We're uncensoring the language around women+’s bodies

We're uncensoring the language around women+’s bodies

Vagina. Clitoris. Vulva. Discharge.  
 
Just some of the words you can’t say on social media without getting censored.
 
Menstrual health shouldn’t be censored. It makes important subjects, that are already taboo, almost impossible to talk about. It’s affecting our lives and even our health.
 
So, to mark 40 years of Bodyform, we’re uncensoring ‘40 Words You Can't Say’ every day for 40 days, using real people’s stories, artwork and experiences, to open up conversations we need to have. Let’s talk about it.

The nation has spoken

We asked people in the UK – both those who have periods and those who don’t - to tell us which words they don't feel comfortable talking about. We also got their reactions to the surprising terms that are censored or shadowbanned on social media. Here’s what they said.
70%
Don’t know what shadowbanning is or that it regularly happens on social media
2 in 5
Believe the media in censors medical language (ie, labia, clitoris, vulva etc)
85%
Don’t know the word Vagina has been one of the most flagged/banned terms on Facebook
68%
Didn’t know that sharing an educational image of a Vulva could get you banned on Instagram
1 in 5
Self-censor on social media for fear of disapproval
37%
Are self-censoring on Facebook

Here are the ’40 Words You Can’t Say’ and the details of where, how and why they are censored. Check out our social media channels to see the true stories behind them.

Check out the campaign on our social channels: Facebook, Instagram,Tik Tok and Twitter

The muscular tube leading from the external genitals to the cervix at the entrance of uterus. Facebook has flagged and removed posts using this word, while TikTok forbids it outright.
The loss of a baby during the first 23 weeks of pregnancy. As a society, we struggle to open up about miscarriage and don’t let people's stories be heard.
The time of life when ovaries stop producing hormones and periods stop. Can be uncomfortable to talk about, especially as Facebook has removed posts on the topic.
The process of making and releasing milk from the mammary glands in the breasts.
A common and often painful condition where womb-like tissue grows outside of the uterus. Brands and creators have had posts about this topic removed from Facebook and Instagram.
Stands for Premenstrual Syndrome: the symptoms many women+ get about a week before their period, including mood swings, food cravings, fatigue, irritability and depression. Often used as the butt of a joke in popular culture.
Sexual activity between people, including intercourse. A banned word on the latest version of Google's Android operating system – and on TikTok.
In general, infertility is defined as not being able to get pregnant (conceive) after one year (or longer) of unprotected sex. Posts about this sensitive subject are often banned due to Meta's (Facebook and Instagram) policies.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A sometimes painful condition affecting 1 in 10 women+ that alters how the ovaries work.
The climax of sexual excitement, characterised by intensely pleasurable feelings but likely to get content shadowbanned, censored and blocked on several social media platforms.
A highly sensitive organ of the female reproductive system. 'Bleeped out' in multiple scenes on TV shows and posts about it have been removed from TikTok.
A menstrual product designed to be inserted into the vagina to absorb menstrual blood. A banned word on a recent Google Android operating system.
Clear or off-white odourless fluid that keeps the vagina clean and moist. Healthy discharge is totally normal and protects from infection.
A woman+'s breast. Currently, the Facebook Community Standards enforce a total ban on bare-chested images of women+ – but not men.
Part of a woman+'s external genitals, these two inner skin folds surround and protect the vagina from irritation, dryness and infection. A banned prompt on the AI platform, Midjourney.
The larger outer lips of the vulva that enclose and protect the other external genital organs. Women+ are often made to feel insecure about the size and shape of theirs, leading to a rise in labiaplasty surgery
The outer part of the female genitalia. Saying this word in a TikTok caption could get a video taken down.
The flow of blood and other material from the lining of the uterus that marks the first day of the menstrual cycle. Prohibited on broadcast TV as "obscene, indecent, profane content".
Items used to catch or absorb blood flow during the menstrual cycle. The preferred term over ‘sanitary products’ as periods are not 'unhygienic' or 'unsanitary'.
The cramping pain that comes before or during a period. It’s also a pain to say, due to its censorship online and in ads.
The medical term for when an adult woman+ doesn’t ever have periods, even though they aren’t pregnant and haven’t gone through menopause.
A period of hormonal changes when adolescents reach sexual maturity and transition into adulthood. A book about puberty was recently banned in the USA.
The act of feeding breast milk to an infant. Meta (Facebook and Instagram) will often reject breastfeeding-related posts, saying that they contain “adult content".
The narrow lower part of the womb leading into the vagina. A banned word across multiple platforms and their automated censorship systems and on AI platform, Midjourney.
A type of vaginal inflammation caused by the overgrowth of bacteria naturally found in the vagina. Can cause unusual vaginal discharge.
The most common STI, it's usually harmless and usually goes away by itself. Most people who have sex get the HPV at some point in their lives.
A condition where the lining of the womb grows into the muscular wall of the womb, which can lead to heavy, prolonged, and painful periods.
A test to take a closer look at your cervix, vagina and vulva for signs of disease, often done if cervical screening finds changes in cells.
Short underpants worn by women+/girls. Meta (Facebook and Instagram) has been called out for rejecting ads and organic content showing panties on people.
Articles of underwear, especially those of a woman+, images of which will likely be blocked for violating Meta’s (Facebook and Instagram) sexual content policies.
A condition in which the tissue lining the inside of the vagina become thin, dry, and inflamed, often caused by a decrease in estrogen.
The process of ovulation and menstruation. Educational videos about periods are often flagged for breaching TikTok’s community guidelines.
The small raised area on the breast. The Free The Nipple movement aimed to put a stop to the sexualisation of non-male bodies, as images of women+’s nipples are often banned on social media.
Urinary Tract Infection: An often painful infection in any part of the urinary system, including the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. More common in people with vaginas.
Non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the womb (uterus). The growths are made up of muscle and fibrous tissue, and vary in size.
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder: a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) causing uncomfortable emotional and physical symptoms every month.
A painful condition that causes vaginal muscle spasms (due to an unconscious reaction to fear of oncoming vaginal penetration). This word can get your content removed on TikTok.
When one or more of the organs in the pelvis slips down from its normal position, bulging into the vagina.
Menstrual blood is partly blood and partly tissue from inside the uterus. It passes out of the body through the vagina. Bodyform was the first brand to show red “blood” on adverts for period products, instead of blue liquid.
“Panties” may be one of our 40 Words You Can’t Say online, but luckily that doesn’t apply here – because we’ve got an exclusive discount code for our intimawear by Bodyform period pants.   To celebrate 40 Years of Bodyform, you can get £10 off any order over £40 with the code:   BIRTHDAY10
“Panties” may be one of our 40 Words You Can’t Say online, but luckily that doesn’t apply here – because we’ve got an exclusive discount code for our intimawear by Bodyform period pants. To celebrate 40 Years of Bodyform, you can get £10 off any order over £40 with the code: BIRTHDAY10
Shop for intimawear by Bodyform 

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