Why Naming the Pelvic Floor Matters
When we were kids, many of us were never taught the proper names for our pelvic floor and sexual anatomy. Instead, we were given “cute” words: your flower, your foofoo, your china.
At first glance, those nicknames might feel harmless — even protective. But what happens when the words we grow up with don’t match the truth of our bodies?
We learn silence. We learn shame.
The Problem With Euphemisms
When parts of the body are given nicknames instead of their real names, the message is clear:
These areas are too shameful to say out loud.
And then, years later, when pelvic floor dysfunction shows up — leaks, prolapse, pain, or heaviness — many women don’t have the vocabulary to explain what’s going on. Without words, it becomes harder to ask for help, harder to describe symptoms, and harder to advocate for care.
This isn’t just about embarrassment — it’s about access to support.
Your Body Already Has Names
The pelvic floor is complex and brilliant. It’s not just one thing, but a network of muscles, fascia, nerves, and organs working together to support your body from the inside out.
Here are some of the key players — and what they actually do:
Vulva – The entire external genital area, including the mons pubis, labia majora and minora, clitoris, urethral opening, and the entrance to the vagina. It’s what you see on the outside — not just one part, but the whole external structure.
Vagina – The muscular canal that connects the vulva to the uterus. It allows for menstrual flow, sexual function, and childbirth, and is surrounded by supportive pelvic floor muscles that help it stay responsive and healthy.
Uterus – A muscular organ that sits in the pelvis, supported by ligaments and the pelvic floor below. It plays a vital role in menstruation, pregnancy, and overall pelvic balance.
Levator ani – A group of sling-like muscles (pubococcygeus, puborectalis, and iliococcygeus) forming the central part of the pelvic floor. They lift and support the pelvic organs, help control continence, and respond reflexively to movement and breath.
Obturator internus – A deep hip muscle that lines the side wall of the pelvis. It stabilises the hip, connects into the pelvic floor through fascia, and influences how the pelvic sling functions.
Coccygeus – A triangular muscle at the back of the pelvic floor, running from the sacrum and coccyx to the ischium. It helps support the tailbone, contributes to pelvic stability, and works alongside the levator ani.
Together, these structures don’t just “hold things up.” They support your bladder, bowel, and uterus; they coordinate with your diaphragm and deep core for breathing and posture; and they adapt with every movement you make.
These aren’t dirty words. They are accurate, anatomical terms. Knowing them allows us to describe, understand, and ultimately heal.
A Simple Visualisation to Map Your Pelvic Floor
Sit comfortably on a chair or on the floor.
Place one hand lightly on your pubic bone at the front and another on your tailbone at the back. Imagine a sling of muscle stretching between them.
Now find your sitting bones under each side of your pelvis. Imagine another sling stretching side to side. Together, these points form a diamond-shaped “hammock.”
Within this hammock, picture the vulva at the front opening. Above and within the sling sit the vagina and uterus, supported by the muscles below. The levator ani muscles form the main bowl-like lift in the centre, the obturator internus lines the side walls of the pelvis, and the coccygeus anchors the back near the tailbone.
How the Pelvic Floor Moves With Breath
The pelvic floor doesn’t just switch “on and off” — it moves in a three-dimensional rhythm with every breath.
As you inhale: the diaphragm descends and the rib cage widens. The pelvic outlet bones subtly shift — the sit bones widen, the sacrum tips — creating space in the pelvic bowl. This allows the pelvic floor to lengthen and extend while also experiencing a gentle lifting action from the bony changes beneath it.
As you exhale: the diaphragm rises, the rib cage narrows, and pressure decreases. The pelvic floor responds by drawing inward and upward, like a hammock naturally recoiling to support the organs above.
👉 Try it now: Take a slow breath in. Imagine your pelvic floor softening and spreading as the pelvic outlet opens, while the tissues themselves subtly extend and lift. As you exhale, picture the hammock drawing inward and upward, supporting you from within.
This isn’t about “doing” anything perfectly — it’s about naming and knowing your pelvic floor, and reclaiming it as part of your body you can feel, speak about, and connect with confidently.
Why I Use Adjusted Spellings on Social Media
On Instagram and other platforms, words like vagina or vulva can sometimes get flagged or hidden. That’s why you’ll sometimes see me write them with symbols — v@gina, v.ulva, c0ccygeus.
Not because these words are bad.
Not because they need to be censored.
But because I want this message to reach as many women as possible.
The censorship is frustrating, but the solution is not to stop naming our bodies. It’s to get even louder in all the spaces we can.
Taking Back Power
If you grew up with euphemisms, it’s not your fault. But you can change the story for yourself — and for the next generation.
Say the words out loud. Teach them to your children. Use them in conversation.
Because when we name the pelvic floor, we take away the shame.
And when we take away the shame, we take back our power.
✨ Your vulva, your vagina, your pelvic floor. They’re not taboo. They’re yours.
