(ETX Daily Up) – Whether it’s endometriosis, menstruation, abortion or STI, women still face many obstacles to the idea of talking about their sexual health. This is revealed by a new survey, according to which nearly one in two women finds it difficult to discuss these subjects with those around them.
No, periods are not “dirty” or “shameful”. In recent years, Instagram accounts, associations, podcastsdocumentaries or books all work around a common goal: to break down the taboos that persist around menstruation.
Yet periods still top the list of sexual and reproductive health taboos. According to this survey carried out for the medical application Livi*, 15% of respondents find it difficult to speak freely about this subject with their loved ones.
This is not the only subject about which the French women surveyed find it difficult to engage. Sexually transmitted infections are, for example, associated with a “feeling of shame” in 24% of them. Menstrual periods come in third place (15%) of these taboos, tied with endometriosisa gynecological disease that affects approximately one in ten women, yet has been heavily publicized (and therefore disinvisibilized) in recent years.
The embarrassment experienced on these specific themes seems intimately linked to age. For example, menopause is at the bottom of the list (only 6% of women concerned say they have trouble talking about it with those around them). Conversely, respondents aged between 18 and 34 are the ones who express the most difficulty in broaching these subjects, in particular those related to pregnancy and abortion (23%).
However, the survey reveals a generalized embarrassment of all ages since, overall, 46% of the women questioned consider that “it is difficult to confide in those around you”. Teleconsultation is also mentioned as an effective lever “to free speech”. The women questioned believe that this mode of consultation helps to somewhat reduce inhibitions about talking about subjects relating to intimate health (compared to medical practices).
*Study carried out by YouGov Direct for Livi on March 2, 2022 among 453 women aged 18 to 54.
Lea Drouelle