The wonders of women's work

I had a stuck speculum at work tonight. I wonder how many times that has been the opening sentence to a blog post? No, I am not going to bore you with a dissertation on how to fold fitted sheets or the best way to get purple texta out of doona covers. We're talking paid women's work here. Allow me to explain.

I work with a fantastic group of women who teach medical students how to perform women friendly (can anyone think of a better way to describe it??) pap smears and breast checks. We come from all walks of life and bring a diversity of experience to our work. We are well trained and provide an invaluable teaching service to students.

We demonstrate the procedure to the students in groups (one of us performing the examination and one modelling usually with about six students) then split into groups of two students and two teaching associates (TAs). One of us is examined by a student while the other TA provides support and then we swap. It means the students get to perform this intimate and important examination for the first time in a supportive learning environment where they receive useful clinical information and a different insight from us into the true meaning of a partnership in care. Many people find the very idea of this work confronting and associated with a major ick factor. I love it and think its a great opportunity for these students.

So...on to stuck speculum's...Most women and many clinicians never hear about this issue. We believe that its one of the reasons that women find pap smears painful and don't reappoint at the 2yr mark. Basically what happens is the bills of the speculum create a vacuum against the vaginal walls and the speculum literally becomes stuck. The telltale sign is that when you start to remove the speculum it draws the cervix with it. This can be visualised as the cervix bulging forward as the speculum is removed causing resistance for the clinician and pain (cramping) for the woman. If it is not recognised and the speculum is removed without addressing the problem this pain can be persistent over many days. If a few simple measures are used at the time (getting the woman to cough, lower and raise one leg or dismantling the spec) this significant problem can be averted. Its something that all med students and beginning clinicians should be aware of and know how to deal with...I hope this means they will have the capacity and motivation to teach others. If we can get the word out there clinical practice will improve and women will be more likely to come back.

On that note all the students we taught tonight gave us brilliant feedback and even a round of applause at the end of the session. They were all brilliant, attentive and respectful. A group of 5th years on their way to becoming excellent doctors. Now that makes me all warm and fuzzy!

Time to talk Nuptials

Right....I've been thinking along these lines for some time now but have been spurred into action by good friend and colleague Kathryn who seems to think the bridezillas of the world need to hear from me personally. Frankly I reckon they're probably too busy shrieking at their wedding planners or chucking tantrums in Vera Wang to take much notice. If it only provides a little light entertainment for the interested few that's fine with me. So topic numero uno for the blog will feature my wedding plans such as they are. I hope it demonstrates that this undeniably significant day does not require a 50K budget or for anyone to end up breathing into a paper bag. It can actually be fun, exciting, cheap and stress free.

Mark and I have been talking about getting the formal stamp for a little over a year now. We are in love and we want EVERYONE to know about it. All the important peeps at least. Plans for a spring wedding have been truncated for pragmatic reasons so I have less than seven weeks to plan the big day. More like five...and a bit.

So far I have tackled

• Dress (less than 2 hrs in 2 shops, off the rack, minor alterations to be completed by the talented Mistress Jane). I love it...pics to follow. Cost....$240.
• Suit and tie (10 minutes in menswear shop sans partner, off the rack again). Its a lovely pin stripe wool blend that was on super special for less than any hire cost I was quoted. Cost for suit $99, tie $20.
• Wedding rings (about an hour trawling online after several unproductive hours in overpriced jewellers). They are tungsten carbide and 18K gold inlay. Cost $169.99 for 2.
• Venue (quick google search for local registry office, three forms downloaded and printed, two phone calls with celebrant). The room is perfectly lovely and centrally located and the peeps there are sweet. Cost $235...this includes all official documentation.
• Invitations (google is my friend again). Customised and created online, professionally printed and delivered to my door. Cost....$14 for ten with matching envelopes.

Next on the list is shoes as Mistress Jane needs to know how much hemming to do asap and then reception. I'll keep you posted!