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A survey of 2,000 women found that one in ten couldn't correctly identify a diagram of the female reproductive system. The results were revealing: nearly one in four misidentified the [private part], almost half (46%) couldn't properly identify the cervix, and six in ten mistook the uterus for a different body part.

The good news? Fifty-seven percent of those surveyed admitted they don't know as much about women's anatomy as they should, and 42% said they wished they had a better understanding of their own bodies.

To help close that knowledge gap, one person on Threads asked women to share the most valuable thing a gynecologist had ever told them that every woman should know. The responses poured in, with hundreds of women sharing advice, misconceptions, and little-known facts that deserve to be common knowledge. Here are some of the most-liked replies.

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#1

Women Share The Advice From Their Gynecologists They’ll Never Forget 1 in 4 pregnancies end in a miscarriage.
The most common cause of a miscarriage is chromosomal abnormalities.
If you have a miscarriage, it’s likely nothing you did, it’s not your fault, and you’re not alone.

woefulwhimsy , Getty Images / Unsplash Report

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    #2

    Women Share The Advice From Their Gynecologists They’ll Never Forget “If it was supposed to smell like flowers then it would.”

    User , Fellipe Ditadi / Unsplash Report

    #3

    Women Share The Advice From Their Gynecologists They’ll Never Forget If she says, “it’s just a pinch,” or “it’s just uncomfortable,” without pain management, she’s lying. It will be pain that redefines your pain scale.

    jennifer_yount , Getty Images / Unsplash Report

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    #4

    Women Share The Advice From Their Gynecologists They’ll Never Forget My gyno told me if you have PCOS or something that causes less periods, you absolutely need to get checked for uterine cancer/be aware of the signs. If our uterus doesn’t shed like it should, we’re more likely to get uterine cancer. I’m 33 and was just told this last year after almost 15 years of extremely sparse periods (I’m all good though thank goodness)

    authorsarahmayer , magnific / magnific Report

    #5

    Women Share The Advice From Their Gynecologists They’ll Never Forget It takes more than 6 weeks to heal after having a baby

    kara.eastman24 , senivpetro / Unsplash Report

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    #6

    Our breast tissue is also located in our underarms and upper back. When you do your monthly self breast exam, check in these locations for lumps as well.

    astrolectual Report

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    #7

    Women Share The Advice From Their Gynecologists They’ll Never Forget Painful period are NOT normal

    hi.nicolemoon , Drazen Zigic / Unsplash Report

    #8

    Women Share The Advice From Their Gynecologists They’ll Never Forget Bleeding heavy for 7 days is not normal. I went in and turns out I have a cyst and my lining was wasaayy to thick. Finally got on the right medication and I’ve never felt better during my periods

    floricel___ , Getty Images / Unsplash Report

    #9

    Most women will push out a baby and you won’t even be able to tell 8 weeks later. “Stretching it out” is a myth.

    mary_beth411 Report

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    #10

    Women Share The Advice From Their Gynecologists They’ll Never Forget “We have many pain relief options for IUD insertion…everything from a pain block with local anesthetic to putting you under. Which pathway do you feel comfortable pursuing?” -Absolute GAME CHANGER!

    kelleygirl06 , Getty Images / Unsplash Report

    #11

    Women Share The Advice From Their Gynecologists They’ll Never Forget Migraines caused by the pill mean that you are at increased risk of stroke or blood clots

    shanham84 , Curated Lifestyle / Unsplash Report

    #12

    Women Share The Advice From Their Gynecologists They’ll Never Forget You can still get pregnant even if you aren’t ovulating

    modelcitizen90 , wayhomestudio / Unsplash Report

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    #13

    Superficial endometriosis often does not show up in imaging but can still cause catastrophic pain and bleeding, if your GYN says you don’t have it because it doesn’t show up on ultrasound or MRI fire them and see a specialist.

    kimberly_heee Report

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    #14

    Women Share The Advice From Their Gynecologists They’ll Never Forget Using pantyliners daily actually traps the bacteria. Is better to use breathable cotton undies

    diana.morocha , Kateryna Hliznitsova / Unsplash Report

    #15

    Tubal ligation isn't 100% foolproof. As many as 3% of patients still get pregnant. My OB had 1 woman at age 48 and one at age 54... both had tubes tied many years before and both got pregnant anyway. Just something else to be worried about

    User Report

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    #16

    Women Share The Advice From Their Gynecologists They’ll Never Forget No matter how long you've been married/monogamous, you should always get tested for STIs

    User , Getty Images / Unsplash Report

    #17

    Women Share The Advice From Their Gynecologists They’ll Never Forget Herpes isn’t automatically tested for even if you say “I want a full panel” because 1. It’s so common and 2. You can’t get a positive swab unless you’re having an outbreak. Ask for a blood test, it will show positive if you’re positive and have had at least one outbreak or negative if you don’t have it.

    ashvaughn , Ahmed / Unsplash Report

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    #18

    I’m a 4th year Naturopathic Medical Student. And one of my mentors gave me a great piece advice saying, “sometimes all a woman needs is a boyfriend-ectomy” … the way it’s so true though. when women leave stressful situations and relationships, their body can finally start to re-regulate again

    yanixa.c Report

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    #19

    If you're having waves of severe pain and vomiting significantly above your baseline, call your gyno immediately. could mean an urgent care or er visit. ovarian torsion is no joke and it can be intermittent, potentially not showing up on the first ultrasound if you're not currently in pain.

    artistic.arcana Report

    #20

    Perimenopause can start as early as 35years old

    joimariano Report

    #21

    Women Share The Advice From Their Gynecologists They’ll Never Forget one of the causes for BV can be drying your underwear with dryer sheets, now i wash them in a separate load with just unscented laundry detergent and hang dry them or throw them in dryer without adding anything. keep it simple, no fragrances! and obviously wipe front to back

    kflo_xo , gpointstudio / Magnific Report

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    #22

    Women Share The Advice From Their Gynecologists They’ll Never Forget This is for my anemic girlies but to take iron supplements with vitamin C to help with absorption!

    amabelle.jps , Curated Lifestyle 7 Unsplash Report

    #23

    Women Share The Advice From Their Gynecologists They’ll Never Forget That an untreated iron deficiency can lead to organ failure

    corinaannetta , tirachardz / Magnific Report

    #24

    You only need 4 periods a year to be fertile ( in relation to PCOS)

    aminamaradesa Report

    #25

    Extremely hot baths are not good for u occasional baths and mostly showers are better for feminine hygiene.

    covergirl_99 Report

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    #26

    Women Share The Advice From Their Gynecologists They’ll Never Forget Feel like it's pretty basic knowledge but that prenatals are great to take whether you're pregnant or not

    meganpriebs , engin akyurt / Unsplash Report

    #27

    Women Share The Advice From Their Gynecologists They’ll Never Forget Take the pill without the 7 day break. You’ll never get a period, and it’s perfectly safe to do so.

    honeysucklrose , magnific / Magnific Report

    #28

    Women Share The Advice From Their Gynecologists They’ll Never Forget Hormonal birth control helps prevent ovarian cancer later in life

    claire_a_cooper , A. C. / Unsplash Report

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    #29

    Women Share The Advice From Their Gynecologists They’ll Never Forget I learned this working in the OB/GYN clinic!
    If you’re prone to getting BV. Those medication’s are just a Band-Aid.. your body just produces more bacteria than usual that throws off your pH. Taking probiotics daily can prevent that.

    dymond_therealtor_nextdoor , Getty Images / Unsplash Report

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    #30

    Women Share The Advice From Their Gynecologists They’ll Never Forget Wiggling your toes helps with discomfort during an exam

    dianalondi , Getty Images / Unsplash Report

    #31

    Check your testosterone levels after 50.

    juliefergusonrice Report

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    #32

    Don’t pee before an ultrasound. Even if you really need to. Apparently I had to have a full bladder to do an ultrasound for endo. (I was 16, 21 now) also drink lots of water on your period. My gyno was very adamant on that lol.

    User Report

    #33

    Grapefruit juice can make birth control less effective

    jess77192022 Report

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    #34

    Women Share The Advice From Their Gynecologists They’ll Never Forget Regular STD panels don’t include testing for HPV, you have to request it so you could have it but never know until you specifically request it to be included.

    breajpotts , Getty Images / Unsplash Report

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    #35

    Women Share The Advice From Their Gynecologists They’ll Never Forget Any liquid soap contains preservatives which are usually antibacterial which can increase the chance of yeast infections due to biome imbalance. Only use bar soap, like Dove, unscented, on the external only.

    kry.salys , Daiga Ellaby / Unsplash Report

    #36

    Women Share The Advice From Their Gynecologists They’ll Never Forget Raspberry tea for period pain. Two cups a day with three tea bags for each cup

    mooonlit.astro , benzoix / Magnific Report

    #37

    Women Share The Advice From Their Gynecologists They’ll Never Forget "the majority of the problems women's have comes from a man"...

    shadow.sempiternal , Getty Images / Unsplash Report

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    #38

    Women Share The Advice From Their Gynecologists They’ll Never Forget If you’re having sharp pains in your [private parts] stop drinking caffeinated drinks and start taking vitamin E it will clear that right up

    shannonthings , Getty Images / Unsplash Report

    #39

    Naproxen is the best this for pain radiating directly from the ovaries.

    chelsiestaybooked Report

    #40

    Women Share The Advice From Their Gynecologists They’ll Never Forget A suspicious/malignan tumor on your [private parts] will feel hard, “pointy edges” with no clear start and finish

    damita.ink , Curated Lifestyle / Unsplash Report

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    #41

    Women Share The Advice From Their Gynecologists They’ll Never Forget Not having biological children can lead to an increased risk of breast cancer.

    gingerl47 , A. C. / Unsplash Report

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    #42

    Stop eating j***! Stop sugar and sugary things and stuff like that, don’t eat chocolate a lot and work out! Basically everything is about what you consume and how your lifestyle is, having a kitkat a day wasn’t a good idea….also, herbal tea is the best! I cannot stress this enough but herbal tea is the best, and say no to caffeine cause it’s really really bad for you…once or even four times a month is fine but that’s it

    uroojkodwavi Report

    #43

    Breastmilk actually harms babies teeth in the long run. I learned that my daughter is 10 and we’re still dealing with some of those issues from breast-feeding.

    dymond_therealtor_nextdoor Report

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