[Bonus] ”You Must Be on Your Period” (Feat. Alana Abernethy, YNCS Ashley Williams, and LCDR Joi Dillard-Houston)

2025-03-06

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In this special episode of Permission to Speak Freely, host Tisha is joined by Retired LCDR Alana Abernethy, YNCS Ashley Williams, and LCDR Joi Dillard-Houston for a powerful discussion on women’s health in the military. Despite its importance, women’s health remains a taboo topic, often leading to misinformation, dismissal, and a lack of support. The panel dives into why education on women’s health is lacking, sharing personal struggles with uterine fibroids, miscarriages, and dismissive healthcare experiences. They discuss how generational silence around reproductive health has left many women unprepared and unheard, especially in the military. The episode also explores the challenges of navigating motherhood while serving, advocating for yourself and fellow Sailors, and how male and female leaders can do better. The conversation shifts to holistic approaches, touching on The Period Repair Manual, The Moon Cycle, and the impact of coming off hormonal birth control. Alana shares details about her initiative, Women’s Wellness for the Waterfront, providing resources for women seeking to control their health.

🔹 Key topics covered:

•Why women’s health remains a taboo topic

•The disconnect between policy and real-life military experiences

•The silent epidemic of uterine fibroids

•Generational trauma & why families don’t talk about reproductive health

•How leadership can better support women’s health needs

•The lack of research in women’s medicine & alternative approaches

•The experience of coming off hormonal birth control

•Alana’s Women’s Wellness for the Waterfront initiative

💡 Resources Mentioned:

•The Period Repair Manual by Lara Briden https://www.larabriden.com/period-repair-manual/

•The Moon Cycle by Devon Loftus & Jenna Radomski https://devonloftuswrites.com/the-moon-cycle-cookbook