Nearly eight years into marriage we had our first child, after finally getting my pelvic pain conditions to a manageable level. Once we decided to starting trying to get pregnant we were pregnant the first month. The second time around has been a much different story, leading us to delve much deeper into assessing reproductive health and implementing new tactics of self-care.

Never in a million gazillion years would I have ever thought attempting to get pregnant for nearly two years would lead to implementing vaginal steaming. Vaginal what?!? Yes, you read that right, Vaginal Steaming. Hearing “Steam” you may picture scalding hot water, suitable for blasting dirt off metal or cleaning your living room carpet? I don’t blame you, i’m pretty certain that’s what my husband was picturing when I broached the topic with him. All ya’ll can calm down, it’s not that scary.

Prior to it being suggested to me, I first heard about Vaginal Steaming, also called yoni steaming, from a friend of mine who used it to normalize her painful periods. For as long as i’d known her she's always had miserable periods. They were the kind that left her laying in bed, terrible cramping, headaches, and nausea. Fast forward a few months and after much digging into my reproductive health, midwife and hormone specialist, Karly Nuttall, suggested it to me but for a few different reasons: mid-cycle bleeding, short cycles (Under 27 Days), and infertility.

If none of what I mentioned above applies to you, there’s still a great chance implementing this practice could benefit you for many other reasons.

WHY V - STEAM
Blood flow! Cleansing! Vaginal steaming helps with blood circulation, detoxification, and supplying nutrients. It’s an internal cleanser of the membranes of the tissues in the vagina and the uterus. When blood flow to the uterus is decreased, often from being sedentary, the poor circulation can make it hard to conceive, stay pregnant, cause heavy menstrual cramping, excessive bleeding or light bleeding, brown spotting, clots, ovarian cysts, hemorrhoids, hormonal imbalances, and much more. Blood Flow detoxifies and keeps your tissues healthy and replenished. Proper blood flow helps the endometrial lining accept a fertilized egg and provides the uterus nutrients.

SIGNS TO CONSIDER STEAMING
Menstrual Cramping/Painful Periods
Brown/Dark Blood or Clotting during Menstruation
Endometriosis
PCOS
Not Menstruating
Irregular Periods
Long cycles
Short Cycles (Fewer than 4 Days of bleeding)
Miscarriage
Uterine Fibroids
Weak Uterus
Uterine Prolapse
Ovarian Cysts
Reproductive Adhesion/Scar Tissue
Having had a vaginal tear or episiotomy
Pre/Post Menopause
Dryness
Infections
Postpartum Healing
Trying to Conceive

I ordered my herbs from Steamy Chick and followed the protocol on the webpage. I steamed, starting on Day 20, per my midwife and hormone specialist’s suggestion, followed by 21 and 22. Even though I read that it’s supposed to be a relaxing experience, much like the feeling after a warm bath, I was still silently apprehensive that because of my vulvodynia steaming would be painful during or after. I didn’t experience pain from it.

My first time steaming I used the approach of kneeling over the steam and that wasn’t very relaxing for me. The next day I opted for sitting on a stool with a hole cut in it and a blanket draped over my lap. That seemed to be much more relaxing and seemingly more effective because more of the steam stayed trapped under the blanket.

Some women read or watch TV while steaming but TV wasn’t relaxing for me. I’ve also read that some meditate to further relax themselves. The second day I put my phone on Do Not Disturb, set my phone timer, and meditated until my timer went off. I found the combination of steaming and meditating to be the most effective in relaxing me because all I was focusing on was breathing and centering my thoughts.

At this point I don't yet know the full impact steaming will make for my situation and I’ve read it takes a few months to see a difference in how it will help cycles.

What I do know is how empowering it feels to implement a self-care practice, used by women all over the world for thousands of years, in the comfort of my own home.

JUNE 2018 UPDATE: Before steaming my flow went from 8 or 9 days long with a slow start and slow ending then started again 26/27 days later. After a few months of steaming my cycle regulated to 5 day cycles starting every 28/29 days. It did not flare my vulvodynia pain and is actually quite relaxing to that whole area and moisturizing too.

Old School Modern Mama,

Melanie Satterlee's Old School Modern Mama Blog

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