How can you take the speculum back? Empowered gynecologic exams & fertility wisdom

with fertility coach & abdominal therapist Françoise Molenaar

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Okay, wait what!?

Is it actually possible to experience an empowered pelvic exam?

If you've ever laid on an exam table with your feet in stirrups awaiting a cold speculum from a practitioner who's giving dozens of pelvic exams each day, you'd probably answer, 'hell no.' 

Almost every part of a gynecologic exam feels awkward to most of us.

Pants off, feet in stirrups (are we riding a horse?), some veritable stranger examining one of the most intimate places in our entire body -- often without gentleness or really much communication at all, and sometimes entirely distracted. 

I mean, who can blame them. They learned that way.

But that doesn't mean it's right. That doesn't mean we have to just accept the status quo.

There are ways to take back your power. 

I'm actually currently training with Tami Lynn Kent (author of Wild Feminine) and she mentioned that when she prepares herself for a gyn exam, she prepares herself with self-care and acknowledgement of what will be happening, that it may not feel gentle, and that if it is uncomfortable (which btw it doesn't HAVE to be), then just to allow her body to relax into it as much as possible knowing this is a beneficial thing for her health.

So that's one option for sure, is to prepare our tissues with our own personal tender loving care and acknowledgement. 

But another option is what this week's guest fertility coach Françoise Molenaar shares about, which is to actually ASK for what you want. 

It takes courage for sure, because so many of us defer to the power-over structure especially in doctor's offices. 

You can actually ask to insert the speculum yourself, or even to play music(!), or ask for gentleness, or say you'd like to take some breaths to relax first.

You can take the speculum back. It's your body.

No matter how many degrees or letters or years of study or practice your provider has. YOU are the one whose body they are touching and you can ask for what you want or need.

They are serving you. 

If you want to hear about how Françoise found her way to empowered gynecologic exams and how this was a key to her own personal fertility journey, this week's episode is perfect for you. 


Listen to learn:

• how advising governments in conflict zones led to Françoise's fertility journey
• why it's important to cultivate patience and nourishment while TTC
• what an empowered gynecologic exam could look like
• how asking for what she wanted led to pregnancy after 10 years of TTC
• the results of Françoise's 1500-response survey on pelvic exam discomfort
• additional keys to supporting the fertility journey 

Resources:

• Episode 10: Traditional womb healing practices w Sondra Hamilton
• Episode 61: How to heal embodied womb trauma w Dr Emily Wilson
• Episode 119: Clearing, tending, releasing womb trauma w Dr Sarah Wylie
• FREE guided Womb connection and clearing meditation
  
  

Support Herbal Womb Wisdom!! Donate to support the show here
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Connect with Françoise: 

• Check out her offerings: Fertility Coaching and Programs
   

• Check our her podcast: That Fertile Feeling
  
  

• Connect on IG: 
  @thatfertilefeeling
  
  

• Her articles on empowered pelvic exams!
  - Dutch article on gyn exams
  - Research article on subjective experience of gyne exams
  
  

   

DISCLAIMER: This podcast and blog is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.

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