I love vagina. I love it as a word, I love it as a magical treasure-chest that can create life, and I love it in the looser sense of the word (heh heh heh) because I like to have sex with girls. So I was pretty excited when Carefree got in touch about a new ad they were launching.

The TVC will be launching on 15th July and will use the word ‘vagina’ – it is the first time in New Zealand for it to be used in a TVC. Carefree is encouraging women to be open and honest and is taking the same approach with this campaign. The TVC has come about following research showing women want to talk about feminine hygiene in a more direct, open and honest manner.

Amazing, no blue liquids! No oh so hilarious beaver friends! No “down there” vagueness. About bloody time! So when Carefree asked if I would be keen to be a spokesperson about the ads (and vaginal discharge in general, I guess?), I was so in, and gave them this quote to use ““It’s great to see a campaign that encourages those who have vaginas* to talk about them. Your personal health should never be an icky taboo subject, no matter what part of the body you’re dealing with”

Cos it’s true. A healthy vagina is a well oiled self-cleaning love machine, and you’ll probably have discharge. I get more before my periods (well, when my periods actually show up, but that’s another story), and I know it’s cyclical. It’s only if your discharge changes colour, or is itchy or smelly that you should be worried. And by smelly I don’t mean like the faint musk that no one else would ever notice unless they had their head buried between your legs and in which case they’d be far too happy and turned on to notice anyway. You might get the super fun cottage cheesy discharge that usually means a yeast infection, or if you’re treating your thrush you might be oozing out canestan cream, or maybe you just get really really turned on all the time. If your panties are getting wet for whatever reason, you can choose to wear a liner to make yourself more comfortable, and if you think something is wrong, you should see a doctor. And don’t be afraid to talk about it okay?

I got interviewed by the Sunday Star Times, which you can read here http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/7281485/Vagina-ad-reference-a-break-in-TV-taboo – but I don’t recommend reading the comments because they’re so depressing. The idea that the word ‘vagina’ is offensive is offensive, frankly.

So tell me about your discharge, my friends! Or tell me how you feel about the word ‘vagina’ on TV.

* Not all people who have vaginas identify as women, and not all women have vaginas. I was super super careful in my wording.