The female body is often viewed as an object of beauty, intrigue and sexuality. When discussing a woman's body many features come to mind: smooth skin, soft lips, the vulva and curvaceous hips and breasts. Hold on, what an earth is a vulva?

In a society where sex, drugs and profanity have become paramount, why is the word vulva considered unmentionable? It is the notion of 'inappropriateness', as well as the embarrassment and shame, affixed to gynaecological conditions that contributes to many preventable female deaths all around the world each year.

For the unaware, the vulva refers to a woman's visible external genitalia. This includes the mons pubis (known as the mount of Venus) the majora labia and labia minora (outer and inner lips), the vestibule (vagina entrance) and the clitoris.

Kathleen Mazzella, founder of GAIN (Gynaecological Awareness Information Network) endured the trauma of being diagnosed and treated for gynaecological cancer. At 42 years old Mrs. Mazzella underwent a vulvectomy resulting in the removal of her entire vulva.

The first Saturday in April 2006 marked the Vulval Awareness Day, a day Mrs. Mazzella has dreamt about. She likened her dream to the desire of owning a Lamborghini. “You’ve worked for it and lived it, breathed it, drank it, smelt it, sexed it, and finally your dream comes true. I had a dream to have a national gynaecological awareness day – which we’ve had. And I have had a dream to have an international vulval awareness day.”

In response to the needs of women throughout the world, Mrs. Mazzella is lobbying for more awareness, funding and research for Gynaecological Cancers and Pre Cancers.

Politician Louise Pratt MLC declared the Vulval Awareness Day open with the ceremonial cutting of a brightly adorned pink ribbon.

“Women really do need to be able to talk openly about their gynaecological health with health professionals and with each other” Ms Pratt said, commending GAIN for the Vulval Awareness Day.

Ms Pratt went on to state the importance of ensuring that “women’s voices are heard by public health professionals, policy makers and politicians. These (gynaecological conditions) are not just medical conditions, they have a profound impact on women’s sense of self and their day to day lives both psychologically and physically.”

“Being female often isn’t much fun. From periods to managing sexual health and negotiating safe sex, to having the confidence to talk to your doctor about sexual reproduction, from thrush to pap smears, to ingrown hairs on your bikini line,” Ms Pratt spoke candidly, “it is actually really refreshing to be able to stand on a public platform and talk so openly about such very personal things associated with being a woman.”

Whilst women have “come some way in lifting the veil from this ‘secret women’s business’” Ms Pratt said that “too many women are still putting their lives at risk from a lack of confidence” which would enable them to negotiate safe sex, have an STI test, get regular pap smears or conduct a vulval self examination.

Melissa Beeck, GAIN member, Science Graduate, pathologist, reflexologist, massage therapist and naturopath to be, assisted in establishing the Vulval Vestibulits Support (VVS) Group. At the Vulval Awareness Day she shared her gynaecological experiences.