The Vagina Museum Podcast

In the final installment of our endometriosis mini-series, we speak to two people with endometriosis about their journeys through and beyond a diagnosis of endometriosis and how they have harnessed these experiences to help others. Justyna Green is a UK-based illustrator and podcaster. She shares her personal journey as a cis woman using art to process her endo experiences and raise awareness for the public. Cori Smith is an American activist who shares his experiences as a trans man navigating severe endometriosis and the US healthcare system. This series is funded by the Wellcome Center for Human Genetics.

Show notes & transcript: http://tinyurl.com/vmendo4

"Endometriosis: Into the Unknown" will be open at the Vagina Museum in London from 4 Nov 2023 - 3 Mar 2024. An online version is also available at our website. You can find out more about Vagina Museum, get awesome merch from our online shop, and become a member of the Cliterati on our website: vaginamuseum.co.uk

In this episode of our endometriosis mini-series, we’re looking at the latest research being done into endometriosis diagnoses and treatment. We spoke to over a dozen researchers at the Endometriosis CaRe Centre at the University of Oxford about their ongoing work and how it could change the care endometriosis patients receive. This series is funded by the Wellcome Center for Human Genetics.

Show notes & transcript: tinyurl.com/vmendo3

"Endometriosis: Into the Unknown" will be open at the Vagina Museum in London from 4 Nov 2023 - 3 Mar 2024. An online version is also available at our website. You can find out more about Vagina Museum, get awesome merch from our online shop, and become a member of the Cliterati on our website: vaginamuseum.co.uk

190 million people in the world have endometriosis. But despite how widespread the condition is, many people find themselves waiting years for a diagnosis and struggling to find support. In this episode, we’re chatting with the folks at Endometriosis UK about the diagnostic journey, support services, and how to advocate for yourself if you think you may have endometriosis. This series is funded by the Wellcome Center for Human Genetics. Show Notes & Transcript: tinyurl.com/vmendo2

"Endometriosis: Into the Unknown" will be open at the Vagina Museum in London from 4 Nov 2023 - 3 Mar 2024. An online version is also available at our website. You can find out more about Vagina Museum, get awesome merch from our online shop, and become a member of the Cliterati on our website: vaginamuseum.co.uk

190 million people in the world have endometriosis. So why do we know so little about it? In this endometriosis mini-series, we’ll explore the condition—from ancient treatments to cutting-edge research. In this episode, we look at 2,000 years of history to explore how people with endometriosis symptoms were treated (and often dismissed). Then we talk to Dr. Camran Nezhat, a pioneer and leading practitioner in the field of minimally invasive surgery, who shares his 40-year journey advocating for endometriosis patients and advancing endometriosis research and awareness. This series is funded by the Wellcome Center for Human Genetics. Show notes & transcript: tinyurl.com/vmendo1

"Endometriosis: Into the Unknown" will be open at the Vagina Museum in London from 4 Nov 2023 - 3 Mar 2024. You can find out more about Vagina Museum, get awesome merch from our online shop, and become a member of the Cliterati on our website: vaginamuseum.co.uk

The Vagina Museum is re-opening in London on Nov 4 with a brand new exhibition, "Endometriosis: Into the Unknown." And that means the podcast is coming back too with four new episodes about endometriosis: its history, current diagnoses and treatment options, support options for those living with the disease, and the cutting-edge research helping to demystify this under-studied condition. Stay tuned for the first new episode, coming Nov 8.

​This exhibition and accompanying programming are produced in collaboration with Oxford EndoCare, part of the Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, and the Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics based at The University of Oxford.

First off, yes, space gynaecology is a real specialty. Second, yes, we interviewed a space gynaecologist on this episode. And third, there’s a whole lot we earth-bound menstruators can gain from research done on periods in space. In this episode, Varsha Jain MD, PhD talks about her research into menstruating astronauts and how that led her to study heavy bleeding on earth. She explains the causes and impacts of heavy bleeding and what she’s doing to develop new treatments for her patients suffering from this condition. Show Notes & Transcript: tinyurl.com/vm0203

The pain is real. Pelvic pain and period pain, that is. If you’ve ever wondered why people with uteruses get pain, what’s “normal,” and when to see a doctor, this is the episode for you. And if you’ve ever had your pain diminished, dismissed, or been told it’s all in your head, this episode is definitely for you. We go in-depth with Dr. Sonia Bahlani a.k.a the Pelvic Pain Doc to get nuanced, compassionate advice on dealing with all types of pelvic pain. Show notes & transcript: https://tinyurl.com/vm0202

Welcome to a whole podcast season on periods and the menstrual cycle. Whether you love ‘em, hate ‘em, or are totally ambivilent, you’ll learn something new and get empowered to bust stigma and shame. In this episode, we talk to Tara Costello, period educator and author of “Red Moon Gang: An inclusive guide to periods.” Tara helps us understand the basic science behind cycles, busts some myths (28 days means nothing), and gets us thinking about what period positivity does and doesn’t mean. Notes & transcript: https://tinyurl.com/vm0201

“Queer people and trans people have always existed and we will always exist.” In this episode, we’re exploring trans and gender-nonconforming saints, gods, and everyday people from the ancient and medieval past (and why their stories are so relevant to the present). Our guides on this journey are Dr Jonah Coman, a historian of medieval queer history and trans theology, and Eirnin Jefford Franks, a historian of Viking age religion and queerness. Notes & transcript: tinyurl.com/vmpod6

As you may know, some people advocate for eating one’s placenta after the birth of a child. The placenta can–according to proponents of the practice–be steamed, stir-fried, blended in a smoothie, or dried and encapsulated in pills. A whole host of benefits have been claimed, as has an ancient and global precedent. In this episode, we look for historical evidence of human “placentophagy” and ask scientific and medical experts to weigh in on the trend. Sources/Transcript: tinyurl.com/vm-placenta