The Vaginal Revolution: A New Look At An Old Friend
By Tyeese Gaines Reid
In the 1930s, Lysol (yes, the disinfectant) was the most popular contraceptive and douche. It took almost forty years of vaginal irritation, a few deaths and fictitious experts for society to leave Lysol to the kitchen floors. While women aren’t prancing around with lemon fresh privates anymore, there are still women who hold on to outdated traditions. “There are always going to be people who will never listen to advancements in medicine,” says Dr. Kelley Saia, 37, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Boston Medical Center.
It’s true. We all know women who, in 2007, cannot let go of douching or who shriek at the thought of going more than 28 days without reliable Aunt ‘Flo. Comfort and routine matter most to these women. But, as Dr. David Plourd, 50, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Naval Medical Center in San Diego, says: “If we stuck with tried and true methods, we’d still be in horse and buggies.”
So here’s a look at the “horse and buggies” of gynecology and how they are being replaced:
Horse & Buggy: The Douche
The first disposable douche hit the market in 1973. Since then, women have been using those salt-water squirt bottles to wash away all sorts of vaginal ailments.
Revolutionary: Toss out the squirt bottles.
Douching is a thing of the past. Several studies link douching to vaginal infections, HIV and premature labor.
Horse & Buggy: The Daily Birth Control Pill
Also known as “the pill,” it blocks the ovary from releasing eggs. When taken properly, it’s 99 percent effective.
Revolutionary: Ring around the rosy.
Nuva Ring prevents pregnancy by releasing the same hormones as the pill. The soft, flexible ring goes anywhere inside the vagina for three weeks of every month.
Horse & Buggy: Getting a Monthly Period
Very early on, young women are taught that menstruating is a necessary part of becoming a healthy, fertile woman. For some, it’s a sigh of relief, marking the absence of pregnancy and the end of dreaded PMS. But, according to a recent study, even women with troublesome cycles have reservations about getting rid of Aunt ‘Flo for good.
Revolutionary: Everything has its season.
Long before Seasonale offered four menstrual periods a year, some women were already safely manipulating their periods by skipping placebo pills. Now, it’s the norm. A survey of female obstetrician-gynecologists found more than half suppressed their periods using pills. Lybrel, a new pill under development, decreases periods to once a year.
Horse & Buggy: Vaginal deliveries
Despite the unpredictability of labor, the long hours and the pain, there is still a large subset of women attached to the idea of bringing babies into the world naturally. “Women feel it’s the completion of their pregnancy. They feel robbed of that if they end up with a C-section,” says Dr. Saia.
Revolutionary: No need to be pushy.
The number of pregnant women choosing to have C-sections without a medical reason went up 36 percent between 2001 and 2003. Much like the Brazilian trend, more American women want to save their pelvic regions. The jury is still out on whether elective C-sections will become the standard of care.
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Tyeese Gaines Reid is a one-woman juggling act: writer, mom, wife and doctor. She is the author of “The Get A Life Campaign,” a pocket guide for busy women who want balance in their lives (http://www.getalifecampaign.com), on sale now. The Jersey City-native has written for 5-Minute Clinical Consult, Boston Magazine, M.D. News and NBC6 in Miami. Tyeese can be contacted at doctorty@getalifecampaign.com. For more health articles, visit http://www.getalifecampaign.com |
