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Ilana Glazer is an actress and comedian whom we haven’t covered much. I reported on a cute interview she did earlier this year, and she made a great impression on me. I mostly know her from hosting the red carpet at the first return of the Met Gala, with Keke Palmer. Ilana recently opened up in an essay for Vogue [via People] about having chronic pelvic pain. She was misdiagnosed and dismissed for years until she finally got help and relief through physical therapy. This is something I’ve also dealt with and I wanted to talk about it.
“I started experiencing pelvic pain at a very young age, which is four,” she wrote. “That’s when I remember first experiencing it, and it was chronic pain from ages four to 24.”
Misdiagnosed by doctors for years, Glazer said the shame of one especially frustrating experience stuck with her.
“I remember being 15 years old and my mom and I sitting there and this doctor telling me that my problem was too problematic for him, and just feeling laughed at and so angry,” the comedian wrote.
Eventually, she connected with her current clinician, Dr. Emma Kaeser, who works with Origin, and everything finally clicked.
“There was something about the empowering engagement with my physical journey with pregnancy that allowed the disempowering part of it to feel lighter,” she said of getting the right treatment.
“Being ashamed of our bodies has been thrust upon us, and having a support network around being a female reminds you that that shame is a construct,” Glazer added.
Now, she looks forward to teaming up with Origin in a formal role, which the center celebrated on their own Instagram page Wednesday.
“Welcome to the team, @ilana. We’re elated to announce that this creative powerhouse (and Origin patient) has officially joined us as an advisor” they wrote.
It wasn’t until after I had an endometrial ablation in my mid 40s that I realized I’d had pelvic floor pain and dysfunction, also for years. I was having terrible complications from the procedure and my then-OB explained it to me and gave me a copy an article he’d written about it. The pelvic floor is a muscle and you can strain that muscle and hold tension there. This was eye opening to me and explained so much of my medical history. I went to physical therapy and it worked somewhat. Many of the at-home exercises were yoga poses. Like so many other celebrity stories I cover, this reminds me that I have more work to do in that area. I’m glad that Glazer opened up about it.
Hey thanks for this timely article! This may be TMI, but I recently caught covid (after 2.5 years!!!) And the constant coughing has brought on stress incontinence (bit of a surprise as I’ve never had children). I’m going to start these pelvic floor exercises to see if they help a bit.
Interesting info, thanks for posting.
So many people have medical issues that go on far too long, even when they see their doctor. Good to share, bring info to others.
I was just prescribed pelvic floor physical therapy on Friday. Hopefully it helps – I will report back in eight weeks!
Fingers crossed for you! <3
I’m so glad she’s talking about this. So many chronic pain situations-especially those related to the female reproductive system-have just been ignored and dismissed by the medical community for so long. Then add to that the fact that doctors often dismiss woman’s medical concerns (even more so if you’re a woman of color, even a famous one like Serena Williams) and women and people with reproductive systems can be forced to suffer needlessly for years.
My 16 year old daughter has suffered an enormous amount of unexplained abdominal pain for 9 years. She has had x-rays, ultra sounds, colonoscopies, endoscopies and she has seen several urology, gastrointestinal, and genecology doctors. Upon consultation with a Mayo Clinic urology doctor a couple weeks ago, he believes she also has pelvic floor disfunction. We are headed to Mayo Clinic in a few weeks where she will start pelvic floor therapy. This is an awful condition, and I am thankful you are bringing it to light.
Ilana Glazer is the best! She is one of the most gifted comedians of our time but also a woman who empowers other women. I just love her! More Ilana posts, please!