Experts Urge Teaching Girls About Vulvas From Kindergarten

A group of more than 14 medical professionals, health researchers, and education specialists in Flanders has submitted a policy note to Flemish Minister of Education Zuhal Demir, calling for the school curriculum to include proper anatomical terminology for female genitalia starting in kindergarten. The proposal, reported by VRT NWS, aims to address what experts describe as a critical gap in children’s health education that has real medical consequences.

The Problem: A Curriculum Gap

Under current Flemish minimum objectives (minimumdoelen), kindergarteners are expected to learn about body parts such as the heart and lungs, but female genitalia are entirely absent from the curriculum. Male anatomy, by contrast, is commonly and unashamedly named in educational settings. This disparity means that while most children know the word “penis,” the correct term “vulva” remains largely unfamiliar.

Linguist and former teacher trainer Anneleen Boderé first highlighted this gap in an opinion piece published in De Standaard on March 10, 2026, noting the irony that children learn where the Nile River is located but cannot name their own genitalia.

Medical Consequences of Ignorance

The experts argue that this is far more than a matter of terminology. In an opinion piece published in De Morgen on April 13 and signed by 17 medical professionals, the authors warned that “when knowledge about the vulva and vagina is lacking, it can lead to preventable medical problems at different ages: from toddler to adult woman.”

Prof. Dr. Martine Cools, a pediatric endocrinologist at UZ Gent and one of the lead authors of the policy note, explained on VRT Radio 1’s “De Ochtend” that the initiative is grounded in medical practice. “We notice that there is an important lack of knowledge about the anatomy of our genitalia,” she said. “In girls, this is even more pronounced than in boys, and that has important consequences.”

Before puberty, the vulvar skin is thin and vulnerable due to low estrogen levels. Improper hygiene practices — such as wiping from back to front — can introduce intestinal bacteria to the urinary tract, causing infections. The experts stress that a child can hardly learn to care for a body part that cannot be named.

Broader Health Concerns

The proposal also calls for girls to learn about menstruation earlier in their schooling. Currently, menstruation is not included in the minimum objectives for primary education, yet the average age of first menstruation in Belgium is just under 12 years old.

Additionally, the experts highlight the lack of education about the vaginal microbiome — the ecosystem of bacteria, viruses, and fungi that plays a crucial role in women’s health. Without this knowledge, young people are more vulnerable to commercial messaging promoting intimate hygiene products that can disrupt natural balance.

Another concern is the cosmetic surgery industry’s influence on body image. Research shows that knowledge about natural vulvar diversity leads to greater body acceptance, potentially reducing demand for unnecessary labiaplasty procedures.

Political Support

The policy note has already received backing from Flemish Minister of Welfare Caroline Gennez (Vooruit), who is responsible for sexual education in schools. “Working towards better knowledge of the body based on correct language use is an absolute necessity,” Gennez told VRT NWS. “We can talk endlessly about how bad transgressive behavior is, but everything starts with good knowledge about the body.”

The ultimate decision, however, rests with Minister of Education Zuhal Demir (N-VA), who has not yet issued a formal response to the policy note.

A Generational Shift

Prof. Cools emphasized that the proposal is about breaking a cycle of ignorance. “Education is a very important source of knowledge and information,” she said. “We are dealing with a generation of parents who also did not receive this in education. So we must start with our children and ensure that it is passed down from generation to generation.”

The experts are careful to note that they are not calling for more content in an already crowded curriculum, but for different priorities. “Knowledge that directly contributes to the health of young people should take priority,” they wrote in De Morgen.

What’s Next

The policy note has been submitted to Minister Demir, but no timeline for a decision has been announced. The new minimum objectives for Flemish schools are being phased in through 2026-2027, which could provide a window for incorporating the proposed changes. The proposal arrives amid broader debates about sexual education in Belgium, following the controversial Evras program in French-speaking Wallonia, though the Flemish context has been less polarized.

For now, the ball is in the education minister’s court — and a coalition of medical professionals is watching closely.