It’s not Witchcraft

A FRANK CONVERSATION ABOUT VAGINAL HEALTH & WELLNESS Written by Meg Savaglia, Contributing Writer Graphic by Bella Swirth, Contributing Graphic Artist

When I was in the first grade, the effervescent tale of “Bloody Mary” was passed around Cooper Elementary School with great reverence. Rumor had it that the elusive Bloody Mary would appear when summoned by saying her name three times over in front of the bathroom mirror. Terror of this ghost quickly spread throughout the school and reached six-year-old me through my Girl Scout troop. For months, I was petrified to enter the bathroom. The UTIs that plagued me for the remainder of my elementary years were scarier still, and I peed in a cup much more than I would have preferred at six years old. From here, the journey I’ve had with my own vaginal health has been full of ups and downs. Internet myths cursed my vagina for much of my middle school and teenage years—from overprescribing myself probiotics and cranberry supplements to bathing in diluted apple cider vinegar. 12 The mystery of the vagina, to me, seemed to be one truly fit for the Halloween season—shrouded in whispered sacred rituals and consecrated secrets passed from friend to friend. Is it possible to look past the terror and start treating our own vaginas with the respect they deserve? Demystifying the vagina starts with viewing your health as a micro issue— not a macro one. Twitter threads and TikToks that claim to hold the secret to a scent-free, peach-flavored paradise are targeted towards the macro audience (not to mention an audience based on insecurity) of the greater population. When it comes to vaginas, taking care of yourself is much more personal. Not all vaginas are one and

¹ Staff, M. C. (2016, November 16). You don’t need fancy products for good feminine hygiene. Retrieved from Mayo Clinic Health System ² Gunter, Jen. 2019. “A Lady’s Many Scents.” New York Times. the same in appearance or function. What is normal in scent, discharge and menstrual cycle for your friends may not be the norm for you. What’s the best way to find out what is normal for you? Being selfish about your health and honest with your doctor and gynecologist. There’s magic in regular pap smears and STI testing.3 On our very own UW-Madison campus, University Health Services allow for transparency with ourselves and with a medical professional that can provide more sanctity than a Google search ever could.

When it comes down to it, there is no secret to a perfect vagina. It’s impossible to meet the cultural expectation of what vaginas are “supposed” to be. Laboring under this expectation sacrifices your health—I learned this the hard way. Since my elementary school days, I have established a healthier routine, consisting of cotton underwear, lots of water, peeing after any sexual activity, limited shaving or grooming and a small amount of hydrocortisone cream for the occasional itch or razor burn. 45 Six-year-old me would be happy to know that I’m much better equipped to deal with seemingly intermittent UTIs—and that I have conquered my fear of ghosts in public restrooms. *Many of the articles presented as works cited for this article emphasize vaginal health as women’s health. We at MODA recognize and advocate for trans and non binarys persons in our discussion of vaginal health and wellness in this article and always. ■

³ Barnes, Zahra. 2016. “This Is How Often You Need To Get Tested For STDs, Based On Your Relationship Status.” Self. ⁴ OHSU Center for Women’s Health. (n.d.). The care and keeping of your vagina. Retrieved from OHSU Center for Women’s Health ⁵ Garrett, H. (2020, September 2). How to practice proper genital hygiene. Retrieved from Planned Parenthood: