As a gynecological cancer surgeon, I’m glad to see some myths about vulvas and vaginas being debunked (Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Vaginas… But Were Too Afraid to Google, November 2). However, it is disappointing that you used images of vulvas when you only use vaginas in the title, thus undermining myth #1 in the article (that the vagina is the name for the entire genital area). It would also have been useful to encourage people to check their vulvas, get used to their normal situation and be aware of changes. Unfortunately, I see many women who develop vulvar cancer late in life because they “didn’t know you could get cancer there.”
Dr Jo Morrison
Taunton, Somerset
It was great that you decided to demystify the vulva, but there was inherent misogyny in the piece. “The clitoris is a mini-penis” is something your author says is “true,” but why is it assumed that the male is the norm and the female is a deviant or different version? Maybe the penis is actually just a (usually) slightly larger version of the clitoris?
B.J. Woodstein
Norwich