When does a word "not exist"?

The Vagina Monologues have toured most parts of the country now and one might think that most people had come to recognize the acceptability of the word. But as this article by Joan Ryan of the SF Chronicle shows, sometimes a word ceases to exist for a short period of time--usually during a TV show...

"Language is so powerful," said Elizabeth Bachen, an assistant professor of psychology at Mills College. "Feeling comfortable with the word could very well translate into feeling comfortable with your body. How can we talk about what gives us pleasure if we can't even say the word?"

A 6-letter, 4-letter word