Written by: Michiko Caringal (she/her), MScPT, MHSc in Bioethics Edited by: Lydia Collins (she/her) I was a 20-something year old with anorexia, and newly diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The front desk clerks at hospitals and medical clinics wouldn’t even bother to look at my health card anymore while checking me…
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Abortion Narratives – Part 2
By: Zev (Ze/Zem). I was 15 when I found out I was pregnant. I was in an abusive relationship, and unable to realize how bad of a situation I was in. I was by myself when I read the results of the home pregnancy test. I started to cry because…
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Spank Me Harder Than That! I’m Disabled, Not Broken
Written by: Òla (she/they) Edited by: Shelby MacGregor (she/her). *Acronym and term definition key is below the piece I have a theory that disability breeds ingenuity, and I don’t mean that in some problematic, voyeuristic, Rain Manesque way, or even a “my disabled son is my superhero!” way. I’m referring…
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Abortion Narratives – Part 1
By: Anonymous In February 2020, weeks before the beginning of lockdowns and months before I’d graduate nursing school, I found out I was 6 weeks pregnant. I told myself that those two pink lines were false, there was no way I was pregnant. But then the past few weeks of…
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Accessing Sterilization as a Black Queer Woman: Race, Gender, and Body Autonomy
Written by: Òla (she/they) Edited by: Lydia Collins (she/her). “You’re too young to know anything about yourself.” Said the fourth gynecologist I’d seen since formally seeking sterilization in 2017. I was on an exam table, chilly under the papery gown I was given when instructed to disrobe. I was doing…
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Euphoria Vs Pain: A Trans Pelvic Pain Perspective
Written by: Mel McGovern (they/them). Edited by: Miles Llewellyn (they/them). I have a complicated relationship with my genitals, but I also want to experience pleasure and eliminate painful pelvic symptoms. However, navigating my vaginal and vulvar pain, often publicized as a “women’s issue,” while being transgender is extremely frustrating and…
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Post-Abortion Grief: It Never Occurred to Me That It Would Be Impactful
Written by: Anonymous (she/her). Edited by: Zahra Taboun (she/her). Note: The author refers to women in the piece to self-identify and as a way to describe people who may get an abortion, but we want to acknowledge that not all folks who get an abortion identify as a woman. Because…
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Why We Need Better Trauma-Informed Care in Medicine
Written by: Isis Lunsky (she/her). Edited by: Zahra Taboun (she/her). CW: sexual assault/violence I remember coming into the emergency department with a cough and fever. I was 19 and it was pre-COVID, so it seemed like a benign visit. The resident physician comes over and asks some routine questions about…
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The Battle for Vaginismus Care
Written by: Helen Martin (she/her). Edited by: Zahra Taboun (she/her). Vaginismus is a genito-pelvic pain disorder that is best described as painful vaginal penetration. It affects approximately 5%-17% of those with a vagina and is classically diagnosed through reports of pain with tampon insertion, gynecological exams and penetrative sex (1).…
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Why I am Advocating for Changes in Mental Health Care: My Story of PSSD
Written by: Emily Grey (she/her). Edited by: Zahra Taboun (she/her). My name is Emily and I am 24 years old. I was born and raised on Vancouver Island, BC. My story with mental healthcare is uncommon and sharing my experiences with others often makes people uncomfortable. Nevertheless, I feel it…
