Actor and musician Saba Azad got candid about women’s health, sexuality, periods and the stigma around visiting gynecologists. While promoting the second season of her show Who’s Your Gynac?, Saba spoke at length about the shame women continue to face around their bodies and reproductive health.
‘There’s so much shame around women’s bodies’
Talking about why many women hesitate to visit a gynecologist, Saba said during her appearance on the podcast Two Girls & Two Cups, “Women are talking about therapists very openly but still we are not talking about gynacs openly because there’s so much shame, man. There’s so much shame around sexuality, there’s so much shame around women’s bodies, there’s so much misinformation about women’s bodies. People give you horror stories.”The conversation began when one of the hosts admitted that her first gynecologist visit happened only recently because she was “very scared about the experience.” Saba empathised with the fear many women experience and said people rarely discuss these things openly.She further pointed out how women often feel judged during consultations. “You actually want to feel safe when you go to a doctor and not be judged and it’s quite the opposite very often,” she said.
‘What does being married have to do with my body?’
During the discussion, the hosts also recalled how some doctors question women about being sexually active or unmarried. Reacting to this, Saba questioned the relevance of marital status in medical forms.“Firstly, this sometimes on forms there’s a question — ‘Are you married?’ What does that have to do with my body? God damn it. I don’t have to be married,” she said.The actress also appreciated how Who’s Your Gynac? approaches women’s health with sensitivity and humour. According to her, humour becomes an effective tool to talk about “weighted things and important things” in a way audiences can absorb without discomfort.
‘Men should at least inform themselves’
Saba also spoke about hormonal changes, PMS and the lack of awareness among men about women’s health.“If you’re truly interested in being an ally or even just a good enough friend or partner, you should know — that’s the bare minimum. We’re jostling against some serious hormones and it’s hard, man,” she said.“And when I’m losing the plot, I want you to know why. It would be nice if people could just inform themselves a little bit and not make it a thing about how women are ‘temperamental.’”She further highlighted the physical and emotional toll periods can take on women. “Do you know it’ll take men 150 years to go through the kind of hormonal fluctuation a woman goes through in the span of one period cycle?” she said.
‘I remove the black plastic bag’
Speaking about period stigma in India, Saba recalled how sanitary napkins are often wrapped discreetly in newspapers and black plastic bags at pharmacies.“You know how you go to a chemist and they wrap it up in newspaper and put it in a black plastic bag? I remove it,” she said, calling it “the best kind of rebellion.”She also stressed the importance of sex education and awareness. “You should know about periods. If you don’t know about it, shame on you,” she added.
‘A gynac should be a safe space’
Encouraging women to prioritise regular checkups, Saba said understanding one’s body should never be treated as shameful.“I think to know and understand your body is a beautiful thing. And a gynac should be a safe space,” she said.“It’s better to be informed than not informed and it’s better to get your information from a professional as opposed to getting it from the interwebs or ChatGPT.”The actress added that yearly gynecologist visits are “essential” and women should prioritise pap smears and mammograms for early detection and awareness.
Saba Azad on green flags in relationships
Apart from women’s health, Saba also shared what she considers a green flag in a partner.“Somebody who listens and understands, who’s empathetic and willing to look inward… and willing to grow. Curiosity is up there too,” she said.Ending the conversation on a humorous note, Saba quipped, “If your body’s making sounds during sex, great. At least someone is communicating.”
