Some Britons prefer to keep such nicknames secret.
However, a new survey has found that a surprisingly large proportion of Britons use more specific terms to refer to their genitals.
According to a survey of 2,000 Britons, four in ten women prefer ‘down there’ to vagina, and a fifth prefer ‘vajayjay’.
Men fared no better, with one in four admitting to using ‘knob’ instead of penis, with one in ten even calling it ‘schlong’.
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Yet more than half of respondents believed understanding of sexual health in the US would be better if we all used the correct anatomical names, a survey conducted by Superdrug and sexual health charity Brook found.
This is according to a YouGov survey which found that almost half of Britons don’t even know where their vagina is. And it’s not just men who don’t know.
It turned out that almost half of the women could not label their vagina.
And about half of both sexes didn’t know where the labia were.
According to the Family Planning Association (FPA), understanding the female body can help men and women with sex, relationships, getting pregnant and preventing pregnancy.
To help people stand up for their own sexual health rather than tiptoeing around this taboo, Superdrug is calling on people to talk more openly about their bodies and sexual health.
The ‘Reclaim the Name’ campaign poll found that more than a third (39 percent) of Britons believe poor sex education negatively impacts their understanding of sex.
Meanwhile, nearly two-thirds (65 percent) said using the correct anatomical names – vulva and penis – would reduce the stigma and shame surrounding sexual health and pleasure.
According to a survey of 2,000 Britons, four in ten women prefer ‘down there’ to vagina, and a fifth prefer ‘vajayjay’. Men fared no better, with one in four admitting to using ‘knob’ instead of penis. One in ten even called it ‘schlong’.
Simon Comins, Chief Commercial Officer at Superdrug, said: ‘Our research shows there is still a huge stigma around having open and honest conversations about such important topics.
‘This campaign and the measures we are taking, including trialling sexual health clinics and removing VAT on key sexual health products, will hopefully help break down these barriers and make people feel more comfortable taking control of their sexual health.’
Rebecca Shutt, Assistant Director of Education and Wellbeing at Brooks, added: ‘We know that stigma is one of the biggest barriers to people accessing sexual health services.
“If people feel too uncomfortable or ashamed to talk about their bodies, they won’t have the confidence to seek help when they need it.
‘That’s why sexual health knowledge is so important.
“When people know the correct anatomical terms for body parts, they have the tools they need to communicate effectively with healthcare professionals.
“It can also help them talk more openly and honestly with their partners about sex, consent and pleasure.”
Sex, and intimacy in general, has been linked to a range of health benefits, including better heart health, lower stress, and even better mental health.
But recent trends show that prudish Brits aren’t having as much sex as they used to.
According to a survey of 2,000 adults by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) earlier this year, men and women play an average of just 46 times a year, or once every eight days.
Research published this week also found that nationally, only 55 percent of Britons reported having sex at least once a week – 59 percent of men and 51 percent of women.
London residents scored well above the national average, with 67 percent reporting having a romantic relationship at least once a week.