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Category Archive: News

  1. Announcing “Terry’s Trust”: a new initiative to honor Terry Marley-DeRosier, WHNP

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    After more than 23 years of service as an employee, and nearly four decades as a co-founder, Terry Marley-DeRosier, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, is leaving Mabel Wadsworth Center to explore new opportunities. While this news is bittersweet, we are pleased to announce the launch of “Terry’s Trust”, a new initiative to honor Terry’s legacy and ensure the Center’s sustainability for many years to come.

    As a co-founder, and our longest-serving provider whose philosophy of care was instrumental to the creation of “the Mabel way”, Terry’s contributions to Mabel Wadsworth Center and the greater community are significant; among her many accomplishments, Terry’s impact is far-reaching:

    • Helping to envision and create Mabel Wadsworth Women’s Health Center, Maine’s only independent nonprofit feminist health center, and the first Maine clinic to offer abortion care;
    • Reaching thousands through education, empowering women with accurate information and resources about their reproductive and sexual health, including special programs on lesbian health, menopause, and women and AIDS;
    • Establishing our prenatal care practice when she merged her private practice in 1997, becoming one of the only practices in the area to serve clients with MaineCare, and one of the only independent nonprofit clinics nationwide to offer full-spectrum pregnancy care;
    • Expanding gynecology services to include colposcopy for cervical cancer screenings, an unmet need in our region;
    • Teaching and training countless nursing students and medical residents; and
    • Playing a vital role in developing the long-term strategy to change Maine’s physician-only restriction on abortion care, and then becoming one of the state’s first nurse practitioners to provide abortion care when the law changed in 2019.

    Message from Terry Marley-DeRosier:

    “While this change is bittersweet, I could not be prouder of the Center’s contributions to the community and the many lives we have touched. It has been a privilege and an honor to empower women and to truly partner with them along their journeys. I have loved being a women’s health nurse practitioner and will always be grateful to the thousands of clients who trusted me with their care. I am excited for the next chapter and proud of the Center’s growth with the addition of primary care to serve our community.”

    Message from Andrea Irwin, Executive Director:

    “Terry’s unwavering commitment to her clients and the Center’s feminist philosophy of care, that everyone deserves a provider who listens to their concerns with compassion, and supports their decisions without judgment, is unmatched. Her legacy is the Center’s strong foundation as an essential safety net provider, and in supporting and empowering so many clients.”

    We look forward to sharing more opportunities to honor Terry’s legacy and contributions to Mabel Wadsworth Center in the months to come, and even celebrating in person when it is safe to do so!

    Ensuring continuous, uninterrupted care for our clients is our highest priority. Fortunately, we have several other providers ready to assume care for Terry’s clients and we are now offering primary care in addition to OB-GYN services. Please call us (947-5337) or email (info@mabelwadsworth.org) to establish care and to arrange an appointment.

    We are so grateful for Terry’s many years of service and friendship. Please consider making a special gift in her honor, to help us continue to do such vital work.

     

    Donate to “Terry’s Trust” (please write “Terry’s Trust” in donations notes)

  2. Most STIs are Asymptomatic

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    By Emma Smith (she, her, hers), Mabel Wadsworth Center, Intern

    Did you know that most STIs are asymptomatic? This means that many sexually transmitted infections(like chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, HIV, HPV, syphilis, et al) usually don’t cause any noticeable symptoms, meaning that outwardly, a person and their partner(s) have no way to tell if there is an infection. Just like with the flu, transmission of STIs usually happens when people are unaware they have an infection at all, unaware how to properly prevent the spread of the infection, and/or their prevention methods fail. This means that proper STI prevention must include regular screenings from healthcare professionals. 

    STIs are much more common, as well as treatable and manageable, than many would think. What is concerning is that the prevalence of these preventable infections is on the rise; with the CDC estimating in 2018 that 1 in 5 people in the United States had an STI, totaling nearly 68 million infections. Regardless of how many partners a person has, the most important type of harm reduction a person can do is having honest conversations with their partner(s) and healthcare provider(s) about risk assessment (like if you’ve had unprotected sex in the past or have shared needles) and how to best protect yourself and others in future sexual activities. 

    Practicing safe sex with harm reduction in mind is the best way to protect yourself from STIs. And if an STI is contracted, it’s absolutely not the end of the world – or your sex life. Preventative measures and treatments can be provided for the continuance of a fulfilling and pleasurable sex life.

  3. TDOV 2021

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    By Aspen Ruhlin (they,them), Client and Community Advocate at Mabel Wadsworth Center

    While more people are familiar with Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day to honor and remember those members of the trans community who have been killed in acts of transphobic violence, fewer people are familiar with Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV). Where TDOR serves to mourn those who have been taken from us, TDOV is a day to both celebrate transgender people and bring awareness to the discrimination our community faces. Too often, we are only talked about in the context of tragedy and loss, and while these are important realities that need attention, to be trans is far more than to be mourned. As I have heard Quinn Gormley, executive director of MaineTransNet, say many times before, “give us roses while we’re living.”

    There is much stigma and discrimination weaponized against the trans community. We can see this in the Stonewall Riots of 1969, where police violence against queer and trans patrons of the Stonewall Inn boiled over and the community fought back. We can still see this today, with almost 50 (at the time of writing this, with the number likely to increase) anti-trans bills proposed in state legislatures across the country. Even here in Maine, though we have a variety of legal protections for transgender people as a part of the Maine Human Rights Act, we still face not only proposed anti-trans legislation, but transphobic discrimination as well. In the face of this adversity, we need those who claim to love and support us to not just sit quietly and allow us to be harmed. Those who consider themselves to be allies to the trans community need to follow the leadership of trans people and fight against transphobia and for trans rights, health, and well-being. Rather than just being mourned, trans people deserve to be celebrated and included.

    It is common for trans people to be left out of the conversation, unless the topic is specifically about us, and even then, our voices are often not the ones prioritized. How many times have you heard generalizations about men and women that are really a generalization of the cis experience that simplifies people to their genitals? One place we often see this is in discussions around abortion access. Though there is a growing and powerful movement to use inclusive language, it is still far too common to see the need to access safe abortion care and birth care described as “women’s health.” Along with providing an incomplete picture of who needs to access this care, it also does a disservice to cisgender women by obfuscating these vital elements of healthcare. Dancing around the word “abortion” serves to fuel anti-abortion stigma by treating it as a shameful thing that shouldn’t be discussed. By more accurately talking about abortion care, prenatal care, postpartum care, etc., as essential healthcare for pregnant people/people who can become pregnant, we paint a more accurate picture that uplifts everyone. Abortion access and trans healthcare are not only connected because of trans people who access abortion care, but because both are deeply rooted in autonomy.

    This Transgender Day of Visibility, what are you doing to support the trans people in your life? Are you speaking out against hate and fighting for us to be valued? Are you opposing anti-trans legislation? Are you seeking education for yourself, your friends, your family? It is not enough to support us in silence, or to only speak up when it is too late. You have to give us our roses while we’re living.

    TDOV Actions

     

    • Learn
        • Check out this webinar series from Innovating Education from our very own Aspen Ruhlin on creating trans inclusive care! https://www.innovating-education.org/course/gender-inclusive-care/
        • Stop by your local bookstore and pick up books like “It Feels Good to Be Yourself: A Book About Gender Identity” by Theresa Thorn, and “From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea” by Kai Cheng Thom for the child in your life.
        • Keep an eye out for Trans Ally trainings from MaineTransNet!
    • Act
        • Speak out against transphobic hate when you hear it from friends and family.
        • Fight against proposed transphobic legislation, such as the proposed bill in Maine that targets trans girls in sports. You can sign the petition from EqualityMaine to stand in support of trans youth at the following link: https://www.equalitymaine.org/LD926
        • Share articles that highlight the resilience, beauty, and successes of the trans community–not only the tragedy. A great example is the recent TIME interview of Elliot Page.
        • Attend a local (masked and distanced) or virtual TDOV event.
    • Donate
      • One of the most powerful ways that you can support organizations that are already doing work to support the trans community is by helping fund them. Organizations like Mabel Wadsworth Center and MaineTransNet are vital in supporting and fighting for trans Mainers.
      • Can’t donate money? Donate your time by volunteering! Mabel Wadsworth Center has a variety of volunteer opportunities, especially for Abortion Defenders for trans-inclusive abortion access.

     

  4. You’ve got Nerve:  An abbreviated discussion of the clitoris aka “Clit-story”

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    February 26, 2021

    By Catherine Chavaree (she, her, hers), Office Assistant and Community Organizer, Mabel Wadsworth Center 

    “Clitoris”- a word that might provoke discomfort from some and giggles from others, admittedly me included, until recently. Not to say I’ve become desensitized to one of the most sensitive anatomical structures to exist (a clitoris contains approximately 8,000 nerve endings), but working in reproductive healthcare certainly shifts one’s perspective on the human body. Normalizing human sexuality, and dismantling the shame and confusion surrounding it, is central to the mission at Mabel Wadsworth Center, something I’m increasingly appreciative of.  The origin of the word clitoris is thought to be derived from the Greek “kleitoris”, roughly translating to “little hill”. This makes some sense, given what humanity has been able to visualize of the clitoris for almost all of recorded history. According to Merriam Webster, the clitoris is “a female erogenous organ that consists of an externally visible, highly innervated small conical structure or glans that lies at the anterior junction of the labia minora above the urethral opening and is continuous internally with a short body of paired cylinders of vascular, erectile tissue which branch into curved extensions or crura attaching to the undersurface of the pubic bones and with two elongated masses of erectile tissue situated near each side of the vaginal and urethral openings”. I realize that there is a lot of anatomical jargon to dissect in that last sentence. Speaking of dissection, the clitoris was reportedly first dissected in 1545 by a French physician, who dubbed it “membre honteux” or “the shameful member”. The online dictionary also notes that “the clitoris develops from the same embryonic mass of tissue as the penis”. Male sexuality is often at the forefront of discussions about human sexuality, and even the act of sex is often portrayed in media (film and pornography alike) as concluding with a male’s orgasm. Because clitorises are a source of orgasm for many people, it is easy for embarrassment to take over when discussing this structure. I also wonder if our lack of familiarity and discomfort with female sexuality is responsible for jokes regarding the “difficulty” of achieving a clitoral orgasm. Additionally, not everyone who possesses a clitoris is a woman and not everyone who has a penis is a man; we know that gender identity is entirely distinct from one’s genitals. It’s important to note here that this binary view of sex organs fails to acknowledge intersex individuals, and that human genitalia actually exists on a spectrum. While this is a topic that merits its own entire blog post, it would be myopic to ignore that the size of the external clitoris is intrinsically connected with the experience of many intersex individuals who received an arbitrary assignment of gender at birth. I really enjoy this graphic of the Prader scale, as it can help concisely conceptualize this for people who may have never considered this before: 

    (image source)

     

    Seemingly, the clitoris is a structure that has remained shrouded in mystery. Even its pronunciation is ambiguous; I’ve heard it pronounced with emphasis on the second syllable, “kli-TOR-iss” and more recently, I’m told the correct pronunciation sounds like “klit-uh-riss”, giving equal weight to all three syllables. 

    The human clitoris is typically visualized as a small circular structure that sits in the center of the vulva, above the vaginal opening and atop the urethra. However, this is only the externally visible portion, which varies in size across individuals, and the remaining 90% of the structure is actually internal! Urologist Helen O’Connell is largely responsible for our current knowledge of the clitoris. Prior to 1998, when she took the lead on a comprehensive anatomical study of the clitoris, anatomy textbooks only showed the external portion of the clitoris. Then it wasn’t until 2005 (yes, only since 2005) that MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) allowed O’Connell and her research team to present a full scope of the clitoris. Not simply a nub, but a much more intricate structure, I kept encountering iceberg analogies in my research (“the majority of it is ‘beneath the surface’”). The clitoris was likened to a “wishbone” in one of the articles that follows, a visual I can actually get down with. Even still, it was not until 2009, well within our recent collective memories, that the clitoris was shown in its stimulated state using 3D sonography. Here is the clitoris in its fully visualized glory:

    (image source)

    And here we have a 3D print of the clitoris, imperative for true anatomical understanding, surely to be a vital learning tool for years to come. For scale, this approximates 10 cm in length!

    (image source)

    It certainly has come a long way from the “shameful member” days (460 years later), but shame and dismissiveness undoubtedly hindered progress to the clitoris and did it a disservice. The more open we can be about something as intimately connected to us as our clitorises, the better equipped we will be on a journey of bodily autonomy, pleasure, and self-acceptance. 

    Want to learn more about this amazing body part? Here is what I found helpful in writing this piece, but couldn’t fit all of it here:

     

  5. Policy Updates in Response to COVID-19

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    October 23, 2020

    As we approach winter during the ongoing pandemic, we continue to follow CDC guidelines and prioritize staff and client safety. Please review our updated policies prior to your appointment.

    We continue to require masking and recommend frequent handwashing/sanitizing for all visitors. Most clients have the option of virtual visits using telehealth when possible. We are not allowing any support people into the clinic and are limiting the number of staff onsite. If you do need to come to the office, please be sure to follow these policies:

    For all clients –

    Staff will continue to ask you to report any flu-like symptoms  (fever >100.0, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, muscle aches, unusual fatigue, nausea and diarrhea)  when you schedule your in-person appointment. Additionally, we will be checking temperatures as part of our check-in process to screen for fever (temperature >100.0).

    For non-abortion care clients: If you have a temperature of >100.0, we will recommend you visit walk-in-care or reschedule your appointment. Alternatively, our provider may be able to see you in your vehicle.

    For clients seeking abortion care or who have been seen for abortion care and have follow-up needs:

    Abortion care clients with flu-like symptoms may be seen in the office, based on individual needs and at the Director of Clinical Services’s discretion. If you have a fever or other symptoms, but still require in-person care, we will room you immediately and staff will use enhanced PPE during the visit.

    Expected Waiting Times and Client Communication

    Please also be aware that we anticipate increased demand for time-sensitive services and possible staff outages this fall and winter. Due to these factors, we want to make you aware that your wait time may be longer than usual and that we may need to contact you to change or reschedule an appointment.

    Here’s what you can do to make the process work better:

    • Make sure we have your up-to-date contact information, including the best number to reach you and that you are able to accept voicemail.
    • Sign up for our patient portal for easier access.
    • Allow plenty of time to request prescription refills or non-urgent appointments.
    • Treat our staff with respect and compassion.

    Here’s what we are doing:

    • Prioritizing your health and safety by requiring staff to stay home if they or a household member suspects COVID infection.
    • Working hard to respond to your needs in a timely manner, and continuing to provide quality care for all of our clients.
    • Treating our clients with respect and compassion.

    We appreciate your patience and understanding. We are in this together.

    If you have questions, please email info@mabelwadsworth.org.

    Thank you!