300 Years & Counting 1H KILLS - On The Issues Magazine

I J XTALKING FEMINISTA 34-Year Problem Was Treated (by malephysicans) With Pats On The Headby Lois Greene Stone^^M ^^M ow docs this remark grab^^H I you? "Myomectomy is the^ J I operation of choice whenI it is necessary to save theI uterus for reproduction, or^^H I for sentiment." (TextbookH i H I of Surgery, 6th Edition,1956)Okay, men can't really understandwhy some women are reluctant to havea hysterectomy, but why make femalefeelings seem irrational?Occasionally, when I was younger, I'dbeen content to play "Me Tarzan, YouJane," but the feminist movement,coupled withmy own agingprocess, hasgiven me freedom at least to have aswing on Tarzan's rope. Though I lostthe war, I did put up some pretty goodbattles.In 1943, when I was nine, a bookletcalled Growing Up and Liking It instructedme to not get chilled, washhair or walk in the rain during my menstrualperiod. My mother prepared mefor its onset with positive philosophyand wonder about my body eventuallyhousing a human.In 1945, secondary ovarian failure thatbecame a 34-year problem was treated(by male physicians) with pats on thehead. Iron-deficiency anemia from prolongedperiods was met with pills. Inhigh school, the swim teacher wouldn'tbelieve anyone could "normally" bleedfor more than 10 days at a time, so asympathetic physician had me dropswimming to spare me humiliation; atleast 10 days, for me, was normal.Allergic to my own progesterone, Imonthly vomited, sweated, bled. Mymother, however, did such a superb jobwith my attitude about being female, Iaccepted, coped, and didn't give in to thedisability of twisting cramps or excessiveblood flow.In college, tampons represented freedomto swim, and certainly more comfortduring classes when combined witha protective pad. Painful cramps wereendured."When you get married your periodswill be within average normal limits,"a patronizing internist stated. Hethought my cramps and irritability wereproducts of my active mind. Later, Iheard "when you have children," then,"when you're older." Even my husband,a medical student when we married in1956, was taught dysmenorrhea wasmental and some menstrual problemsa product of penis envy.Three planned times, with temperaturechart and drugs, my uterus swelledwith life. Again, grateful to my mother,I went through many physiological problemsbut was emotionally high. Givingbirth without anesthesia, unusual in1959, was an incredible act my aware8 ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1992