This gynecologist reveals what no one dares to ask during a consultation

“We don’t think it’s strange to look inside the vagina,” says Mieke Kerkhof. She is a gynaecologist, columnist and writer. “I know it’s not nice in that chair, but women shouldn’t feel embarrassed. We doctors, despite our routine, must be aware of uncertainties. By discussing everything shamelessly.”

What is the most frequently asked question during a gynecological examination?

“’Can my socks stay on?’ People feel embarrassed when they stand naked in front of me and don’t know what to do. Of course you can keep your socks on, because I don’t have to be near the feet. And it’s nice and warm.”

Another one that passes regularly: Doctor, won’t you pay attention to my pubic hair? Kerkhof: “I don’t think anyone needs to shave. That gives you pimples and ingrown hairs. Simply wash with lukewarm water – no soap – is sufficient.”

Will my vagina get wrinkles as I get older?

“In general, the skin ages after the age of thirty. Also the skin of the vulva. When you are in menopause, your skin is even less elastic. You then get wrinkles on the labia. You also become less tight. Although the labia will not drop due to gravity. What you do see is that the labia minora seem to disappear completely.”

Tight thongs are sometimes the reason: they make your labia bulge over the fabric. Changing underwear can help.

She continues: “I don’t notice that women are insecure about this. I mainly see younger women who have their labia corrected. That word ‘correction’ makes no sense. Labia is always good and we don’t cut back on healthy meat. Tight thongs are sometimes a cause: they make your labia protrude over the fabric and that can be uncomfortable. Changing underwear can help. If you have trouble cycling, I think: men have a whole scrotum hanging and that works too.”

Can ovaries really rattle?

“That is an expression that stands for wanting to have children. Separately, ovaries are connected to the uterus and abdominal wall via ligaments. They can twist if they get too big and heavy. This is called a torsion. Although rare, it is very acute and painful. You must have surgery as soon as possible.”

“Some women feel ovulation. That is possible if you are not on the pill. When ovulation occurs, a hole appears in the ovaries and sometimes blood ends up in the abdomen. This may cause mild pain, but is nothing serious. So no, they can’t rattle.”

Does a baby get a pointy head from a suction cup?

“No, but from the birth. Contractions cause fluid to accumulate at the deepest point in the abdomen, in the birth canal. With a child in the cephalic position, the very tip of his head is there. There will be a lot of pressure on that part for a long time. You either have a pointed head or a face with thick lips and eyes if the face is deepest. It looks ugly, but it will heal quickly.”

Women find it difficult if they have to defecate during pushing. Sometimes the delivery room really smells like feces.

“In other words, you can tell from the skull how a baby was lying. A pointed head is good, because then the baby is not breech. We use a suction cup when the mother is too exhausted to push, it is better than a caesarean section. It is not harmful, although you do have to warn your partner about the strange sight. If women find it traumatic, they should be helped afterwards. The suction cup creates a very round head and that also disappears.”

Can an IUD fall out if you exercise too enthusiastically?

“I get that question regularly, but no. A well-placed coil stays perfectly in place, surrounded by the uterine muscle.”

What do women eat during childbirth?

“Not too much, because you often have to vomit during childbirth. Choose something easily digestible such as some yogurt. Grape sugars also provide energy. Women find it difficult to defecate while pushing. Sometimes the delivery room really smells like feces. That is also why it is best to eat light or you can take a laxative beforehand, which also happens.”

Is having a lot of sex during pregnancy dangerous?

“If the placenta is in front of the uterine outlet, yes. Then it can bleed and that is the baby’s blood. But women know when this is the case and are vigilant. When you have an orgasm at the end of pregnancy, the uterus can contract. This can be a burden for a baby that is too small, so be careful. You may also bleed a little faster after sex because of a better blood supply to the cervix. Completely harmless. And no, the baby doesn’t feel it and doesn’t get any dents from your sex.”

The clitoris, as the patient association puts it, is, as it were, buried alive.

Can the vagina close up?

“There is a skin condition that can cause this: LSEAV (lichen sclerosus et atrophicans vulvae, ed). Most likely it is an autoimmune disease that affects the body’s own tissues. The condition manifests itself more severely at the beginning of menopause. Patients complain of pain and itching. The clitoris, as the patient association puts it, is, as it were, buried alive.”

“The labia minora disappear and the opening of the vagina becomes smaller. It is a very annoying condition that does not go away, unfortunately. Men can also get this disease. LSEAV is rare, it is unknown exactly how often.”

Why do some babies defecate in the amniotic fluid?

“When you are stressed, relieving yourself is a mechanism of your body. Sometimes a baby does its business out of sheer boredom, especially after 41 weeks. But also if the child is in need, for example because the contractions are too intense. Since we don’t know the reason, we have to monitor it immediately in the hospital. If you give birth at home and the amniotic fluid is green, you must go to a hospital immediately. It can be very dangerous for the child’s lungs.”

Can anything disappear in a vagina?

“There is a lot of space: you can squeeze a four-kilo child out of it. Sometimes one or more condoms are left behind, with or without one cock ring. Also seen: deodorant caps for masturbation purposes. Difficult to remove because a vacuum has been created. And pieces of cucumber or banana. It leads to foul-smelling discharge. Most women take this to the emergency room, where a gynecologist simply fishes the item out with a duck’s bill.”

How many children are born on the due date?

“About 3 percent. I advise women at the beginning of pregnancy not to cling to that one date, but to realize that it is in fact a due period that is between 37 and 42 weeks.”

This article previously appeared on HLN.