Episode 70: Dr. Sheila Wijayasinghe on Periods, Fertility, and Patient Rights
In Episode 70 of the Not Your Mother's Pelvic Floor podcast, Aliya chats with Family Doctor Dr. Sheila Wijayasinghe all about all about the topics that were on + off limits growing up, and the impactful work she does today.
In this episode, you'll hear Dr. Sheila and Aliya chat about:
Whether Dr. Sheila wants her mother's pelvic floor...or not!
The story of their first periods and how Dr. Sheila's period was celebrated within the Sri Lankan culture.
How normalized painful periods are and how much shame continues to exist around menstruation, leaking onto clothes, and more.
Why both Aliya and Dr. Sheila love their IUD's!
How teaching body boundaries, bodily autonomy, and consent are the first steps to talking about sex with small children.
How Dr. Sheila's fertility treatment journey changed how she practiced medicine with her patients undergoing their own fertility treatments.
The systemic problems that exist within the Canadian health care system including long wait times, short appointment times, racism, discrimination, doctor burnout and more.
The "why" behind Dr. Sheila's public work educating on patient rights and self-advocacy.
Be sure to stay tuned for another conversation where Dr. Sheila will come back on the Not Your Mother's Pelvic Floor Podcast to talk all about perimenopause.
Resources:
Dr. Sheila mentioned two books she loves and recommends when it comes to talking about sex with children: Boys In Sex and Girls In Sex by Peggy Orenstein.
About Dr. Sheila:
Dr. Sheila Wijayasinghe, Dr. Sheila to her patients, is a family doctor in Toronto, practicing at St. Michael’s Hospital. She is the Medical Director of Primary Care Outreach at Women’s College Hospital, where she advocates for equitable and accessible healthcare for all individuals with a special focus on individuals with mental health and addiction conditions and from BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. She has been the health expert on CTV's The Social for 11 years and was a previous columnist with the Globe and Mail. Dr. Sheila's goal is to help people to know their rights and be able to advocate for themselves and loved ones in navigating the healthcare system.
Find Dr. Sheila on Instagram @drsheilaw, listen to her new Podcast "The Doc Talk Podcast" on all platforms and on Instagram @thedoctalkpod
If you’d like to get in touch, Aliya would love to hear from you! Find her on Instagram at @boxwellnessco or send her an email at hello@boxwellness.co.
Thanks for listening!
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About Aliya:
Aliya Dhalla PT, B.Sc, MPT is a Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist in Toronto, Canada and the Founder of Box Wellness Co. You can learn pelvic floor exercises and tips from her on Instagram @boxwellnessco - this is where she likes to share some behind-the-scenes of her life, her clinic, and what she's eating these days.
If you're looking for some help with your pelvic floor problems, Aliya's Pelvic Floor Mobility Program has helped hundreds of women overcome leaks, urgency, pelvic pain, posture, back pain and so much more. Check it out HERE.
Check out boxwellness.co to learn more about Aliya + how she can help you through her online courses, programs, and more!
For FREE resources to help you along your pelvic health journey, check out https://boxwellness.co/free-pelvic-floor-resources
Follow along @boxwellnessco + @notyourmotherspelvicfloor for more fun.
More info on: The Pelvic Floor Mobility Program
More info on: Online Pregnancy Courses