EVENTS AND PROGRAMS

We hosted our first workshop at the Chicago Women’s Health Center in June 2019. So many of the conversations about these conditions take place on anonymous or private online platforms -- and this was one of the first gatherings of its kind where people met in person and felt safe and comfortable to talk honestly about what they’re experiencing….share stories about their pain, and identify how their deeply personal, intensely isolating experiences overlapped. 

In January 2021, we hosted a community building event centered around the zine. 115 people from around the world attended the virtual event and many shared their stories about living with vulvovaginal pain for the first time. Participants were excited to meet others who shared their experiences; many were surprised by how much in common we all had with one another. We received dozens of emails from attendees who told us the event was “incredibly validating, uplifting, and empowering.” 

We hosted a press conference to launch the digital zine and showcase the stories of those who have navigated these conditions, the accompanying stigma, and serious barriers to care. The event focused on racial and gender disparities in how the healthcare system treats people with vulvovaginal pain conditions. Press conference speakers included: Dr. Tayyaba Ahmed, DO, Pelvic Pain Physician; Ankita Patel, Tight Lipped Community Member; Jazzmine Brooks, Owner and Doula of Jai Olive and Co-Founder of the Iowa Black Doula Collective; Stephanie Leonard, Tight Lipped Community Member and Opening Up Contributor; and Hannah Srajer, Tight Lipped Organizer of Medical Advocacy.

“It’s really unbelievable to me how much more comfortable I feel having a body that experiences pelvic pain. I feel like I am literally shedding layers of shame and blame.” 

As part of our work to raise awareness about chronic vulvovaginal and pelvic pain and destigmatize these conditions, we organized and facilitated educational events for college students for the first time. Tight Lipped leaders spoke and presented their personal stories and common patient experiences at Washington University in St. Louis and Bryn Mawr College.  A total of 73 college students attended these events. Our team member Hannah Srajer spoke about vaginismus at the Skin A Cat movie premier at Femme Folks Fest.

The past few months, the Tight Lipped team has been working more closely with medical providers and medical students. In April, Tight Lipped leaders planned and facilitated an event titled “Chronic Pelvic Pain and Pain with Sex” for 30 medical students at Pennsylvania State College of Medicine to learn about common patient experiences and barriers and obstacles to care. 

“Thank you so much to the creators and members of the Tight Lipped team for speaking to our disability advocacy and awareness group at the Penn State College of Medicine. It was truly an eye opening experience for everyone involved and we could not be more grateful.” - Lauren Mazur

“I aspire to be a pelvic floor therapist and I believe hearing personal stories is just as important as taking classes to further my education. [The zine] will further my understanding.” - Marianne Meneses

“As a pelvic health physical therapy practice we are extremely passionate about helping people with vulvovaginal pain and other pelvic pain conditions. Thrilled that this exists so people feel less alone! Awareness and advocacy is so important!” - Jessica Reale, PT