When's the last time you checked your vagina? The health check you're probably missing.

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Have you felt the inside of your vagina lately?

For many of us, the answer is no. For some of us, the response may even illicit shock or disgust. But, for all of us? It's the health check you NEED to start doing. Now.

We check our breasts from lumps and look at our skin for new moles or freckles, but our vulva and vaginal canal is getting overlooked. Yet your pelvic floor, vaginal walls, the tissues that support your bladder, uterus and bowel, labia and clitoris are key components when it comes to keeping you healthy.

The sad fact is most women have never looked, touched or assessed any of it.

Overlooking it could prove dangerous.

Listen: The subtle signs of gynae cancers we might be dismissing as something else. Post continues below.

What's the heck's an internal check?

Let's start by myth-busting. Your internal check is not replacing a pap smear or cervical cancer screening. It's a way to understand what your body feels and looks like which will give you a baseline for future checks.

I always recommend doing it in the shower — it's warm, cosy, and you're probably already relaxed (unless you've got a toddler throwing a tantrum at the bathroom door).

Slide your clean index finger up the vaginal canal.

What are you feeling for once there?

You'll want to note the skin texture, while also feeling for bumps, bulges or restrictions.

There should never be pain. If there is, please reach out to your health professional.

When doing the self check you will want to note skin texture, while feeling for bumps, bulges or restrictions. Image: Canva.

The bulges and what they mean.

Bumps and bulges could signal prolapse — a condition where your bladder, bowel and/or uterus start to descend into the vaginal canal. Up to 50 per cent of women will experience a level of prolapse at some stage in their life and many times, treatment isn't required (because the prolapse is minor and doesn't cause symptoms).

But, it's important to know what your baseline is, so that if things change, whether it's next month, next year or in a decade, you'll be the first to notice and reach out to your health pro for personalised advice.

So, run your finger along the front wall (the bladder side) and the back wall (the bowel side) and the roof (where the cervix sits) and pay attenion; does anything feelbulgy? Heavy? Lower than expected?

These can be early signs of prolapse.

So take note and talk to your pelvic floor physio or women's health specialist because prolapse is much easier to treat early when symptomsare mild.

The grip strength.

The next part of the check is feeling your pelvic floor.

While your finger is in the vaginal canal, contract your pelvic floor — aiming to grip around the finger and gently lift the finger deeper into the canal. You should feel two distinct movements — the initial contract and then the lift. And, just as importantly, release around the finger and feel the grip completely relax.

You want to make sure there's a clear difference in pressure between the contraction and the relaxation of the pelvic floor. Why? Both are key to helping reduce risk of leaks (incontinence), prolapse, constipation, libido issues, painful sex, and struggles holding a tampon in.

If you feel gripping, burning, a lack of release or nothing at all, it's nothing to be ashamed of.

Treat it as useful information and book an assessment with a pelvic floor physio or gyno.

The skin test.

Another little-known fact is that if you've birthed vaginally, especially with tears or stitches, scar tissue can stay tight or sensitive for years.

Feel along the walls of the vaginal canal and perineum for ridges, a firm lane or patch or even a tiny knot, which could be signs of scar tissue. Then check whether you feel any spots that are tight or restrictive. The tricky thing about scar tissue is that it can be hypersensitive (like super sensitive) or hyposensitive (lesssensitive).

Regardless, it's important to start doing some scar tissue massage or touch to try and reduce the sensitivity and restriction — leaving it can cause pain,discomfort and dysfunction down the track.

But, I feel weird about doing an internal! Society has long taught us that our vulva and vagina are steeped in shame and secrecy, so it's no surprise many of us feeling a lil' uncomfortable the first time we do an internal.

Your vulva plays a key part in your health and longevity. By ignoring it, you can risk dysfunction, infection, leakage, prolapse and a lack lustre (or even painful) sex life.

Should everyone do an internal check?

Almost everyone.

I recommend skipping your self-check if you're:

• Within the first 6 weeks postpartum – things are still healing, so we want to avoid any touching that could increase your risk of infection

• Experiencing persistent pelvic pain – don't ever push through pain; reach out to your health professional for help

• Have an active infection – we want to avoid worsening any current infections!

• Have been advised against it by your health practitioner – always go with the advice from your personal practitioner. Why? They know your body and medical history.

Feature Image: Canva.