#BePelvicHealthAware: Starting conversations about pelvic health
One of every two women will experience one or more pelvic floor symptoms during her lifetime. Led by Dr Roxana Geoffrion, urogynecologist and UBC researcher, a Vancouver-based team launched www.bepelvichealthaware.ca and an accompanying social media campaign to promote pelvic floor health by sharing best practices. The website is home to four whiteboard animation videos, with more to come. Through simple images and plain language, the videos aim to illustrate best practice clinical guidelines on pelvic health and prevention of disease from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada.
So far, the videos cover pelvic health and pregnancy, obstetrical anal sphincter injuries, pessaries, and urinary incontinence. The website also offers information on pelvic health after childbirth, menopause-related issues, pelvic floor disorders such as prolapse or incontinence, and the importance of exercise to keep healthy. Website viewers are also encouraged to submit their own questions. The goal is to provide access to medical information on these sensitive topics and empower people to speak to their providers about childbirth trauma, healing, and prevention of further disease.
The website and its resources are also aimed at women’s health care providers looking to direct their patients to simple evidence-based information on pelvic floor health during pregnancy and beyond.
To learn more about the campaign, visit www.bepelvichealthaware.ca or follow the team on Instagram or Facebook. Visit www.bepelvichealthaware.ca/spread-the-word for a communications toolkit with sample web and social media content to share with patients.