PARENTS are being urged not to use words such as “front bottom” or “tuppence” when talking to their daughters about vaginas.
Charity chiefs say body parts should not be shrouded in secrecy and mums and dads should use the correct terms.
A poll by Eve Appeal found 44 per cent of parents regularly use euphemisms for privates such as “flower” or “fairy”.
Only 19 per cent use the word “vagina” frequently, while only one per cent use “vulva”.
And 22 per cent of parents admitted that they never refer to female body parts in front of their daughter.
The poll of 1,175 parents also found almost a third only felt it appropriate to use anatomical terms when their daughters were aged 11 or older.
The charity has created Educating Eve — a set of tips to help parents talk honestly with their kids about body parts.
Its chief exec Athena Lamnisos said: “The results of this research show just how wide the knowledge gap is around gynae health.
“We must address both the lack of knowledge and any stigma by opening conversations across the generations about women’s health now to give women the best chance of living healthy lives.”
The survey also found that older women were more comfortable talking about gynaecological health than younger women.
Actor and dad Nigel Havers, who backs the campaign, said: “It is so incredibly important to have honest and open conversations about our children’s and grandchildren’s bodies.
“Educating Eve really opened my eyes to the fact so many people don’t use the proper words for female body parts in their own homes.
“I know my daughter will be having this chat with her own children so we smash those taboos, one conversation at a time.”
