Ask any woman, anywhere, when she got her first period, and she will be able to tell you about it, plus more: her location, what she was wearing (or not), the circumstances, how she felt. Ask any woman, anywhere, about her bladder, her bowels, her reproductive system, hygiene, and the anatomy below her belt, and she may make a few guesses, having a vague sense of what goes on down there, or refuse to answer anything having to do with bladder health, bowel health, or hygiene because it’s too embarrassing.
When Women’s Health Foundation conducted its first studies around adolescent pelvic health knowledge back in 2010, the team was surprised to learn that 65% of the girls in the study were already experiencing some sort of pelvic health issue, including light bladder leakage, and that many more were uncertain about menstruation, believing that they shouldn’t participate in their regular activities, much less go to school. It was even hard to convince a few that there are three pelvic openings, not two. From that point to now, it has been clear that our mission requires us to teach “beyond the period,” and widen the scope of knowledge by heading into new territory.
We need to step into puddles of stigma and chop through the branches of grossed-out, ASAP.
At WHF, we love the historical and informative websites, the hilarious videos, the thoughtful books, and the innovative products that by design help women face what they have down there, what makes them female, how they define themselves, and that it’s ok to look, to feel, and to be in awe. Take the menstrual cup: The DivaCup’s very cool introduction of this historical and humble implement has provided a way to break a taboo barrier into that new frontier. Yes, it’s about the practical capture of menstrual flow, but it’s also about activating the senses such as sight and touch, actually integrating understanding of pelvic muscles and structures (bones), reproductive health, and personal hygiene.
Wow!
WHF’s adolescent research and resulting curriculum have been captured in a new book called Below Your Belt: How to be Queen of Your Pelvic Region by Missy Lavender, Founder and Executive Director of Women’s Health Foundation, and Jeni Donatelli Ihm, WHF’s health educator and pelvic fitness instructor. Its publication this fall marks an important and exciting time in the state of health education for tween and teen girls. Below Your Belt is Pelvic Navigation 101. We’re so excited to be on the brink of a collective “AHA!” moment when girls and women shift their thinking from period to pelvic. Call it “PRE-sex education” or “about time.”
(And, gosh, who wouldn’t want to read about “Pee and Me” and “Constipation Consternation”? Or meet Ovum, the Princess of Ovulation?)
We’re truly grateful to companies such as the DivaCup who have helped clear the path. The more we talk openly, the more openly we can teach. The more openly we teach, the more deeply into this new paradigm – or frontier – we can venture.
Women’s Health Foundation (WHF) is a nonprofit organization formed in 2004 by Missy Lavender. With the simple yet powerful mission to improve the pelvic health of all women and girls, Missy created WHF to be the nation’s most visible and passionate champion of pelvic wellness issues. They are committed to improving women’s pelvic health and wellness by driving cutting-edge research initiatives, developing and offering community-based education and fitness programs, fostering conversation and creating communities for women, and serving as a national resource on pelvic wellness issues. Today, WHF is made up of individuals united in their goal — to bring pelvic health and wellness to all women.
