tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387757235421993128.post592249079814115163..comments2023-12-27T23:42:45.680-05:00Comments on The Abortioneers: Heath Educator?placenta sandwichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14729355361057625131noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387757235421993128.post-42463638238761236212010-07-27T11:00:26.940-04:002010-07-27T11:00:26.940-04:00@ Lily--I think I end up explaining cervices to EV...@ Lily--I think I end up explaining cervices to EVERYONE I counsel, because I've found it's so mysterious to most women. I kind of say, as an aside, "the opening of your uterus," and gesture to the model on the desk next to me, and then if I see any confusion, I elaborate further. I'm also a big fan of using my fist as a model cervix and showing how it's dilated. Or, I'm so dorky, I end up getting excited about, "Have you ever seen your cervix? Oh, let me show you some pictures!" And I love that you also love the teen clients.<br /><br />@ Beth--Basically, my head explodes and I dissolve into a puddle of frustration and sadness. ...But alternatively, depending on my audience, I say something to the effect of, "In all my years at the clinic, I haven't met any woman who uses abortion as her primary form of birth control, but even if someone did, it's kind of understandable because birth control really isn't nearly as accessible or effective as it should be." And honestly, by "no one uses it as their primary form of birth control," I mean that even if they use hoping and praying as their primary form, the time and money that it takes to have an abortion isn't ideal for anyone. And if I'm talking to someone who's pro-choice but just uninformed, I might say, "Well, abortion kind of IS birth control, isn't it?" Because IT IS, AND OMG, THAT'S FINE.Desembarazarmehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14594251830121657416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387757235421993128.post-52854671895230042602010-07-25T13:19:14.376-04:002010-07-25T13:19:14.376-04:00Since you brought it up, how do you counter the st...Since you brought it up, how do you counter the statement, "Abortion shouldn't be used as birth control." <br /><br />When I discuss my views with people, I hear this, and I just don't know how to respond.<br /><br />Thanks in advance.Bethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16066726090554983377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387757235421993128.post-14068533957317922522010-07-17T10:53:57.994-04:002010-07-17T10:53:57.994-04:00Just going off your first paragraph, slightly off-...Just going off your first paragraph, slightly off-topic - I *love* counseling teenage patients too; I actually love it when I get to explain what the cervix is or show them a speculum! I worry sometimes that I miss those opportunities because it's a fine line between potentially talking down to a young person - assuming they DON'T have knowledge they very well might already know - versus glossing over something they don't understand because they're too intimidated to speak up and tell me. I try to preface all my explanations with "Please interrupt me at any point if you have *any* questions, or if there's anything you need explained further" but I don't know how much that really does to put all patients at ease. (Sometimes the ones who do ask a lot of questions, which I absolutely love answering, actually apologize for doing so!) How do you navigate that? Do you ask outright if they know what their cervix is, or do you wait to see a flicker of confusion, or do you explain basic things without being asked?candid cannulahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17522106675934282845noreply@blogger.com