Campaign Supporters

The criteria for becoming a supporter of VHAC are an agreement that women do have a 'need to know' and have a right to learn about health issues that affect the vulva regardless of social stigma and prejudice, taboo, ignorance, age, sexual discrimination, demographics and statistics.

British Society for the Study of Vulval Diseases (BSSVD)

The National Eczema Society

The Vulval Pain Society (UK)

Femmax Dilators - Medical Devices Technology International Ltd

Royal College of Nurses Gynaecology Forum

Suzi Godson Journalist (Body & Soul page The Times Newspaper)

TV Doctor (Channel 4 Embarrassing Illnesses) Dr Dawn Harper

Stephen Russell - The Barefoot Doctor

Mary Clegg who is well known for working with sexual relationships and has appeared on the 'Trisha' television programme. Mary is a member of the Royal College of Medicine and Sex Counsellor for SAGA online magazine and answer sex questions on their site.

Prescriber Magazine

Blinkcam

Professor Alan Riley, Professor of Sexual Medicine, University of Central Lancashire in the UK who comments:

Unless a woman can be encouraged to have a healthy accepting attitude to her vulva, she will not recognise early manifestations of vulval disease -- we know, for example, that women with cancer of the vulva often present late to the doctor because they have not seen the early signs of the condition because they do not look at their vulvae."

NEW - message board for women of any age who have been diagnosed with any type of vulval cancer or pre-cancerous condition - VIN or Paget's. Please be aware that your name and email address will appear online unless you use an 'assumed' name. When you fill out the email form to submit to the forum, if you leave out your email address your message can remain confidential. Find the message board here. You can also join an online emailing group by emailing to vulvalcancer-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

ABOUT THE VULVAL HEALTH AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

In the last 50 years there has been a revolution in women's health awareness. Never before have women been able to obtain such a wealth of information about health issues. 50 years ago, it would have been impossible for women to speak openly about breast cancer. The breast cancer campaign has banished social prejudices and stigmas that once prevented them from seeking early medical advice and has given women the freedom to talk openly and unashamedly about their condition, the confidence to seek help and gain information about breast cancer.

The vulval health awareness campaign (VHAC) aims to achieve the same enlightened environment for women who endure incurable, uncomfortable, painful, distressing and life threatening vulval disorders, who suffer in isolation, afraid to speak about their problems to anyone, including their husbands, partners, friends and family and their doctors - often too afraid and embarrassed to seek help. For these women, it might just as well be the year 1800. In particular, the Campaign is concerned at the rise in figures for vulval cancer. While cancer of the vulva is considered to be a rare cancer, there are 1000 new diagnosed cases in the UK each year and the figures for mortality are rising at an alarming rate. In comparison to the Testicular Cancer Campaign for men, (another rare cancer) which quotes figures of 2000 new cases a year, vulval cancer is truly invisible. Women are contacting the campaign to ask why this situation is being allowed to exist in the 21st Century, when women would like to talk about their problems openly but are unable to do so because of the continuing stigma about using the word vulva. In truth, the campaign does wonder, somewhat whimsically, what women could put on the front of their teashirts in response to male phrases like 'check your tackle' and 'check your balls'! Would any slang terminology be anymore acceptable than the word vulva? Whichever way you view this subject VHAC is facing considerable challenges.

By promoting vulval self-examination and informing women that not everything that itches around their genitals is thrush, VHAC aims not to frighten but to enlighten and educate.

The everywoman campaign for the vulva

Vulval Self-examination and early diagnosis saves lives

VHAC is the original and first campaign for the vulva and is not associated in any way whatsoever with other organisations who have taken a similar name.

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Registered Charity No: 1117613

Telephone Helpline (+44) 07765 947599

The World's first vulval health awareness campaign