Third Of British Adults Worry About Genitals Not Being 'Normal'
Third Of Adults Worry Genitals Aren't 'Normal'
Natasha Hinde— The Huffington Post UK
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More than a third of Brits worry their genitals aren't "normal", a new report has revealed.
The study found that concerns over what genitals look and smell like, as well as worrying about unusual lumps and discharge, is having a serious affect on our sex lives.
It also flagged an alarming disparity between the number of women who are concerned over the appearance of their vaginas, in comparison to men and their penis worries.
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The survey questioned 2,313 Britons (aged 18-30) on their genital worries.
More than a third of respondents believed their private parts weren't normal - 73% of which were female and 27% male.
Their main concerns were:
1. "My genitals look different to those I see online and in the media" (43%)
2. "I always feel as if my smell isn’t normal" / "I don’t know what it’s meant to smell like" (18%)
3. "There are lumps on my genitals and I’m not sure if they’re meant to be there" (13%)
4. "It just doesn’t look attractive to me" (11%)
5. "I’m unsure whether the discharge I have is considered normal or not" (3%)
Respondents were then asked if their concerns ever affected their sex lives - 26% of which said yes.
More than three quarters of those who said they worried about their genitals being "normal" said their worries distracted them so much during sex that they were unable to achieve orgasm.
Michael Ross, spokesperson for MedExpress who conducted the survey, commented: "These results really shocked us as one would like to assume that genital worries and confidence issues end after the period of adolescence.
"It really scares me that adults still compare themselves to the actors that they see in porn films as these are definitely not ‘ideal’ and they shouldn’t be taken seriously.
"It just shows that we still need to learn that genitals come in all forms of different shapes and sizes."
He continued: "Having said that, a number of the results in our study were slightly worrying and probably need to be addressed. If you feel like you might smell or you have a lump or mark ‘down below’, please do book an appointment with your GP or take a trip to your local GUM clinic.
"Even if it does turn out to be nothing, which it probably is, it will reassure you that you are completely normal and healthy and that you shouldn’t let your worries ruin your sex life."
Natika H Halil, chief executive at sexual health charity FPA is not surprised by the survey results as "as a society we’re still not great at talking openly about our own bodies and things which might affect our sexual confidence and pleasure".
"Sexual health professionals have reported more men and women seem to be dissatisfied with their bodies, which in some cases could be linked to comparing themselves to what are portrayed as pornographic ideals, particularly around genital size and a desire to have little or no pubic hair to ‘not be dirty’," she tells HuffPost UK Lifestyle.
"A huge increase in labiaplasty (surgery to reduce the size of the labia, the folds of skin around the vulva) has also, in some cases, been linked to pornography and women thinking they should have genitalia which looks the same as the actors.
"Lots of women are concerned about vaginal discharge, and in many cases don’t know what’s normal and not, what it should look and smell like."
She goes on to explain that vaginal discharge is "perfectly normal" and women may notice that it changes in colour and consistency during their menstrual cycle.
"Some women might be tempted to use perfumed washes and wipes to clean their genital area, in an attempt to mask smells and get rid of discharge. This is unnecessary and could actually be harmful as some products can disrupt the natural balance of bacteria in the vagina," she says.
"It’s a good idea to use plain, unperfumed soap and water to clean the vulva regularly. Douching, or flushing water into the vagina, can also upset the balance of the normal bacteria, and is unnecessary.
"If women are concerned about a smell or notice a change from their normal discharge, it’s important not to try and mask this. Equally if you notice any unusual lumps or bumps on your genitals, it’s important to see a health professional, as it could be a sign of an infection or other problem."
Halil believes it's really important for men and women to familiarise themselves with their bodies sot that they are aware of any changes.
"It’s also important to remember that everyone is different and people’s genitals vary in appearance – in their shape, size, and colour," she adds.
"It would be great if all young people growing up learnt about this natural variety and weren’t left with worries about how they compare to people they see in the media or pornography."
Most Common STIs And Symptoms
Chlamydia(01 of10)
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The most common STI in the UK for a multitude of different of reasons. Chlamydia is unfortunately practically symptomless, meaning you could have it for years and not know. It is also one of the easiest diseases to spread amongst sexual partners, so you might not know you’re spreading it all over town.On occasion Chlamydia can cause a burning sensation when passing urine in both men and women but do not rely on this as a sign. The infection is easily treatable, so it’s best to get yourself checked as a local health clinic as soon as possible. (credit:Jason Hetherington via Getty Images)
Genital Warts(02 of10)
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As the name suggests, this sexually transmitted disease appears as small fleshy growths and bumps on or around your genital or anal area. The warts are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) of which some types can lead to cervical cancer. Don’t worry; genital warts are not this strain. Genital warts cannot be fully cured and the disease can lay dormant, showing itself a year, two years or even longer after you initially contract it. The unsightly warts can be banished with the use of creams and cryotherapy (they freeze them off). (credit:Jupiterimages via Getty Images)
Genital Herpes(03 of10)
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Sadly another infection without a cure and with a massive stigma. Herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), which is exactly the same virus that causes cold sores. People usually develop symptoms of HSV a few days after coming into contact with the virus. This is when small painful blisters develop which can cause itching, tingling or make it painful to urinate. Once you’ve been infected the virus remains dormant most of the time. If you have herpes be careful, the infection is much more likely to spread when you are having an outbreak so refrain from intercourse when sores and blisters are apparent. (credit:IPGGutenbergUKLtd via Getty Images)
Gonorrhoea(04 of10)
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Gonorrhoea is a bacterial STI easily passed on during sex. Roughly half of women and 10% of men don’t experience symptoms and much like Chlamydia, are often unaware they are infected. If you do experience symptoms, in women they usually present themselves as a burning sensation when urinating, vaginal discharge (which is often a watery yellow or green substance), pain in the lower abdomen during sex or bleeding after sex. Men should look out for a burning sensation when urinating, as well as discharge, and should watch out for tenderness in the testicles. Gonorrhoea can also infect your rectum, throat and even eyes. Luckily this infection is easily rid of through a course of antibiotics but should not be left untreated as it can lead to serious health problems. (credit:dolgachov via Getty Images)
Trichomoniasis(05 of10)
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Trichomoniasis is an STI caused by a small parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis. Again it can easily be passed on through sex and unfortunately it’s another infection that can be hard to notice from symptoms alone. Women can get frothy yellow or green discharge and men can also experience the same. Luckily this infection is treatable with a course of antibiotics. (credit:luchschen via Getty Images)
HIV (06 of10)
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HIV is mostly passed on through unprotected sex but it can also be transmitted by coming into contact with infected blood, the most common example of this is by sharing needles to inject drugs. The virus itself attacks and weakens the immune system, causing your body to struggle to fight infections and diseases. There is still unfortunately no cure for HIV but there are treatments that allow most people to live a long and healthy life. AIDS is the final stage of the HIV infection, where your body can no longer try to fight life threatening infections. A simple blood test is used to test for infection. (credit:Adam Petto via Getty Images)
Syphilis(07 of10)
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Syphilis is a bacterial infection that causes painless but very infectious sores on your genitals or around the mouth in its early stage. The sore usually lasts up to 6 weeks before disappearing. Symptoms that follow this can come in the form of rashes, flu like illness or patchy hair loss. The late stage of syphilis normally occurs many years after you initially contract the infection and can cause very serious conditions such as heart problems, blindness and even paralysis. Like HIV, a simple blood test can determine whether you have the condition or not and can be treated with antibiotics. (credit:Tetra Images via Getty Images)
Pubic Lice(08 of10)
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Pubic lice, or crabs as they are more commonly known, are easily passed to others through close genital contact. Much like head lice, they are usually found in hair, be this in your pubic hair or even in your underarm hair. The lice crawl from hair to hair but don’t jump or fly. They can be treated successfully with special creams or shampoos available over counter so you don’t need to go get the razor out. (credit:Dimitri Otis via Getty Images)
Hepatitis C(09 of10)
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Hepatitis C is a virus that can cause serious and potentially life-threatening damage to your liver. It is most commonly transmitted through the sharing of needles when injecting drugs or steroids, however it can also be spread during unprotected sex. The risk of the disease spread this way is increased if there are genital sores or ulcers from another sexually transmitted infection or if either person has contracted HIV. Hepatitis C is often treated successfully by taking a combination of medicines for several months. (credit:Wavebreakmedia Ltd via Getty Images)
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease(10 of10)
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Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) is caused by an infection developed in the female upper genital tract. In the majority of cases, the condition is caused by a bacterial infection spread from the vagina all the way into the womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries. Although not technically an STI itself, it can be a bi-product of untreated STIS. It is estimated that one in 10 women with untreated Chlamydia will develop PID within a year. The disease can be treated easily and effectively with antibiotics if it’s caught early enough, however if the condition is left untreated it can lead to more serious complications. (credit:Piotr Marcinski via Getty Images)