Withunflinchinghonesty,LaraParker,theDeputyDirectorforBuzzFeed,sharesherday-to-daychallengesofliving,working,andlovingwithchronicpaincausedbyendometriosisinthisraw,darklyhumorous,andhopefulmemoir.Iwasn’treadytobecompletelyhonestaboutmyvaginayet,andtheworldwasn’treadyforthateither.ButIwasgettingthere.IwantedtheworldtoknowthatallofthispainIhadbeenfeeling...thatitwasrelatedtomyvagina.Thus,VaginaProblemswasborn.Itwasacutesyname.Itwasmywayoftakingthispainandsaying,“Whatever.I’mhere.Ihaveit.Itsucks.Let’stalkaboutit.“InApril2014,DeputyEditorialDirectoratBuzzFeedLaraParkeropeneduptotheworldinanarticleonthewebsite:shesuffersfromendometriosis.Andbeyondthat?Sheletthewholeworldknowthatshewasn’thavinganysex,assexwasexcruciatinglypainful.Lessthanayearbefore,shereceivednotonlythediagnosisofendometriosis,butalsoadiagnosisofpelvicfloordysfunction,vulvodynia,vaginismus,andvulvarvestibulitis.Combined,thesedebilitatingconditionshavewreakedhavoconherlife,causingexcruciatingpainthroughoutherbodysinceshewasfourteenyearsold.TheseareherVaginaProblems.ItwasfiveyearsbeforeLaralearnedwhatwashappeningtoherbody.Fiveyearsofdoctorsinsistingshejusthad“badperiodcramps,“orimplyingherpainwaspsychological.Shamedandstigmatized,Larafoughtbackagainstamedicalcommunitybiasedagainstwomenanddiscoveredthattheignoranceofmanydoctorsaboutwomen’sanatomywasdamagingmorethanjustherownlife.Oneintenwomenhaveendometriosisandittakesanaverageofsevenyearsbeforetheyreceiveanaccuratediagnosis--oranyrelieffromthisincurableillness’chronicpain.Withcandidrevelationsabouthervaginalphysicaltherapy,datingasastraightwomanwithoutpenetrativesex,copingwithpainfulseizureswhileattheoffice,dietandwardrobemalfunctionswhenyourvaginahurtsallthetime,andthedepressionandanxietyoffeelingunloved,LaratacklesitallinVaginaProblems:Endometriosis,PainfulSex,andOtherTabooTopicswithcourage,wit,love,andadeterminationtoliveherbestlife.
love working wit ENDOMETRIOSIS LOVE LET WORKING WIT
