Take the speculum back! Empowered gynecologic exams + fertility wisdom with Françoise Molenaar

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 journeywhy it's important to cultivate patience and nourishment while TTCwhat an empowered gynecologic exam could look likehow asking for what she wanted led to pregnancy after 10 years of TTCthe results of Françoise's 1500-response survey on pelvic exam discomfortadditional keys to supporting the fertility journey Resources:Today's shownotes: Get links to the articles and Françoise's workEpisode 10: Traditional womb healing practices w Sondra HamiltonEpisode 61: How to heal embodied womb trauma w Dr Emily WilsonEpisode 119: Clearing, tending, releasing womb trauma w Dr Sarah WylieFREE guided Womb connection and clearing meditationIf you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.  And if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you.  ❤️DISCLAIMER: This podcast 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 licensClick here to send me a quick message :)