It is Cervical Health Awareness Month!
It is Cervical Health Awareness Month!
As a woman, and working mostly with female clientele, I find it important to talk about femininity, having a healthy connection to our bodies, and feeling confident/safe in our womanhood.
Connection to our bodies and embracing femininity is somewhat taboo still.
We are not taught to have a strong sense of self, or celebration of our curves. We are not usually encouraged to feel connected and empowered in our bodies.
If anything, there is still shame, judgement, perfectionism and unhealthy ideals being projected onto women (womanhood and our bodies).
The metaphysical representation of the cervix is "a pathway, neck, or connection."
When women experience cervical health issues, it can be a representation of frustration, disconnection, feeling unfulfilled, or experiencing a loss (especially in partnership).
What can you do to maintain cervical health? Regular visits to the gynecologist is the first step. Being informed about pelvic health is another. Prioritizing healing your relationship to your body, your hormones, your cycle and expression of femininity rounds out the work nicely.
A lot of women feel intimated, embarrassed, and ashamed to talk about reproductive health.
We can start to shift the conversation for ourselves, our daughters, mothers and our friends so that we can eliminate the sense of shame.
We have to attend to all parts of our bodies, especially the parts of ourselves that we have been indoctrinated to hate or be ashamed of.
A lot of our self-image troubles and hatred of our bodies is perpetuated by a lack of nurturing femininity.
Who taught you about your body? Who taught you about sexuality, relationships, and caring for your body?
Most of us had some form of education starting at the elementary school level, when curiosity is high and embarrassment is even higher. However, we were most likely not supported in an attuned manner or made to feel safe having these conversations.
I encourage you to start discussions with your girlfriends, health providers, and get curious about how you relate to your body.
Feeling good in our bodies is an important prerequisite for a healthy relationship. Healthy relationships are important for our mental health, sense of community and overall wellbeing.
Be aware that our bodies are communicating with us at all times. It is important to pay attention and listen to our health signals on all levels.
If you are curious about learning more about hormones, female health, and more, check out the work of @drjolenebrighten … My good friend @drcristinapalmer turned me on to her work. She has a wonderful straightforward method of teaching how to be informed about our feminine health concerns and how to connect to our body in a practical/scientific sense.
Check out Dr. Cristina Palmer, Dr. Jolene Brighten, Stephanie Prendergast and Laura Meihofer – all focusing on different elements of feminine/pelvic health.