May is pelvic pain awareness month and I wanted to talk about my experience with pelvic pain
I am 28 now and have been able to manage the symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction, but when I was probably about 22 ~ my symptoms reached their height.
I couldn’t use the period cup I had been using for YEARS without pain, I couldn’t use tampons without pain, (and s*x was a whole different convo!!) and it was so frustrating and confusing. I truly didn’t understand why I was experiencing this pain…
I went to the obgyn and they said i may have pelvic floor dysfunction so after a cold and awkward exam… the doc said maybe I should see a pelvic floor specialist.
I did that ~ she was a really amazing woman that was LGBTQIA+ friendly, kind, and so empathetic!
Anyway, I did pelvic floor therapy three times a week for probably three months. Eventually I got comfortable doing happy baby in a room full of other patience getting physical therapy for their hips, broken legs, wrist pain, etc.
It felt so validating to know why my body was different, how to manage the symptoms, and in the midst of all of this I started a period underwear company because I knew that products could be comfier for folks like me and for folks different from my experience, but still facing painful periods due to gender dysporia, PCOS, endo, other pelvic pain, cramping, etc.
Pelvic pain led me to this journey of monthly ~ and getting a diagnosis and treatment helped me understand myself and others more clearly. So, if you have pelvic pain ~ talk to your doc! It can be scary, but getting help is so worth it. <3
xoxo
aiko
(founder/ceo/head menstruator in charge)
