From Kath Mazzella OAM

I get asked all the time, “Kath, what’s your mission? What’s are you trying to say or do?”

For some, it’s not always clear—and I get it. There’s a lot of messages coming from me, because I’m speaking to a lot of different women in different places. But I’m about to make it crystal clear.

Here’s the deal:

1. Ladies, get in the game. If you haven’t been paying attention to your GYN health—start now. Don’t wait for the world to tell you what’s wrong. Get your pap smears, visit your GP, ask the hard questions. Be proactive. Your health is your responsibility. Don’t let it slide.

2. If you’ve just been hit with a GYN issue, get educated. Own your body. Own your journey. Be confident to find the best care for yourself—and don’t let anyone tell you to settle for less. Your body. Your choices. Don’t be afraid to say no if it doesn’t feel right.

3. For those of you in the thick of recovery or living with a GYN issue, don’t do it alone. Find other women who get it. Don’t sit in silence. Open up. Talk about it. Lean on your community. Let them walk with you. You don’t have to carry that weight by yourself.

4. To the wider world, it’s time to get real about GYN health. Men, schools, corporations—stop pretending this isn’t an issue. Open your eyes. Be compassionate. Be understanding. Get educated. You could help save lives. Let’s work together to support women who are battling GYN issues.

I’ve been on this journey for over 30 years now—since my own surgery. And my message has never changed: We need to understand the language around GYN health. We need to break down the walls so we can talk openly about it. The more we know about risks, symptoms, and treatments, the more lives we can save.

Let me tell you something. I talk a lot about vulvas and vaginas—and people often don’t get why I’m so fired up about it. They say, “It’s just a word, Kath.” And I say, “It’s not just a word. It’s a mindset.” For centuries, women have been conditioned to think we should be ashamed of our bodies. “Pudendum”—the Latin for female genitalia? It literally means “shameful.” They’ve tried to make us feel like our bodies are something to hide, something to be ashamed of. Well, I’m done with that.

It’s time to call things what they are. Vulva. Vagina. It’s not just anatomy—it’s about respect. And yes, I’ve got a long list of pet names for these parts, but here’s the thing: when you go to a doctor, they’re not using any of those cute little nicknames. They’re using the correct terminology and if they are not, they are dumbing it down and that has to stop.  Its time we used correct names too.

It’s time to break the stigma. Time to stand tall. Time to take pride in every part of who we are. It’s time to demand respect.

Viva la vulva!

Kath Mazzella OAM

PS My friend, Hayley Solich, who has been on this journey with me for almost two decades only just clicked when she wrote my memoire. All this time she has been wondering what the big deal is about language, but then she finally saw why I am so adamant. It is about women’s empowerment. We should not be treated as less. We deserve the whole truth, respect and dignity of choice.