Launching our referral program (with merch!)
It’s hard to believe, this is edition 15 of Eve Was Framed!
We hope you feel you are getting value out of the information we are sharing each week. All the feedback you’ve shared has been a huge part of our journey so far. Keep it coming.
Some of you have already shared Eve Was Framed with others and now we want to make that easier and reward you for bringing people to this conversation.
Drum roll!
We’re launching our referral program today. You’ll find your unique link to Share the Health at the bottom of this (and now every) edition of the newsletter.
As our thank you, we’ll send you some cool Eve Was Framed merch:
3 referrals = Eve Was Framed Sticker
5 referrals = Eve was Framed Koozie
8 referrals = Eve Was Framed T shirt
10 referrals = Eve Was Framed Tote
12 referrals = Eve Was Framed Notebook
We’re so grateful to have you on this journey with us and thank you for everything you do to spread the word about Eve Was Framed!
- Maggie Ruvoldt & Stephanie Majercik
The Tasting Menu
HPV: Stop the Stigma and Get Educated
What Did You Call Me? The Problem with Maternal Medical Terminology
Honest Talk: Menopause and the Workplace
HPV: Stop the Stigma and Get Educated
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the cause of most cervical cancers and is implicated in a high percentage of vaginal and vulval cancers.
For a group of viruses that will infect up to 80% of sexually active people during their lifetime, there is a lot of misinformation about HPV and shame still attached to a positive HPV test - and there shouldn’t be.
As part of our series on Gynecological Cancer Awareness Month, our most important message is, that we need to combat the stigma of talking about or being diagnosed with HPV. Silence and shame lead to a lack of education and even seeking treatment and support.
We can’t hope to cover all the information you need to know but we’ll share some basics and resources to learn more.
Know the facts:
HPV is actually a group of viruses, not all of which are sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Of those that are STIs, there are a dozen or more that may lead to cancer
Most people will never know they were infected and the most high-risk types of HPV don’t result in symptoms
Cervical cancer is the only cancer caused by HPV with an approved screening test
If you test positive for HPV, discuss the appropriate follow-up testing with your healthcare provider and take care of your mental and emotional health
What you should do:
Get tested regularly. The HPV tests for cervical cancer are meant to detect the most high-risk types of HPV and should be part of a regular exam
There are vaccines. They are not recommended for all adults over 26. However, adults as old as 45 should discuss with their doctor if they were never vaccinated. For those under 26, if you haven’t been vaccinated, make an appointment with your healthcare professional to discuss
Although other cancers related to HPV don’t have approved tests, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other tests to consider. Ask your dentist if they check for signs of oral and oropharyngeal cancer at your check-up
Resources to learn more about HPV:
Planned Parenthood information on HPV
Read about the guidelines for screenings
National Cancer Institute resources for HPV and Cancer
CDC information on HPV vaccination
What Did You Call Me? The Problem with Maternal Medical Terminology
Advanced maternal age, elderly primigravida or multigravida, geriatric pregnancy – these are all medical terms used to describe women who are pregnant at or over age 35. Pregnancies that happen after this point are categorized differently because you’re at a higher risk for:
Preeclampsia
Gestational diabetes
Premature birth
Miscarriage
Genetic disorders
Miscarriage or Stillbirth
C-Section
While nothing happens the day you turn 35 to your eggs, as we get older, our bodies change, our hormones change, and overall the quality of our eggs can start to decline. I think we can all agree that knowing the potential risks and watching a pregnancy more closely after a certain point is perfectly fine and healthy – there’s something with the terminology that doesn’t always sit right.
The go-to term today is “advanced maternal age”, but terms like geriatic pregnancy and elderly primigravida are still used/referenced enough that it has an impact (and we’re still trying to determine if advanced maternal age is any better). Not to mention there are several other reproductive terms that can make it seem like issues that happen during pregnancy are the ‘fault’ of the mother.
When it comes to pregnancies occurring after age 35 - this isn’t a new phenomenon. US Census Bureau data shows that the median age of new mothers in 2022 is 30, and the amount of people getting pregnant between the ages of 35 and 45 has been rising since the 90s. For years its been known that women are waiting longer to marry and start families (if that’s what they want) but the medical terminology still makes it feel like we’ve done something wrong.
How would you feel if you were diagnosed with an “incompetent cervix” or during your attempts to start a family you learned you have a “hostile or inhospitable uterus”? Or, because you prioritized your education and career over starting a family, you’re labeled based on your age?
There are many different things that can happen in our body – but it doesn’t mean that we did anything to cause them. Medical terms should be neutral and educational, based on fact. Parenting app, Peanut, is on a mission to redefine more than 63 phrases as they relate to maternity, fertility, and overall reproductive health in order to help empower women and remove the stigma and blame that often gets placed on the mother.
What are your thoughts on terminology such as the above? If you’ve been diagnosed with any of the terms stated – how did that make you feel? Let us know in your feedback from this newsletter.
Menopause and The Workplace
In a recent piece in Fortune, Kate Ryder, Founder, and CEO of Maven referred to menopause as yet another invisible tax on women in the workplace.
We couldn’t agree more. Thank you, Kate Ryder.
In the Biote 2022 Women in the Workplace survey, we weren’t surprised that 40% of respondents said menopause symptoms interfered with work performance weekly. Or that more than a quarter felt their menopause symptoms had a negative impact on their careers.
Yikes!
So what’s a badass woman going through perimenopause and menopause to do?
We’ve curated some ideas for you and your employer. (Feel free to share this with your HR department!)
Keep some flexibility in schedules or work from home practices
As many people head back to offices, relocating a desk to a cooler spot near ventilation or providing fans to control the temperature around employees’ desks can help
Take a refreshed look at benefits - including mental health, alternative benefits, and medical benefits. It’s not all hormone replacement therapy. Ask providers what educational resources they can provide employees
Talk about it! Highlight women in the workplace in their 40s, 50s and beyond who are willing to share their personal journeys
Work with employee resource groups on programming and webinars to reduce the stigma and support women in perimenopause and menopause
As pressure to “grow old gracefully” increases as reported in the Bonafide State of Menopause report, it’s time for open conversations about what women need during this natural part of our life journey.
Medical Term of the Week
Cervical dysplasia is a precancerous condition when there is an abnormal growth in cells on the cervix. There are usually no symptoms for cervical dysplasia, which is why regular screening is critical to catch this prior to cancer developing. HPV is cause of cervical dysplasia.
The Latest
Finding the right exercise routine is a personal endeavor. Taking into account what exercises are best when you have endometriosis adds another layer. Get 4 tips from experts (From Well+Good)
Can AI provide better labor outcomes? Apparently so says a study from the Mayo Clinic. (From FierceBiotech)
We’re going to keep an eye out for The Dotplot, a device designed for at-home breast cancer self-checks. They won the James Dyson award, a recognition for next-generation design products. (from BBC)