The Pelvic Steam Testimonial Database was created by the Peristeam Hydrotherapy Institute as a place for steam users to share their testimonials. The database is based on a questionnaire comparing the difference in symptoms before and after vaginal steaming. To date, the database has collected the steam experiences of over one hundred steam users and is the only database of its kind.
Pelvic Steam Testimonial Database contributors reported a wide variety of concerns that originally led them to try vaginal steaming. The list of concerns itself shows the scope and severity of women’s health problems. The concerns contributors reported related to menstruation discomfort, cycle irregularity, menstrual flow, menstruation side-effects, reproductive organ disorders, sex and reproduction, infections, postpartum, and medical interventions. Their specific complaints follow.
MENSTRUATION DISCOMFORT
painful periods
disruptive periods
severe dry cramping prior to period starting
debilitating cramps
period depression
vomiting during period
missing work due to horrible periods
inability to walk during day 1 of menstruation
CYCLE IRREGULARITY
missing period
late periods
long periods (up to 21 days of bleeding)
long cycles (up to 4 months between bleeding times)
irregular periods (10 days on/10 days off)
heavy periods
MENSTRUATION SIDE-EFFECTS
menstrual fatigue
menstruation muscle spasms
uncontrollable body temperature fluctuations during menstruation
severe migraines during menstruation
MENSTRUAL FLOW CONCERNS
brown menses
black menses
pre-period spotting
heavy periods
clotting
INFECTIONS
persistent and recurrent infections
vaginal dryness
recurring bacterial vaginosis
watery/itchy discharge
recurring yeast infections
fissures
constant itching
chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
POSTPARTUM CONCERNS
postpartum recovery
infected birth tear
hemorrhoids
uterine prolapse
postpartum urinary incontinence
bladder prolapse
traumatic birth
DISORDERS
ovarian cyst pain
ovarian tube infection
fallopian tube scarring
fibroid tumors
cyst obstructing vaginal canal opening
endometriosis pain
vulvar pain
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
chronic sitting pain from pelvic muscle tension
SEX AND REPRODUCTION CONCERNS
fertility concerns
low libido
discomfort during sex
delayed ovulation
recurrent miscarriages
ovulation pain
hormonal imbalance
pain during sex
miscarriage recovery
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) related to sexual trauma, rape, molestation, assault, etc.
MEDICAL-RELATED CONCERNS
seeking an alternative to In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
birth control side effects
extensive pelvic scar tissue after cancer treatments
missing period after birth control discontinuation
Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP) recovery
pain from gynecological procedure
cesarean scar tissue discomfort
hysterectomy side effects
Contributors rated their concern on a scale of 0 (not bothersome) to 10 (very bothersome), 7.89 before and 1.71 after steaming.
36 participants reported a bothersomeness rating of 10 -severe discomfort or disruption caused by their concern. After vaginal steaming here is how those participants rated their concerns:
2 contributors went from bothersome rating of 10 to 0
20 contributors went from bothersome rating of 10 to 1
3 contributors went from bothersome rating of 10 to 2
7 contributors went from bothersome rating of 10 to 3
4 went from bothersome rating of 10 to 4
In all of the most severe cases vaginal steaming drastically reduced the amount of bothersomeness these users were experiencing to less than half what they started with. The majority of people with severe concerns only reported a bothersome rating of 1 after steaming showing that they experienced a huge improvement in quality of life.
This percentage shows the total contributors who saw improvement in this area however all of the contributors did not experience this concern. The percentage would be higher if it was looking at the improvement rate among people who had that concern only. For example, the statistic on back pain tells us that 115 people steamed and 34% saw improvement with back pain but we don’t know many had back pain to start with. We know that some of them did not so therefore they would not report that improvement. A separate study would be needed to determine the exact rate of improvement for pelvic steaming only as it relates to back pain. It’s statistically probable that it would be higher than 34%.
“this is the best lifestyle I have ever had
This is the healthiest I have been in my life as a young woman. I get up with so much energy and I feel I am ready to start the day. I feel very positive mentally. I feel great in my skin as I lost so much weight. I have no acne and my skin is flawless. I have better intimacy moments with my husband with a better libido. I also went from being an angry and anxious person to passive and relaxed. This is the best lifestyle I have ever had.”
“ZERO pain
I had given up hope that any “natural remedy” was going to help the severity of my experience on the first day of bleeding. The very first period I had after steaming correctly (according to my conditions, using a DIY tutorial to clarify the appropriate protocol for me personally), I had ZERO cramps. ZERO pain. ZERO nausea. ZERO temperature fluctuations. I felt like I finally had my life back. Let me be clear: I wasn’t expecting this to work, and I thought that if it was going to make a difference, it would take months for me to see the change. Not only was my first cycle after after steaming pain-free; it was actually comfortable and enjoyable.”
“I only wish I knew about steaming sooner
I quickly was able to recover, regulate and find balance with my menstrual cycle. It is the healthiest it has EVER been and I only wish I knew about steaming sooner. My PMS symptoms (bad cramps, back & body aches) are non-existent and my periods generally are now a very easy time. I finally know how to properly take care of myself and my gynecological health. I no longer get UTI’s and if I feel one is coming on, I steam and it is immediately gone. I feel so much better educated about my body and my health and am so grateful to be able to take care of myself in a natural and effective way. I also feel a much greater sense of peace about becoming pregnant as well as taking care of my body after a baby with postpartum steaming. It is a relief to have effective, safe and natural self and/or practitioner lead education and care for women’s health, wellness and happiness.”
“whatever was tightly coiled inside of me… relaxed for the first time in my life
For one thing, this totally relaxes me. I NEVER felt right after each cycle. I felt tense and like all my muscles were bunched up. After the first steam it felt like whatever was tightly coiled inside of me and tense and sore and hurting finally relaxed for the first time in my life. For that reason alone I decided to steam again. Pain MEDS never did that for me. Absolutely amazing. And free.”
“I no longer suffer with endometriosis symptoms
I no longer suffer with endometriosis symptoms and the prolapse no longer causes issues. Steaming gave me my life back.”
“I got pregnant
I feel healthier, emotionally and physically. I feel much less pain from my cycle and much less emotional pain (I used to cry all day the first day of my cycle) My cycle has gone from 6 days (the first and last day were not an actual flow, just a bit of brown discharge/spotting… to now being 4.5 days of only blood. My clots have reduced. My cycle now averages 26 days apart instead of 24. I got pregnant (our reproductive issue was low sperm count but I feel steaming helped me get pregnant anyway).”
