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I first found Brittany Chaffee through this article she wrote, which has a title that’s aligned with Overlooked's mission:

I wanted to talk to Brittany about her years of abnormal pap smear test results, and some of the procedures she writes about, which I had never even heard of: a colposcopy, which is an examination of the cervix and vulva, and a LEEP.

LEEP stands for Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure and it uses a wire loop heated by an electrical current to slice away a layer of cervical tissue.

I’m sorry what?

Slice away cervical tissue?

And yes, when you hear Brittany’s experience of it, your toes will curl too.

Brittany and I also discussed why we talk about these things, as she puts it, in hushed tones, and how shame continues that whisper - sometimes to our detriment.

Her stories are harrowing, and sometimes a little heart-breaking too: she spoke plainly about vulnerability, fear and shame. I found myself getting a little emotional during our recording actually, as I've also gone into procedures not knowing what they entail, feeling unprepared, exposed and anxious. I think it’s an episode that will call up some feelings for you too.

My goal with Overlooked is to fill the gap between information (which we’re drowning in) and understanding (an entirely different beast altogether) and this episode - I hope - brings both of these together. For a deeper dive into some of these topics, here’s where you can go next:

1. ​Listen to Anita Lim talk about how cervical self-testing was rolled out in the UK. ​
2. Learn what a colposcopy is - this link explains it clearly. ​
3. ​And a LEEP.​
4. Brittany writes a substack, where you can read more of her work.

This episode is one from our archives. To suggest a -truly- overlooked women's health topic, write to us or send a voice memo: hello@overlookedpod.com.

What else is going on:

• I attended an event where I learned that a mother octopus looks after her eggs for months or years, all the while starving herself while keeping them alive. When the first eggs hatch, she takes her last breath and dies of exhaustion.

• I was in Boston earlier this month for the STAT Summit, and watched some really excellent sessions on trust in medicine. It really brought home to me how influential mothers are in making healthcare decisions for their households and I wrote a bit more about it here on LinkedIn.​

• I spent a couple of days in Texas, catching up with friends I've known since childhood, talking about menopause, aging parents, the '90s and generally filling my cup in ways figurative and literal.

• All these planes, trains, and buses meant I need a good book, and thankfully I've got one:

• Now I'm back home in Nova Scotia for a short visit with my dad. My first trip home since mom died, so it's a difficult one. I have a brain that's wired to try and understand things, to keep asking why and get to the bottom of something. With grief, there is no bottom, there's no asking why, there's no understanding. So I'm still just putting one foot in front of the other, and figuring it out as I go along.

Wishing you the best of health,

Golda