Today, while talking with my Urologist during a pre-op visit, I voiced to her that I think every high school sex-ed class should include a segment where she (the Urologist) comes in and gives girls the real deal talk about what happens to your internal organs (namely your bladder) during and after pregnancy. You know (or now do), the leakage that happens daily as you laugh, sneeze, cough and exercise (sometimes even more frequent than these scenarios) as a result of having baby squash your bladder for 9 months and then literally flattening it as he/she is pushed out through that narrow passageway at the time of birth. I guarantee that if each girl were to experience just a little bit of the discomfort any woman with stress incontinence experiences the teen pregnancy rates would drop dramatically. I predict that during those hot and heavy moments each girl would reign-in her hormones and say, "Stop! There is no way I am going through the rest of my life peeing on myself every time I need to sneeze!" - end of story.
In addition to the joys of stress incontinence that is experienced by millions of women postpartum there are the joys of treating the stress incontinence as well. Today, for example, my bladder strength was tested (to make sure I really do leak - you don't want to perform a procedure on someone who doesn't really need it) and, oh joy, I was filmed internally via a tiny camera. The camera part didn't really bother me much. In fact it was an interesting experience to know that my bladder was studied, especially after this past year with AH's dad having been diagnosed with Bladder Cancer and going through treatment for it (it's all good - he's healthy now) - he and I now have many more embarrassing things to discuss with each other. No, what really bothered me was after the procedure when I was finally able to relieve my bladder (that had been filled during the scope in order to test the strength), and what came out was very cold water. That, indeed, was a very odd sensation I could live without experiencing again.
Ah, the joys of womanhood - it truly is a mystery; well, not so much anymore. I can't wait until I turn 40 and get to start having mammograms, I've heard they are the best womanly experience of all.
PS - I would have included an image with this post but I couldn't find any of a woman standing with her legs crossed and bent over at the waist while she sneezed.
PPS - My urologist assured me that she will NEVER give birth vaginally (nor any of the other doctor's in her office) after having her job. :-P
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1 comment:
Oh, that doesn't sound very lovely.
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