Nowadays it seems that everyone and their neighbor has an opinion on healthy living and self-care strategies. From meditation to crystals and green juice cleanses; there has been a huge shift in the culture of wellness in our country that is hard to miss. Although a new shiny spotlight has been cast on self-care it can be an ironically stressful to wade through what works in the wellness space and what is a huge marketing ploy (cough cough it’s not a great idea to put a crystal in your vagina that has been charged by the moon)!
Here at WomanLab we believe in spreading truths about sex and cancer that are evidence-based (i.e. backed by rigorous science) and loved by our own patients in the PRISM Clinic. We see women who are looking to preserve, restore, and recover their sexual function after cancer. They’ve given us feedback about what works and what doesn’t and we want to share it with you.
While it is great to be living in a society finally placing value in taking care of oneself, we wanted to help you recognize the difference between great self-care strategies and #fakenews, so the past eight weeks we’ve been posting our most trusted sexual self-care strategies. Don’t have time to scroll? No problem! We’ve collated all the tips and tricks into one handy guide.
- Experiment with lubricants! If the lubricant section at the drug store has caught your eye, but you want more guidance on what they are, how to and why you should be using one, read more here.
- Can’t have, don’t want, aren’t interested in sex? That’s OK and this blog talks all about how you can get the same benefits from nonsexual touch that you would from sex.
- Do your nether-regions feel like the Sahara Desert? Show yourself some love by incorporating a vaginal moisturizer into your everyday (or, every other day) self-care routine. Read more here.
- Take some time to ask your doctor questions about your sexual function in the context of cancer. Need ideas written by an actual M.D. who works with woman with cancer? Check out Dr. Stacy Lindau’s blog “Questions to Ask your Doctor About Sex and Cancer.”
This list is not meant to make you feel overwhelmed. What might work well for some may not be appealing to others. Challenge yourself to pick one of these strategies to experiment with this week or this month. If it doesn’t feel right for your lifestyle, try something else. Go at your own pace. Be gentle with yourself. This list is for you!
Edited by Megan DePumpo