledge about the female body is extremely worrying,' Tracie Miles, a specialist gynaecological cancer information Nurse at the Eve Appeal, said in a press release.
'How can we expect women to know what to look out for in terms of unexpected changes in their vagina or vulva, or to be aware of the signs and symptoms of a gynecological cancer if they're not body-aware?'
Regardless of your experience in sex education or confidence in knowing the ins and outs of your vagina, it's important we get to know and learn our bodies, and become better informed when it comes to our be sexual and physical health.
Happy studying!
Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.
