What does it mean to be diagnosed with a life-threatening disease? Does the term only entail being given so many days, weeks, months, or years to live? Who considers conditions that aren’t potentially fatal yet induce insufferable quality of life issues? Reproductive health headlines claim that endometriosis isn’t widely recognized as a life-threatening disease. In fact, the condition … [Read more...] about We Beg to Differ: Endometriosis, Quality of Life, and Rethinking the Term ‘Life-threatening Disease’
Sexual and Pelvic Pain
Pelvic Pain and Emotional Scarring: Navigating Medical Trauma and Medical Gaslighting in Women’s Reproductive Health Care
Q: Is there more to poor bedside manner? A: Without a doubt. Q(s): Is your pain real? Is the suffering abnormal? Are your concerns valid? A(s): Yes. Absolutely. Of course. These inquiries shouldn’t even be up for discussion. Unfortunately, however, pelvic pain survivors who are denied the compassionate, comprehensive care that they deserve may dwell on the second set of posed … [Read more...] about Pelvic Pain and Emotional Scarring: Navigating Medical Trauma and Medical Gaslighting in Women’s Reproductive Health Care
Endo Facts: The 4 Most Common Endometriosis Myths
Endometriosis is a body-wide disease where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus causing pain, organ dysfunction and/or infertility. An estimated 176 million women around the world have endometriosis and the average time from the onset of symptoms until diagnosis is 8 to 10 years (Endo What? Documentary, 2016). Getting the appropriate treatment can be … [Read more...] about Endo Facts: The 4 Most Common Endometriosis Myths
Bracing for and Embracing the Cycle: Self-Help Tips for Navigating Endometriosis and Premenstrual Dysphoric Symptoms
Menstruation. Cycle. Period. Time of the month. However you slice it, for those of you who know all too well about what it feels like to have the universe stop at the first drop understand that this natural reproductive health occurrence is far from a walk in the park. In fact, it has the capacity to trigger constant dread and ‘PMS blues’. Every month, countless women, nonbinary folks, and … [Read more...] about Bracing for and Embracing the Cycle: Self-Help Tips for Navigating Endometriosis and Premenstrual Dysphoric Symptoms
The 7 Most Common Psychological Contributors of Sexual Pain in Women
Sexual pain in women can hurt more than your sex life. Bergeron, Rosen, and Pukall (2014) suggest, “The experience of sexual pain during intercourse is extremely distressing to both the sufferer and their partner, who may feel confused, guilty, sympathetic and/or deprived. The consequences of this problem extend beyond sexual intercourse and affect individual psychological health, as well as … [Read more...] about The 7 Most Common Psychological Contributors of Sexual Pain in Women
Vaginismus Treatment in the Media
Why Should Psychotherapy be a Part of Vaginismus Treatment and Other Pelvic Pain Issues? Have you ever paid an attention to how vaginismus and its treatment are depicted in the media? How realistic are pelvic pain problems on TV shows and movies? You may be familiar with a TV series called Private Practice. In this medical drama show, an OBGYN joins a group private practice for holistic … [Read more...] about Vaginismus Treatment in the Media