Hey girl. The Beautiful Cervix Project wants you to know you’re beautiful on the inside. Way, way in.
The project uses workshops and toolkits to help women explore the deepest parts of their vaginas, all to show them how “beautiful” their cervixes are. The official website is packed with info about the mighty cervix and the joys of examining it.
First question: do we really need to see that? Errrr nope, no we do not. BUT if you’ve never read about the wonders of cervical self-examinations (like me, until right now), you might be surprised – these babies do more than help birth babies. Cervixes are the shit.
Apparently if you get to know your cervix really well, you can tell where in your cycle you are by looking at its position and texture. The project’s website says this is a great addition to your “empowered woman toolbox.” It also says that your cervix can tell you if you’re pregnant! Whoa. (But even if you and your cervix are on speaking terms, doctors, midwives, doulas, and the good old E.P.T. are still best at answering that question for you, obvs.)
These donuts are not pregnant.
So how can you meet this wise, beautiful cervix of yours? The project’s simple formula: speculum + flashlight + mirror = “awe-inspiring self-exploration.” For some it might be more ‘agh!’ than ‘awe,’ but to each her own.
Check out the toolkit:
A speculum (small, medium, or long), a mirror, an instruction sheet, lube, and that sweet “Love Thy Cervix” flashlight.
You can also keep the money in your pockets and ask to keep a speculum the next time you go in to get tested or examined by a pro – doctors often use disposable ones. And if you’re curious, this video shows you how to take a picture of your cervix once you’ve got those duck bills in hand.
The project’s website publishes some of these pics in a cervix gallery – NSFW and not for the squeamish! – that you can visit here. Judging by the comments, it seems the Beautiful Cervix Project has helped many people see their cervixes for the first time, even helping them find the “first blood” of their cycles before it even hits their undies. Sheesh.
My eyeballs are not interested in seeing that, but it’s undeniable that learning about our bodies is a really good idea. If it tickles your fancy, scoop up an empowerment kit and get on your way to achieving deeper knowledge of your awesome body. Or just head to the Beautiful Cervix Project website and poke around.
Photos via The Beautiful Cervix Project and Growing Up Veg.
