10/07/2021
Why this subject is still so taboo...
While problems "down there" happen for many of us, the subject of anything happening in the pelvic region tends not to be polite dinner table conversation.
I have found that people are generally in one of two camps: the first group speaks in broad terms never fully defining or coming close to the nature of their specific problem and the second group offers up a firehose of TMI so much so that it is difficult to discern where the problem begins and ends! I suppose there exists a third group of folks who are just unwilling or unable to talk about any kind of pelvic dysfunction at all-even to their doctors-which is a mistake.
So when we're talking about pelvic issues what do we actually mean?!
Very specifically pelvic issues run the gamut from incontinence (do you p*e a little when you sneeze, jump, walk, bend over? This is stress incontinence. Or, do you sometimes just not make it all the way to the bathroom without a little - or big - leak? This is urge incontinence), to pelvic organ prolapse (hello to anything causing pressure or bulging out of our bodies!), pain with or after in*******se, constipation, IBS, chronic pelvic pain (endometriosis, IC/painful bladder syndrome), pelvic girdle problems (SIJ dysfunction, p***c symphysis, hips, and low backs), post-hysterectomy, post-prostatectomy, and more!
Across the board, the subject of pelvic health is still taboo because it is embarrassing when our bladders and bowels don't obey. We generally don't want anyone to know and so we wait.
We wait until our problem is so bad we must seek the care of a specialist.
Pelvic matters do not have to be taboo. Incontinence is not normal - I don't care who you are, how old you are, what your gender is, or how many children you've had - it isn't normal and there is help to be had. Your prolapse is not taboo, your sexual dysfunction is not taboo.
Please, let's make this conversation less scary; less off limits. Your pelvic region is just another part of your body and can absolutely be discussed with good friends, loved ones, your doctor, or other healthcare practitioners.
If you have smaller kids like I do, perhaps we'll leave the dinner table to dinner, and talk to our doctors instead!
