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A Voice for Change

Changing the landscape for women with Gynaecological, Sexual and related Mental Health Issues

Media

Why I started the International Gynaecological (GYN) Awareness Day

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Why I started the International Gynaecological (GYN) Awareness Day

by Kath Mazzella OAM

There were five major events that led me to create the International GYN Awareness Day.

Diagnosed with Gynaecological Cancer

When I was diagnosed with Vulva cancer, I endured a tremendous process of grief and personal physical and emotional struggle with first the diagnosis and then with the terrible suffering of the surgery and life post-surgery. Excuse my frankness, but at first, I was shell shocked that I had to choose between dying and living without my ‘female sacred soul’ for the sake of my family, as they wanted to cut out my clitoris, lymph glands and vulva. The first thoughts after diagnosis were, “What will I be without my genitals?”, “What about my sexual life?” and “Will my husband leave me?”, which then progressed to “What am I?” and “Where do I fit in society?”
Discovered Daughter had Endometriosis and Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome

Then a short time after my surgery I discovered that my daughter had Endometriosis and Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Through ignorance, I had been unsympathetic and unsupportive of my daughter, secretly thinking ‘suck it up, princess, we all have pain with our periods’. I had little knowledge of gynaecology risks and symptoms, so I was mortified to learn that my daughter had been suffering severe levels of pain and doing that suffering relatively alone. She had joined the ranks of the millions of women in the world who suffer in silence with these conditions.
Someone Who Shared My Experience

I met a woman who had been through the same experience as me. I realised that there was healing in sharing stories and it was really important. I also realised that knowledge is power and that often the medical profession holds all the knowledge and only tell the patient what they think the patient needs to hear, not recognising that the patient might want deeper level information or access to others going through the same or similar challenge. I recognised that this needs to change. That there needs to be an opportunity for all to come together and share information.
Advertised in Prominent Women’s Magazine

Placing an advertisement in a prominent women’s magazine, I was flooded with letters from women who were suffering in silence expressing their loneliness, shame, embarrassment and frustrations. It again impressed upon me how women are geared towards communal living and needed the opportunity to come together for healing and sharing.
 

Started a Support Group for Women – GAIN Inc

I started a support group for women, which morphed into GAIN Inc. (Gynaecological Awareness Information Network Inc.)  It was as we were building this group, that I had the thought about creating a Gynaecological Awareness Day to help break down the stigmas and barriers and bring the medical profession, men and women to the same table to share our experiences and our knowledge. As I explored this idea, Senator Amanda Vanstone informed me that I could just name the day and make it happen. So, I decided to make it an International Day and so the International GYN Awareness Day  on 10th September was birthed.

The key messages about this day are:

  1. Bring together the medical profession and community for the purpose of greater education, awareness and sharing of experiences.
  2. Bring the men of our community into the picture, acknowledging that they often carry the load when their partners, sisters, mothers, aunts, daughters, work colleagues are suffering and encouraging them to gain their own knowledge of Gynaecology.
  3. To break down the stigmas and barriers associated with Gynaecological, Sexual and Mental Health and to bring a fresh, fun and vivid image to this topic, taking it out of the closet.
  4. To link Gynaecological, Sexual and Mental Health together, so we treat women holistically.

I am now looking for CHANGE CHAMPIONS who will embrace my message and run with it. If you are someone who is passionate about making a difference, willing to follow simple instructions to achieve big results, I need your help to make the International GYN Awareness Day an International reality so that we can start this conversation in every corner of the globe.

How to get involved:

  1. Go to kathmazzella.com/IGAD and download the IGAD Kit, which takes you step by step through the process of how to celebrate and share the message.
  2. Join the Facebook Page, https://www.facebook.com/KathMazzellaUBUCampaign/and join in the fun!
  3. Make the decision to celebrate the International GYN Awareness Day on 10 September.
  4. Book Kath to come and speak to your group or to do an Undies for Better Understanding Workshop with your community or corporate group.

 

#UBU #UndiesForBetterUnderstanding #KathMazzella #Gynaecology #IGAD #Women #Men #InternationalDay

A voice for women with Gynaecological health issues

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As a Gynaecological cancer survivor it soon opened up my mind to the millions of women with Gynaecological, sexual and related mental health issues in the world. The suffering in silence is huge. One needs to question why this is so in this day and age. I placed an advertisement in a woman’s magazine years ago and was amazed at how women just “put up” with issues below the belt. Mostly because they were either afraid or embarrassed. Through my initiative of the International Gynaecological Awareness Day 10 September campaign. I aim to create a voice for these women and to forewarn unsuspecting women of risks and symptoms. I don’t promote this as a health professional however whilst I see very little gynaecological health education in the global community I will never sit quietly and suffer in silence like I have seen many women do.  I appeal to you to support the campaign and celebrate the day in which ever way you can. Even if it is at your breakfast table, think of the women who have gone before us and the women who still endure GYN health issues without a voice.  #undiesforbetterunderstanding and quilting campaign.

National Rural Health Alliance Partyline

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Below is article appearing in March edition of Partline to online magazine for National Rural Health Alliance.

It is hoped that this will reach far and wide to rural communities.  It would be great for all to encourage their networks to celebrate the Gynae Awareness day in their corner of the world.

Link to Kaths article:

http://www.ruralhealth.org.au/partyline/article/support-international-gynaecological-awareness-day-10-september

Support International Gynaecological Awareness Day on 10 September

  • Wongan Wobblers high tea

Wongan Wobblers high tea

International Gynaecological Awareness Day (IGAD) brings communities together and raises awareness of a serious topic through an element of fun. Download the IGAD kit at https://www.kathmazzella.com/category/international-gyn-awareness-day/  to help you organise an ‘Undies for Better Understanding’ event in your local area, encouraging women to speak out.

After my radical gynaecological cancer treatment, I soon realised millions of women, including country women, have gynaecological health issues but do not have a voice. I set out as an advocate for greater recognition of gynaecological and related mental health needs. These issues are poorly understood by many professionals, the community and women’s groups. We need to improve the knowledge and attitudes of the community at large with greater education and, most of all, support women and men standing alongside their women: wives, partners, mothers, sisters, daughters, work colleagues.

Undies quilt by Perth Modern Quilters
Undies quilt by Perth Modern Quilters

The Perth Modern Quilters created a quilt to assist me to help break down barriers and stigmas. When showing the quilt to the Country Women’s Association, Western Australia I was invited as a guest speaker at their 90th conference. This led to doing many country presentations and undies workshops. There is much laughter during these workshops as they allow women to sit around with each other, share their stories and have great conversations while making their undies. It helps them to be able to converse more openly next time they approach their health practitioners and to create greater dialogue between mothers and daughters and lessen the stigmas that can be passed down from one generation to the next.

I was born in Kalgoorlie, WA. I founded the Gynaecological Awareness Information Network Inc. www.gain.org.au in 2001. As a health consumer, a survivor and a thriver I am seeking support and action for International Gynaecological Awareness Day.

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Another IGAD, Another Wonderful Year of Campaigning

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Since IGAD 2015, a lot of wonderful highlights have transpired, so here they are in a nutshell.  Scroll down to see the gallery of images from events.

  • Display at NIFNEX Expo. Met Thyda and she is now putting together a vulva art exhibition.  Also met Shoma from Qerac Health Communications and was invited to be the opening speaker at a Medical Seminar.
  • Qerac Healthcare Communications Medical Seminar – Introductory speaker sharing with doctors about how we can all walk the same path to make it easier for doctors and women when consulting.  It appeared to me that there is gap in GPs training in Gynaecological and Sexual Health and related Mental Health issues.  As women we need to make more noise about women’s health, so we can demand a higher level of education for doctors and the community.
  • Associate Professor Graeme Broadley delivered a speech at King Edward Memorial Hospital and suggested that he would encourage other women’s hopsitals to follow the King Edward Memorial’s four year example of celebrating GYN Awareness Day.  He showed great interest in my Gynaecological paper talk and spoke of how he may be able to utilise this for education in the community.
  • Tony and I are meeting with WA Primary Health Alliance to find new ways to promote Gynaecological Health in the community instead of just being behind the closed doors.
  • Soroptomist Albany joined us in celebrating with a Gynaecological Awareness stand in Albany and also donated a copies of my book, Not So Secret Women’s Business to the library.
  • The West Australian Regional Soroptomist International distributed my Paper Talk at their meeting in Perth and they also held a discussion about Gynaecological and Sexual Health awareness in celebration of IGAD.
  • Presented to 800 quilters at two separate meetings. Have received five quilts/wall hangings, which are absolutely fabulous.  I have been given permission to donate these to public venues who will display the quilts and take advantage of the opportunity to spread the word.  If you know of an appropriate place for them to be displayed, please contact me.  The President of the Quilters Association was very excited for her group to be able to contribute to the campaign, to raise the level of conversation around awareness in their own community and to lead the way for other arts/craft related groups to get behind this message.  The quilts are very visual and a vital part of the visual message and I am so grateful for their contribution.
  • Presented at the Women’s Health Centre in Bunbury.  I always find it interesting when I present, as I often find other advocates, who, like myself when I started out 20 years ago, are filled with passion but also with pain.  Sometimes they are filled with the fear of not knowing where to turn to, who to speak to, what to do and how to go about it.  I met such a young woman there who was determined to find a way.  I appeal to all women to keep an eye out for such women, filled with passion and pain.  It is through their compassion because of their pain, they are able to fast track this for other women so they don’t have to go through this, so this message can be heard.  I found a way for her to speak for 5 minutes on her vision and her desire to be heard and it was so rewarding to see her share.
  • Display stand at the Notre Dame University for the Pelvic Pain Seminar, where I sat with pride to watch a past president of GAIN Inc, Catherine Aurabine, who had moved on to greener pastures with her pelvic pain passion.  Also, presenting was Vanessa Watson, another past member of GAIN Inc, who had joined forces with Catherine and they now work together to improve the lives of women with pelvic pain.  I stood loud and proud.  I was totally amazed at the suffering that was shared by doctors and the women.  But I knew that for something to change, we need to come together and make a noise.  We can go from seminar to seminar, but it will be a long process if we don’t come together.  That is my wish for International Gynaecological Awareness Day.  To use the advantage of joined forces for our combined voice to be heard.
  • I am pleased to say I am going to Melbourne in November for a meeting with a large corporation to discuss with their team about how I can use my voice with their company to progress further with women in business and Gynaecological awareness.  Given the time between now and November I am planning to encourage other women leaders who can see the light in your work as to how it can empower women in their workforce.
  • I have a great opportunity to connect with the Country Women’s Association  in Melbourne to encourage their members to place the 10 September 2017 IGAD on their agenda and to encourage their country women to join the Undies Quilting campaign and to keep the conversation going.
  • I am presenting in Nungarin this week.  Whilst passing through Dowerin we will be delivering as requested 60 pairs of packs of undies.  This shows word is getting around.
  • I have been liasing with a  Brisbane Doctor who wants to order some Paper Talks.  Image of the Paper Talks is below.  I admire his passion, as he is dealing with these women who are suffering in silence and he wants to make a difference.  He is a Reproductive Medicine and Women’s Health Specialist.  I just love his openness  and how he is willing to embrace the community voice in his work.  I plan to go to Brisbane some time next year and I hope to encourage him to partner with me to conduct a forum – with him as the Medical Professional and me as the Community Advocate.
  • I am pleased to say I had a stand at the Health Ed Seminar where pharmaceutical companies had their displays.  My display was quite unique, with quilts and undies, much to the confusion of some.  Many doctors came up to find out what it was all about.  Whilst there I listened to the amazing Dr Rosie King, Sexologist.  I met Rosie when I presented at the World Sexual Health Conference in 2007, where she discussed back then the stigma around the vulva.  Again, at this seminar she still spoke about the stigma and showed graphic pictures of what can happen to the vulva if we don’t take care of it and understand it.  What I wouldn’t have done to have stood next to Rosie on the stage, her as the medical professional and me as the voice of the women with vulval conditions, to create a powerful impact.  Listening to these professionals speaking, I felt inspired to go harder because I realise there is much to be done for the education and awareness of women in the community.
  • Presented to the Albert Schweizer Fellowship in Houston, Texas.  I first met Dr Gabrielle Morrissey when she invited me to speak at the Forensic Sexology at Curtin University.  I was scared out of my wits, but Gabrielle believed in me back then and still believes in me now.  Hence, while I was visiting my daughter in Dallas, at Christmas, Gabrielle invited me to speak at the Albert Schweizer Fellowship where she is the Director.  I love working with people like her who are open, honest, truth speaking and open to you when you are a consumer.  I know where she gets this from.  One just has to take a look at her famous mother, who is a famous writer.
  • Whilst in Dallas I presented to the Zonta Dallas and was invited to present to young women living away from their families.
  • I presented to girls at a private school in London where I shared the Undies for Better Understanding Workshop.  The teacher told me that the students concentrated on subjects not related to health, so these 16-18 year old girls were pretty much in the dark about their Gynaecological and Sexual Health.  What a sad situation and a great opportunity.  This made me wonder why women’s organisations are not speaking up about this lack of education.
  • Interviewed by Cornwall Radio for an hour.  I was interviewed my a male radio presenter, who totally agreed with everything I said.  i.e. the lack of education around this topic.
  • Congratulations to King Edward Hospital celebrated their hundredth year and were featured in the West Australian newspaper. This included information about the International GYN Awareness Day and showed photos of the nurses holding undies.
  • I supported Jean Hailes Women’s Health Week  when the Director, Janet Mickelfore, her daughter and son, came to Perth to distribute pink elephants and information in the Murray Street Mall in Perth.  Celebrated with Jean Hailes their recent receipt of $8 Million to research women’s health.
  • I also had a display at the Chem Mart Morley Chemist and  at Chappels Tea House in Maylands in celebration of IGAD.
  • On IGAD we celebrated with an Afternoon Tea event at the International on the Water Hotel.
  • IGAD will also be celebrated this Wednesday CWA Nungarin where I will be presenting and I have seven women parading with the GYN body bits and chanting the GYNAE MIGHT song.  The CWA Nungarin contacted me today and she was in the process of making the love heart undies biscuits that will be decorated as part of the celebration on Wednesday, where the women will decorate the undies biscuits.
  • I will be presenting at the Cancer Support Association on 21 September and at the Endometriosis Support Group on 2nd October, 2016.  These are golden opportunities and also show that the community is developing interest in the topic.

And the year is not over yet!

 

Kath Mazzella featured on cover of Golden Pen Magazine to promote GYNAE DAY.

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Kath has been featured on the cover of online magazine, Golden Pen in order to promote the International GYN Awareness Day.  The issue was released on IGAD to coincide with the day.

Here is sneak peak…

Just the first page of an 8 page article that includes information about IGAD and GAIN Inc, followed by another 4 page interview with GAIN’s Ambassador, Perth Lord Mayor, Hon Lisa Scaffidi

 

The magazine is available from http://goldenpen.com.au/buy-online or from http:/facebook.com/GoldenPenMagazine (click on STORE) and only costs $4.95.  Please support Golden Pen Magazine, as they are supporting us in our cause, as Kath’s article is just one in 106 pages of stories about Resilience.

Featured in Finally at 40 Magazine

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I was thrilled to be featured in the Finally at 40 Magazine, Autumn edition 2010.

Special thanks to Hayley Solich, Feature Writer for Finally at 40, who wrote the article and took the photos of me.  I really appreciate your ongoing support, Hayley.

You can purchase your copy of Finally at 40 Magazine at a newsagent near you.

Here is an excerpt from the article…

…When most women are stepping into the prime of their life – embracing the newfound sense of themselves and the opportunities that maturity and life experience brings – Kath Mazzella was stepping into dark days. She was an ordinary thirty-nine year old woman – working, with teenage children, and a partner – whose world was literally turned upside down.

Discovering a lump on her vulva, Kath did what most women would do and went to see a doctor. Over a period of eighteen months, two GP’s and two gynaecologists assured her that it was common to have lumps “down there” and not to worry about it. However, because she had a family history of cancer – her father had died of lung cancer in 1988, and both her mother and sister have both had breast cancer – she insisted the lump be removed and tested.

“It was my mum that got me thinking,” Kath reflects. “I told her about the lump and she said that lumps on your body anywhere are not normal. So I decided to listen to my mum and to my own intuition and I’m glad I did because it saved my life…”