Midwives in the UK have been encouraged to avoid saying “vagina” so as to avoid offending pregnant transgender patients.
The advice has been issued by Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, in a document called “My Language Preferences.”
In the text, obstetricians and midwives were told that “some individuals may have preferred terminology for their anatomy.”
The guide stated: “These should be used wherever possible. For example, some people may talk about ‘front hole’ or ‘genital opening’ rather than ‘vagina’.’”
The document says alternative preferred words can be used for bodyparts such as the cervix, uterus and breasts.
The report also says that transgender and non-binary people should be offered “pronoun stickers” which will help staff to know how they should be addressed.
In 2020, the same hospital trust complained in a report that “Maternity services have typically been designed as a cisgender (cis) women-only service, which may not serve the needs of trans and nonbinary individuals.” The document called to refer to the service for trans and non-binary people as “perinatal care” instead.
The same trust has, in the past, called for breast milk to be referred to as “human milk,” “chest milk” or “milk from the feeding mother or parent.”
Other healthcare providers in the UK have been urged to refer to breastfeeding as “chest feeding.”
Reacting to the story, Irish radio broadcaster Niall Boylan said: “We are now rewriting biology and science to appease a minority’s feelings.”
Midwives told not to use the term ‘Vagina' and instead should refer to it as 'front hole' or 'genital opening' to avoid offending the trans community. We are now rewriting biology and science to appease a minorities feelings. https://t.co/hPCAL7WwnC via @MailOnline
— Niall Boylan (@Niall_Boylan) April 18, 2022
One woman said that she found it “offensive” that she was expected to change the names of her biological organs.
You are right. Just say no. Stand up for motherhood it’s precious.
— I💚Dublin (@Aine_o_Eire) April 18, 2022
Another asked: “What about my rights as a woman? Why are we bowing down to a minority?”
Disgraceful, this shit has gone way too far .
— John Finucane (@JohnFinucane1) April 18, 2022
Earlier this year, Bristol University was ridiculed for encouraging staff to use a gender pronoun guide which included “catgender” for people who identify as cats, and “emojiself” for people who identify with emojis.
Bristol Uni removes link to gender guide including “catgender”