While I was attempting to be brief and circumspect in my earlier post, I did
not mean that the subject, or discussion of it, should be taboo.  It can be
an important issue for breastfeeding women and we should know about it.

However, when counseling women, we often use the phrase "many women find" or
"it is recommended that", etc.  The sharing of personal information, in my
opinion, is inappropriate in the counseling environment, no matter what it
is--a LLL meeting or a lactation consultation. A simple "You're feeling xxx;
this is the information I have on estrogen, which could help you","or " I
have helped other women with this concern in the past"   might be the better
approach.  When counseling women, applying personal experiences to a
mother's situation doesn't really help.  In fact, if the mother ends up
comparing herselfl to, and not achieving, the IBCLC's success in resolving
the issue, or seeking a treatment that is inappropriate for her individual
situation,  it could hurt her.  This doesn't apply just to atopic vagiinitis
-- in my opinion, the practice of using any personal breastfeeding
experiences (out loud) when assisting clients is inappropriate.  Drawing on
personal experience may be appropriate, but not sharing it.  I personally
find it annoying when pediatricians advise my clients based on their wives'
or their own, experience.   Doctors don't say, "I had a dysfunction, too."
when prescribing Cialis, do they?  It's not professional.  IBCLCs often
complain that they are not taken seriously as a health care
professional.  Maybe this is one of the reasons.

Someone mentioned that if I don't want to read it, don't.  That's one
approach, but it doesn't help me to learn from my colleagues about this
interesting and relevant topic.  I just would prefer that people not share
such personal, intimate gynecological or sexual dysfunction information with
the 2500 people on the list for the purpose of education or illustration..

Barbara Ash, IBCLC
Burke, VA

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