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This article is a summary from some broadsheets published by some American sisters who are involved in self-help clinics. Some time ago a group of women decided to get together to compare past difficulties, and share experiences concerning the care of their fucking and reproductive organs.
Some of the problems we first attacked were: how can I recognise vaginal infections early, before they become so advanced that I have to visit a physician and probably wind up on antibiotics. Can I treat early infections, especially yeast (Monilia) effectively and inexpensively? How do I recognise yeast? What does syphillis look like, and can I recognise gonorrhea, in spite of what physicians say? Are there marked changes on the cervix of my uterus during my 28-30 day menstrual cycle? If so does the cervix also show change due to pregnancy, and if so how soon can l see the change? We realised early in our rap sessions that being able to recognise very early pregnancy would be a great asset if we were to decide to terminate the pregnancy. Another point about which we were all up-tight was the present methods of health care for women. For example you've got an itch, you go to a doctor and an appointment is made for one or two weeks hence. You go through a lot of anxiety and by the time you see the doctor the infection might have spread. When you ask him what the matter is you get some Greek words slung at you and a lot of patronising phrases.
So the women got together. We rapped about our common medical encounters. Then we made a discovery on that very first meeting. In order to better understand what we were talking about we had to look. So we encountered our first, last and only hangup in the entire rap/self-help clinic. And we did it with the help of 5% courage and 95% curiosity. Up on the table each of us went. Some of us were a little shy going up, all of us thoroughly with it by the time we got down. All of us were learning about our sexual organs and realising that we were not only sharing our answers but were learning things about the cervix that was a gold mine of information. No wonder physicians have been reluctant to share the information (ELE SS$). We realised that there was a great deal that we could do for ourselves in personal health care, long before it becomes necessary to see a doctor and all because we learned a very simple selfexamination procedure. We were able to purchase plastic speculums (one for each woman). The speculum opens the vaginal cavity to allow examination of the vaginal walls and the cervix. With the use of a lamp and mirror, it became quite simple to examine ourselves for irritations, discharges, changes on the cervix. Since the cervix has essentially no pain nerve endings, we realised that it was quite easy to have an infection developing without giving any signs. Not until a heavy discharge has reached the vulva (outer lips) or burning and itching is taking place, do we realise what is going on. By ten it is too late to do anything but to go through the ritual of visiting a doctor at his convenience (EEE SS$).
The Self-Help concept of self-examination is based on the reintroduction of sisterly sharing of experiences and knowledge in a commonsense, honest manner. Collective knowledge used within close sisterly groups that we call the Self-Help Clinics, have already had positive results as valuable preventative health care measures The Self-Help Clinic consists of 3 meetings: usually an evening a week for three weeks. These meetings deal primarily with learning self-examination with the help of all the sisters in the group. This is a very meaningful sharing experience for all, since we learn what is normal by having the opportunity to examine many women, under well-women conditions. Occasionally we will have a sister who has a more serious problem and having caught it within selfexamination, is encouraged to seek professional help. The Self-Help Clinic provides the opportunities for women to confront the many myths, misconceptions, and misinformation that we have been fed our entire lives. Being able to examine ourselves in a group situation gives us the first real concrete opportunity to compare the "text book" with reality. This is also the time when we learn to recognise cervical changes (in colour tone, and other signs) in one another. Each
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woman during the first session has learned to insert her own speculum for the self-examination procedure, and keeps this speculum for continuous use. We also learn to give bi-manual (two hands) pelvic examinations by the 3rd evening. Looking at diagrams of our pelvic organs and being able to touch them and know their structure manually, gives us a far greater understanding of our bodies. We also spend the sessions reading and discussing a variety of written material, much of it brought in by members of the group.
We feel another important aspect of these Clinics is to talk about the political implications of women being able to control their own bodies; Giving abortion referrals, becoming fully aware of the great need for abolishing all laws that restrict and control women. We believe that getting to know yourself can save your life. Women are killing themselves with panic abortive methods, because our laws refuse them proper care. In spite of our restrictive laws, getting to know our own bodies and what we can do for them has opened up far better choices of personal care. We are continuing to live under outrageous laws and barbaric medical practices. We believe that in learning to accept the care and knowledge of our own physical selves, we will be well on the road to self determination.
Some of the findings that came of our original Self-help Clinic and on which we were then able to take positive action were: 1. Any woman who is exposed to the risk of pregnancy, by examining herself once a week, and becoming thoroughly familiar with her own cervix, can within one week after missing her period, recognise that she is pregnant. She need not depend on chemical tests; 2. Syphillis is easily detected. Gonorrhea is still difficult but when uterine discharges occur, we catch them early and can take positive action; 3. Yeast infections can be recognised easily, as can Trichomonas, and treated inexpensively and in many cases with positive results within 24 hours without a prescription. You need not be a highly skilled clinician to learn to recognise by the name the most common vaginal infections. By being able to recognise early infections we have taken control of our right to choices of treatment. Including the choice of ultimate self determination which is also called "doing the job myself"
PUBIC BONE SLAPPER UTERUS -FALLOPIAN TUBE OVARY PECULUM RECTOM SPECULUM IN PLACE 4. We have also perfected successful methods of starting late periods. These methods are based on self-help. To date they are 100% effective, and 100% safe.
After careful study of good factual material and seeing informative films on abortion methods, we discovered a highly refined aspiration technique that is both simple and safe. This technique is called the Karman Cannula method. There is presently also a sizeable number of advanced and very dedicated women who are determined to research out the possibilities of menstrual extraction, which is not a euphemism for abortion. These dedicated women, who are working and learning together and who are providing valuable information in the skills of menstrual extraction, are facing a host of difficulties and non-cooperation from the manufacturer (neither the tubing to be used in the manufacturing of the cannula nor the finished cannula are available through laboratory or surgical suppliers. It is specially made by a large bio-instrument manufacturer and sold for a very high price).
We are seeing, today, unbelieveable gains springing trom this movement of Self-Help in the spirit of sisterhood. We also forsee that it will take continued dedication by all sisters, vast investments of time, motivation, enthusiasm and money for this movement to succeed. Throwing off the oppression of centuries takes total commitment and sisterhood RECTAL EXAM BI-MANUAL EXAM