I did a poll in my community support group about what you would guys would like to know more about and I got a yes for cervical wellness, HPV and pap smears.
So here goes!
Firstly, do you even know what your cervix looks like?
Honestly they only time I ever thought about the cervix was in sex edu class in highschool or when I was going to have a baby. Seriously, it blows my mind that my child’s head come out that way. That’s the magically thing about it all, how everything just comes back together.
So we’re told the cervix means the neck of the uterus in Latin. It’s the passage way between the uterus and the vaginal canal. It’s about 2-3 cm long and cylindrical in shape.
What’s the purpose of the cervix?
Good question! Some people say is a gateway to the uterus for sperm to travel up when you’re ovulating aswell as a barrier to keep unhealthy stuff out of your body. But the cervix is more than just a door.
Did you know that your cervix feels different than the walls of your vagina? The cervix is firm in texture similarly to the tip of your nose while your vaginal walls feel more like the inside of your mouth where your cheek is.
It’s a place where transformation happens.
Quite literately. The cells of your uterus travel throughout the cervix and transform into different cells and this process is very delicate. If you can imagine a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly, this is a vulnerable stage in the process. When women are having a pap smear, the test is checking for abnormalities is cells transformation that haven’t quite got it right.
HPV stands for human papillomavirus which is a common sexually transmitted infection that can disrupt this delicate process and increase the chances of developing cervical cancer too.
Choosing to get a pap smear is a personal choice. For many women, it can be a very uncomfortable or even painful. But if you are concerned about your reproductive health and have concerns about fertility, you can request the service of a female midwife to do this test.
As someone who has had some really painful and uncomfortable pap tests, I know how vulnerable and even degrading it feels when you get a practitioner who isn’t sensitive to how it feels for the patient. Personally, I’d prefer a midwife.
Can you touch your cervix?
Many women don’t know that they can touch their cervix. In fact, your cervix rises and falls throughout your menstrual month. It’s at its lowest position when you are menstruating.
I recommend you start to get to know this part of your female anatomy and develop a connection to it. It’s a part of the body we don’t see and it’s difficult to feel the sort of sensations you might feel when touching the back of your hand. Symbolically it represents the circle of life, death and life plays out each month with each menstrual cycle. When you view it from this perspective, like I said, it’s not just a door!
Mindfulness Practice to Tapping into Your Cervical Wisdom
Right now, take a moment and bring your awareness to the mind’s eye inside your head. Imagine a small round rose quartz crystal emitting beautiful energy from that place. Then image this crystal drop straight down to where your uterus is, then deeper into the bowl of your uterus. This is where your cervix is. Bringing this awareness can get quite grounding and a way to bring healing attention especially if you’re wanting to balance your hormones and boost fertility.
If you think this seems all too woo woo, then check out The Connection doco that details the science between the body and mind connection when it comes to health.
3 things you can do to increase cervical wellness:
- Self-examination – It’s important to know what your cervix looks like. Just seeing it can give you a sense of connection to your body by simply acknowledging it. If you choose to have a pap smear, ask to see it with a small mirror. Curious to see what a cervix looks like? Click here to see photos.
- Self-exploration – If you’ve never felt your cervix, have a feel. This part of the cervix is what we call the face of the cervix. Being able to feel your cervix, you can start to get attune to sensations and developing more of an awareness to that part of the body. The cervix sits within the root chakra and is responsible for your sense of safety and security in the world. When there is an imbalance, people can experience anxiety and fear. Using the mindfulness exercise above, is all about bringing awareness to this place and begin to clear any sexual or birth trauma and fear of infertility as well as the actual act of giving birth.
- Boost your immune system and reduce stress – When you have a strong immune system, you are giving your body a fighting chance to kill any harmful bacteria and viruses from your body. When it comes to food, think about eating the colours of the rainbow. Stress not only lowers your immune system but what most people don’t know is that the vagus nerve connects your brain, throat, heart, uterus together and terminates at the cervix. Studies have shown stress increase the risk for women developing cervical cancer and I believe it is because of the relationship of these organs have with each other. Happy mind and heart leads to a happy cervix!
If you’ve enjoyed exploring this topic on cervical wellness, share with me what you found helpful in the comments below and say hi!
Want to have a deeper relationship with your reproductive organs and menstrual cycle? I’m running an event called Discover the Missing Link in Reducing Your PMS Symptoms in Just 5-Days. Click here to register, starts Friday 6/11.
