Because I am a Woman
This blog is about sex-positivity, sex-ed, feminism, reproductive justice, birth justice, intersectionality, and activism.
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As my ever-creative title suggests, March is Endometriosis Awareness Month. I have endometriosis (“endo” for short), and I like this month because I know plenty of people in my life who could definitely use some more awareness as to what endometriosis is and how it impacts the lives of those who have it.
So what is endometriosis, anyway?
Endometriosis is a condition where the endometrium, the lining of the uterus, grows outside the uterus — often on the ovaries, bladder, bowel, and/or lining of the pelvic area. This can be a problem for two reasons. One is that during menstruation, there’s nowhere for this “rogue endometrium” (not a technical term) to go, not having a way to the cervix and vagina and all. This can cause pain — most often pain during menstruation — as well as a buildup of tissue that remains throughout subsequent cycles, where even more “rogue endometrium” is added to it. The other is that the endometrial lesions can contribute to infertility, particularly if the endo obstructs the ovaries or fallopian tubes.
That doesn’t sound like fun. Is endometriosis rare?
Surprisingly, no. Exact numbers are hard to come by because a lot of cases are thought to go undiagnosed (which is part of the reason for this whole “awareness month” thing). But the estimate is that endo affects just over 10 percent of people with ovaries during their reproductive years — and about 30 to 50 percent of such people who have problems with infertility or pelvic pain. Odds are pretty good that you personally know someone with endometriosis, even if you don’t (or they don’t!) know they have it. Continue reading
In order for us to be able to have sex in the position(s) we want we need to be flexible, this goes for anybody who is sexually active. Sex can irritate or strain your pelvic floor muscles even if you don’t have endometriosis but those of us with endo have to take our pelvic floor muscles into consideration because this disease irritates them to no end. This doesn’t mean that we have to be terrified, it just means that we have to be well-prepared.
Before I tell you some basic stretches that I’ve found have helped me, I want you to know that I am not a doctor. This is all based off personal experience and what knowledge I’ve gained through that experience. Some of these stretches I picked up through pelvic floor PT others I picked up through years of playing field hockey.
If you think that doing these stretches would harm you (or you notice that they are harming you) please seek medical attention.
These stretches have also helped me in my day-to-day life as they’ve helped relax my pelvic floor muscles. This has made activities such as walking and sitting much easier and far less painful for me; I hope that they’ll have the same results for you.“Happy Baby” Stretch
This stretch is basically the butterfly stretch, but you do it lying on your back instead of sitting. This opens up your pelvic floor more and allows for more a greater stretch.
How to do it:
- Lie on your back and place your feet over your pelvic region, soles together. This is done just like you would if you were sitting on the floor to do the butterfly stretch. Do not start in the butterfly stretch and roll yourself backwards as it will strain your pelvic floor muscles.
- Use your hands to pull your feet towards your chest until you feel the stretch.
- Hold for one minute, repeat up to three times a day.
Hamstring Stretch
You’ll need a belt or a rubber exercise (pilates?) band to do this one properly.
How to do it:
- Lie on your back on the floor and place the ball of one of your feet on the belt/band.
- Holding an end of the belt/band in each hand, extend your leg so that it’s straight. Pull back on the belt/band so that your leg is pulled farther up until you feel the stretch.
- Hold for thirty seconds, repeat three times each leg.
I Don’t Know What This One’s Called but it Stretches Your Butt & Some Other Stuff
This one’s pretty simple to do and it’s very relaxing. (Sorry about any possible confusion with this one)
How to do it:
- Lie on your back on the floor. Pull one knee gently to your chest and cross your shin across your chest before pulling the leg more firmly to your chest until you feel the stretch.
- Hold for thirty seconds, repeat two or three times each leg.
Obturator Strain/Counterstrain
This stretch is the most simple of all and gets one of those pesky pelvic floor muscles that you won’t have even realized was bothering you until you stretch it! Here’s where you can find more information on your obturators.
How to do it:
- Lie face-down on the floor.
- Choose a leg and (keeping your knee at a 90-degree angle) stick it out from your body at a roughly 90-degree angle. See if you feel a stretch where your obturators should be. If not, move your leg closer to your shoulder until you do feel the stretch.
- Hold for thirty seconds to a minute, repeat two or three times each leg.
If there’s anything I can do to make these stretches more clear to you, please let me know. Or if there are any other stretches that you’ve found have helped you let me know! I’ll gladly add them to this list and cite you as their source. <3
(Are there any requests for pictures on how to do these stretches or clarification on any of the instructions? If so, just shoot me a message or put a reply on here and I’ll edit this to include them ASAP)
(via fuckyeahsexeducation)
Full article on the link. Here is a small excerpt from it:
The recommendations are a tool for gynaecologists, GPs and OPs to give detailed convalescence advice to their patients following their operation and are meant to become part of multidisciplinary guidelines. The recommendations state that for patients recovering from surgery on the ovaries or fallopian tubes they can start light activities such as 30 minutes of walking, lifting or carrying 5kg two days after surgery. One week after surgery they can start moderate activities such as riding a bicycle or lifting 10kg and after two weeks they can start walking or standing all day and resume work.
Source: Royal college of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
[tw cissexism at link (although a lot less than I expected)]
ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICALS: Endometriosis* and other Ovarian/Uterine Diseases Linked with Pesticides/Industrial Chemicals
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Women’s Risk of Reproductive Disease Linked to Environmental Estrogens
Scientific AmericanChemicals that mimic the human hormone may increase the risk of uterine and ovarian diseases
Back in 1993, a connection between endometriosis and environmental chemicals was discovered…Now, several new studies are adding to the evidence that estrogen-mimicking pesticides and industrial chemicals may increase women’s risk of uterine and ovarian diseases – helping to solidify a theory that emerged two decades ago.
*Endometriosis, when uterine tissue grows in the ovaries or other parts of the body, often causes pelvic pain and infertility. An estimated 10 to 20 percent of reproductive-age women in the United States suffer from it, according to the Endometriosis Foundation of America.
*not just women
Well, here’s another twist in the debate over whether birth control is an essential health benefit. More than 1.5 million American women use birth control pills for reasons other than preventing pregnancy, a new analysis finds.
The nonprofit Guttmacher Institute, using federal survey data from the National Survey of Family Growth, found that 14 percent of pill users said they were taking the medication for a purpose other than contraception.
The pill users include an estimated 762,000 women who’ve never had sex. Ninety-five percent of them cited reasons other than birth control for their use of the pill.
Such as?
Among the reasons for using oral contraception other than the most obvious one are reducing cramps associated with periods, regulating periods, which for some women can prevent menstrual-related migraine headaches.
Other uses include controlling endometriosis, a condition in which uterine tissue grows outside the uterus, and reducing bleeding due to uterine fibroid tumors.
Some women also use birth control pills to control acne.
In fact, the study found, most women who use the pill use it for multiple reasons. Only a minority — 42 percent — said they used it exclusively for contraception.
“It is well established that oral contraceptives are essential health care because they prevent unintended pregnancies,” said study author Rachel Jones. “This study shows that there are other important health reasons why oral contraceptive should be readily available to the millions of women who rely on them each year.”
The recent regulation from the Department of Health and Human Services requiring every health plan to offer hormonal contraceptives including the pill, however, remains, controversial. Some religious health organizations say it would force them to choose between offering health insurance and violating their beliefs.
[Also on Guttmacher and MSNBC]
A good reminder that hormonal birth control is useful for a whole lot more than just pregnancy prevention - and that using it for these other purposes can also mean the difference between health and injury in many cases.
*This is really important BUT not everybody who uses birth control identifies as a woman.
