For many, the female body is a mystery. The questions that it brings to the table range from interesting to bizarre. However, some of those questions could be easily answered through basic high school, sexual education or even anatomy classes.

Personally, I have run into people who swear that females do not have urethras and that women pee directly out of their vaginas, which, in case you didn’t know, just so happen to be black holes. Yup, things can just get sucked right up there, never to be seen again.

Yeah, no…

Unfortunately, despite the fact that these ridiculous misconceptions could be eradicated by the aforementioned classes, which many high schools require, there are still grown women that believe these things about their bodies. And why?

Because people don’t want to talk about VAGINAS. And why?

Because, apparently VAGINA is perceived as a dirty word. People instead prefer to call it a hoo-ha, a pee-pee, a suzie, or a coochie, giving it all sorts of cutesie-sounding names that only ensure the taboo continues and that nothing serious about that particular bit is ever discussed. Afterall, could you really hold a serious discussion about something called a hoo-ha? People go through so much trouble not to say the word aloud or when they do, they act like it is a big deal or that someone cursed in a church.

I’m sure you’ve seen/heard it or done it yourself, looked around to make sure no one was listening, before going wide-eyed and whispering in awe, “VAGINA.” The simplest and most rational solution would be to call it by its name and be assertive about what it is and what it does (ladies, you know what I’m talking about), thus creating more constructive and educational discussions.

Instead, mere mention of the VAGINA, even if the discussion has nothing to do with the topic of sexual intercourse, is considered by many to be profane. I’m sure there will be people who will criticize me for writing this “disgusting article,” and I am writing through an outlet that focuses on college students.

In many states, the discussion of the anatomy of the female genitalia and reproductive system solely occurs in the students’ sexual education courses or units in a health class. Yet, many students, including girls (boys and their bits but is another topic altogether), do not receive a proper education about the anatomy of their own bodies, as some believe this will encourage them to have sex. But this only contributes to the misconceptions that are passed down generationally, such as the falsehood that the hymen is a definitive indicator of virginity, that vaginal penetration is the only thing that leads to pregnancy, or that women can’t get pregnant when menstruating. It’s not at all; it’s really not, and, yes, you can!

I’m not a gynecologist, or a doctor. Not even close, but I am a woman, who knows enough about her body to say that I know the basics of what’s going on. Ladies, if you haven’t had these (what shouldn’t be) awkward conversations, you’ve done yourselves a disservice. Don’t get me wrong. There’s a time and a place. Christmas dinner with Great Uncle Benjy probably isn’t it, but these are conversations that we all need to have. And be a friend! Don’t let your girlfriends think that their periods and pee come from the same place, wherever they think that may be, or that they can get pregnant just from kissing. Educate each other; help each other, and don’t be afraid to use the V(AGINA)-word.