Sexual health and wellness

Sexual health is health. Yet it remains one of the most under-discussed parts of a woman’s wellbeing, spoken about in whispers, if it is spoken about at all. Too many women carry questions about their bodies alone: about pain, about pleasure, about what is normal and what is not. They wonder whether their experience belongs only to them. It rarely does. Whether the topic is HPV-related cancers, low libido, lubricants and dilators, or the basic anatomy nobody ever named for them, the absence of clear and honest information leaves women guessing. In matters of health, guessing costs us.

This page exists to change that. The conditions and questions gathered here are common, treatable, and worth talking about out loud. Shame feeds on silence, and silence is the real harm, not the bodies, not the questions, not the desire to feel well and whole. When we use the actual words, vulva, pain, pleasure, we take the charge out of them. We make room for women to understand what is happening, ask for what they need, and find their next step. Honest information is how we close the gap between suffering quietly and living fully.

So I want you to read on. Explore the topics that speak to your experience, and the ones you were never given permission to ask about. This information belongs to everyone who loves and cares for you, so talk about what you learn with your daughters and sons, your partner, and your friends. I want you to know that you are not broken, and you do not have to suffer in silence. Your sexual health is a vital part of your whole health, and you deserve clear answers and real care for every part of it.

Say it out loud,

Kristen Parise BSc, MSc, BHSc PT
Pelvic Health Physiotherapist
Founder, Blueberry Therapy Pelvic Health & Pediatrics
Assistant Clinical Professor, McMaster University
Host, The Hole Shebang Podcast
Creator, The Pleasure Principle Conference
www.blueberrytherapy.ca

Anal cancer is a rare cancer that develops in the anus, the opening where faeces leaves the body at the end of the lower gastrointestinal tract.

Symptoms can include

• Anal/rectal bleeding.
• Blood in stool or on toilet paper.
• Bowel changes, such as incontinence.
• Mucousal discharge from the anus.
• Pain, itching, pressure, and/or discomfort around the anus.
• A lump near the anus.
• Ulcers around the anus.
• Feeling of fullness, discomfort, and/or pain in the rectum.

Cervical cancer develops when abnormal cells grow in the lining of the cervix. The cervix connects the uterus to the vagina and plays key roles in vaginal health, supporting fertilisation, and maintaining pregnancy until birth.

Symptoms can include

• Vaginal bleeding between periods
• Menstrual bleeding that is longer or heavier than usual
• Bleeding after intercourse
• Pain during intercourse
• Unusual vaginal discharge
• Vaginal bleeding after menopause.

Ovarian cancer is a type of carcinoma in which one or more tumours form in the ovaries. The ovaries are two small, walnut shaped organs that release eggs during the female reproductive cycle. Ovarian cancers are generally grouped into three main types based on the cells they arise from: epithelial, germ cell, or stromal cell.

Uterine cancer is a cancer that develops in the tissues of the uterus. Most cases begin in the lining of the uterus and are called endometrial cancer, while a much rarer form, uterine sarcoma, starts in the muscle or supporting structures of the uterus.

Symptoms can include

• Vaginal bleeding or spotting after menopause
• Bleeding between periods
• Unusually heavy, long, or frequent periods
• Watery or foul-smelling vaginal discharge
• Pelvic pain or discomfort, especially in the lower abdomen

Fallopian tube cancer is a rare type of gynaecological cancer that develops in the cells lining the fallopian tubes, the narrow structures that connect the ovaries to the uterus and carry the egg during ovulation. Most fallopian tube cancers are adenocarcinomas, arising from the glandular cells inside the tube.

• Pelvic or lower abdominal pain
• A pelvic mass (sometimes felt during a clinical examination)
• Feeling of pressure or fullness in the pelvis
• Lower back pain
• Pain during intercourse (dyspareunia)
• Unexplained weight loss or fatigue

Because these symptoms overlap with many other conditions, it’s important for anyone experiencing them to consult a qualified healthcare professional for assessment.

Women may experience:

• Pain at the vaginal opening (burning, stinging, sharp pain)
• Deep pelvic pain during penetration or certain positions
• Tightness or spasming of the pelvic floor muscles
• Pain with initial insertion (tampons, medical exams, intercourse)
• Burning or irritation after intercourse
• Pain that worsens with arousal or penetration
• Fear or anticipation of pain, which can increase muscle tension
• Reduced lubrication, making penetration uncomfortable
• Post intercourse soreness or aching

Because dyspareunia can have many causes, including pelvic floor dysfunction, vaginismus, vaginal atrophy, infections, endometriosis, trauma, or hormonal changes, it’s important for anyone experiencing these symptoms to speak with a qualified healthcare professional for assessment and support.

Women may experience one or more of the following:

• Reduced interest in sexual activity
• Less frequent sexual thoughts or fantasies
• Feeling indifferent toward sexual cues or opportunities
• Difficulty becoming mentally engaged in sexual activity
• Lowered responsiveness to touch or intimacy
• Emotional detachment from sexual connection
• Avoidance of sexual activity due to discomfort, fatigue, or stress
• Changes in arousal linked to hormonal shifts (e.g., perimenopause, postpartum, medication changes)
• Reduced pleasure or satisfaction during sexual activity
• Pain related avoidance (e.g., vaginismus, dyspareunia, pelvic floor dysfunction)