On this day in 1969 a man walked on the moon. Meanwhile, you couldn't buy adhesive menstrual pads in a shop because they didn't go on sale until later that year.
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Vagina Museum
@vagina_museum@masto.ai
mastodon 4.7.2World's first bricks and mortar museum dedicated to vaginas, vulvas and the gynae anatomy.
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Joined November 08, 2022
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But thankfully, you don't need the technological equivalent of that kid at school who told weird lies to show you what a menstrual cup really looks like in the body. Science has you covered. This is an MRI scan of a menstrual cup inside the vagina. It sits around the cervix.
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📢 Public Cervix Announcement 📢
We got hacked today! If you received an email from info(at)vaginamuseum today with an invite to a networking event, please ignore. It has been reported and security measures have been taken.
We apologise for any confusion caused.
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Happy Father's Day to all dads and daddies with the gynaecological anatomy. We don't just mean trans men here. There are multiple medical cases studies of cis men who have fathered children and later been discovered to have gynae organs, so happy Father's Day to you too https://masto.ai/@vagina_museum/109903208160263548
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But that's exactly how generative AI works. We explored how ChatGPT is working *exactly as it is designed to do* when it generated this horrifying pregnant penis-rectum image https://masto.ai/@vagina_museum/115100134755954006
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However, menstrual fluid does not typically look like strawberry milkshake and if it does, then you'll probably want to see a doctor about that. But that's the least of our worries. More importantly, menstrual cups absolutely do not go inside the body, particularly not somehow through some sort of small opening in what appears to be the bladder.
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And believe us, you are not going to get a decent diagram of the gynaecological anatomy using generative AI. We tried. We used "good prompts". But the tech is doing exactly what it's supposed to do, which is making shit up vaguely based on proper actual sources that it's eaten. https://masto.ai/@vagina_museum/115231068737126436
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In the interests of fairness, we'll start with what the diagram got right. Sometimes there is endometrium inside a menstrual cup, because endometrial cells form a part of menstrual fluid. That's it, that's the post on what the image got right.
What do you wish you had known before you had your first period?
Across the world menstruation continues to be shrouded in stigma, shame, and silence. Millions of children face their menarche without knowing what it is, why it’s happening, what it’s called, or what to do. Too often, the answers to these questions are only found through an individual’s own experience.
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And here's some more fun facts about the (presumable) vagina which differ somewhat from what this diagram tells you:
-The pubic symphysis is not inside the vagina
-Neither is the bladder
-And neither is the sacrum
All of these bits are nearby the vagina and might appear on a diagram with it, but are definitely not inside it.
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Exercising your pelvic floor if you have a vagina is very important. It can prevent or treat incontinence, treat prolapses, keep your pelvic floor strong if you are pregnant or planning on getting pregnant… and best of all, increase or enhance sexual pleasure!
If you are sitting while reading this, you may be in a position to get started right away!
In our current exhibition, Menopause: What’s Changed?, we ask visitors to consider the language we use to describe menopause and menopausal people. Language matters, it reflects and reinforces stereotypes entwined with misogyny, ageism, and ableism.
How, then, might we rethink our language? How can we reclaim existing language and how might we introduce new language into the mix?
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Nevertheless, in the 18th century attempts were made to gender the term "midwife". The phrase "man-midwife" entered the vocabulary of physicians to describe male doctors who had recently got interested in attending births.
Then, physician John Maubray decided he didn't like that so coined his own term, the catchy "Andro-boethogynist" (man who helps women). Suffice to say, he did not make "Andro-boethogynist" happen.
📢 Call for Submissions 📢
Lip Service Issue 6 is on the shelf, which means it’s time to start work on Issue 7. We’re so excited to see what you come up with for the next theme: On Ageing.
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We'll start off by finding the right muscles to work. To find your pelvic floor muscles, imagine you're trying to hold in a fart. That little squeeze is your pelvic floor muscles at work. Alternatively, imagine you're trying to stop peeing mid-stream. The pelvic floor muscles also control this, but it's important not to do your exercises while peeing as this can create urinary problems.
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Pelvic floor exercises aren’t just for people with vaginas. Again, they play a role in maintaining continence, and also you can make your penis bounce up and down, which is a cool party piece.
While you don't need any specialist equipment to do your pelvic floor exercises, some people find an app helpful for reminders. The NHS Squeezy app sets reminders, gives you a timer, and helps you track your pelvic floor symptoms: https://squeezyapp.com
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P.S. You can also just buy the BIG BOI stickers for £4 a pop!
https://vaginamuseumshop.co.uk/collections/stickers/products/limited-edition-big-boy-pride-stickers
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You can read more about Maria Friburg and colleagues' 2023 research into biofilms and the positioning of menstrual cups here - the perfect palate cleanser to the in utero strawberry milkshake! https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10475951/
This Thursday we'll be recognising World Menstrual Health Day alongside Free to Bleed, a data-driven advocacy and art project for menstrual justice.
Some key facts:
🩸 Around the world, 1.8 billion people menstruate every month.
🩸 In the UK, 2 million girls miss a day of school each month because of their period
🩸 75% of surveyed asylum seekers who menstruate reported struggling to obtain period products.
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When doing your pelvic floor exercises, try not to hold your breath, tense your abs, or tense your buttocks. You might end up making a funny face while exercising, like a look of intense concentration. We regret to inform you that's perfectly normal.
The first set of exercises is endurance exercises. This builds strength in your pelvic floor.
Give your pelvic floor muscles a squeeze and hold for a count of four. Release, and rest for the same amount of time. Repeat this ten times.
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there is, simply put, absolutely no good evidence on whether one species of bacteria is better than others in protection because the vaginal microbiome is not well-researched yet
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Do each set as often as you can to maintain a strong and healthy pelvic floor. While the exercises themselves are simple, part of the challenge is remembering to do them. But since you can do them anywhere, at any time, and it only takes a minute or two, you can find the time!
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Unlike a run or a gym session, pelvic floor exercises can be done anywhere, anytime. So why not create a habit of doing your pelvic floor exercises while waiting for your ice lolly to freeze, or putting on your suncream, or between Liverpool Street and Bethnal Green, or standing in a queue? Find times that suit you!
A rare detour for the Museum, but if you have a penis, you can do your pelvic floor exercises too.
At we swelter under another heatwave, let's dust off our guide to keeping your vulva as happy as possible, dearest moist goblins @vagina_museum@masto.ai
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With more experience, you can try holding for longer, up to a maximum of ten seconds. Just be sure to rest for the same amount of time between reps.
Next up is the quick squeezes. These are useful because sometimes in life you'll need to react quickly, like when you sneeze.
Squeeze as hard as you can, and release. Repeat this ten times.
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We’re interested, then, in explorations of what ageing, growing up or growing old means. What does it mean to ‘get old’? Or to age gracefully? Who gets to decide? How are ideas about gender, about disability, sexuality, aesthetics, and power entangled in getting older? How is ageing differently understood, experienced, thought about around the world?
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What’s your Kegel Face?
Our Pelvic Appeal is well and truly underway, and we are keen to encourage and challenge you to learn more about your pelvic floor. See our last post about how to find the muscles we’re talking about.
Have you been doing your pelvic floor exercises*?
💪 Squeeze and hold for 4 seconds, then relax for 4 seconds. Repeat 10 times. As you get stronger, gradually build up to 10 second holds.
⭐ Then do 10 quick squeezes.
🔁 Do a few times a day!
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Societies all over the world track the passing of time in different ways, commemorating milestones at different occasions. A child’s first laugh, menarche, a voice breaking, going off to university or landing your first job, the first time it hurts to sit on the floor, menopause, that red Ferrari purchase, the passing down of an heirloom or a first dance. Some, but not all, of these milestones are marked in the body and the body is where so much of the trepidation around ageing lives.
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Vagina Museum Lates
Come by after 7pm on Wednesday 15th July, enjoy a cocktail, tour the permanent exhibit and see our exhibitions after dark.
📅 15th July
🕰️ 7.00pm
📍 Vagina Museum
💸 PWYC / £10 (including a drink) / £20 (including drink and tour)
Book: https://www.outsavvy.com/event/37546/vagina-museum-lates
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Menarche is a moment of change, of transformation. It shouldn’t be shamed or shrouded in secrecy. Talking about it can be scary, but it also opens a door to connection.
What do YOU wish you had known?
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And another new Cliterati member. Here's a pun especially for you:
Pubic domain
Link has now been fixed!
Enjoy 10% off our World Menstrual Health Day 2026 collection all week with BLOODYBRILLIANT.
🏆Nominate us for a Movement for Good award🏆
The Movement for Good Health & Wellbeing special draw is live for another five hole days, and the Vagina Museum has the chance to receive a quim-credible £5,000.
Every nomination really does make a difference, and it only takes a minute to complete. You can nominate us here: https://movementforgood.com/draws/special/health-wellbeing/?cn=1182022&ct=health#nominateACharity
Thank you for supporting us!
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Welcome to the Cliterati! Here's a pun for you:
Smooth Quiminal (Fanny Are You Okay?)
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Before the Blood: Community and Belonging from Menarche to Migration is still on display, Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 6pm.
//
Nisaba is a grassroots organisation that provides holistic, trauma-informed, menstrual, sexual and reproductive health and wellbeing services for migrants. Follow their work and donate if you can! https://www.nisaba.org.uk/
EVENTS ROUND UP
Well, firstly, remember we've got new opening hours to make the most of that precious British daylight. From 3rd June, we are open Wednesday to Sunday, 12pm to 7pm.
Come inside and get out of the heat this summer!🌞🔥
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Bloody Mary Film Club presents... Jennifer's Body
💋BLOOD! GUTS! GIRLHOOD!💋
The Bloody Mary Film Club is back at the Vagina Museum for a special summer screening of the cult favorite, Jennifer's Body.
📅 23rd July
🍸 7:15pm
🎥 7:30pm
Tickets from £7.50
Book: https://www.outsavvy.com/event/37504/bloody-mary-film-club-presents-jennifers-body
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here's a thread from the archives on the vaginal microbiome and the limitations of paid-for vaginal microbiome test kits https://masto.ai/@vagina_museum/112479015794738044
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And just before our social media person clocks off, one more £3 donor squeaked in. So here's a pun just for you:
Muff and nonsense
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@ross@hachyderm.io it *might* be that we're mentally rounding down fees and got confused
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We invite submissions, both written and visual, exploring these ideas. The zine is a collaborative, mixed media project so we encourage not only written submissions, but visual submissions also.
For a full description of the sections check out our website: https://www.vaginamuseum.co.uk/lip-service
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Positive East Pop-up
Positive East will be popping up at the Vagina Museum. Come learn about the a holistic range of health and wellbeing programmes from counselling, peer support and information and advice to HIV testing and HIV prevention outreach the organisation has developed over the last 30 years.
No need to register, just come say hi!
📅 24th July
🕰️ 12.00pm - 5.00pm
📍 Vagina Museum