I have however faced discrimination, workplace bullying and sexual harassment, often all at the same time. I have been excluded, paid unfairly and been on the receiving end of mansplaining.

I have been controlled. I have been out numbered.

I have been doubted, underestimated and my kindness has been mistaken for weakness, repeatedly.

I've been told by men that they didn't want to compensate me for completed work I was hired to do.

I have been left out of the deal when there wouldn't have been a deal without me. A thief of a man stole from me after gaining my trust.

I've been silenced by a "settlement" after a man forcibly confined me at work and not one man or woman colleague helped me.

I have been used and falsely accused.

I have found my voice. Been ignored. I spoke up again and again and again. I've been patronized.

This day in fact. This day to honour women around the globe. On IWD 2018, a woman patronized me after stealing my ideas under the guise of collaboration to better the lives of women.

Because sometimes women are the problem.

It's complex.

I am not a victim. I am a woman. A privileged woman. We have a long way to go ladies. #InternationalWomensDay2018

Maureen McGrath is a registered nurse, sexual health educator, executive director of the Women's Health Initiative Network raising awareness about below the belt issues for women, vaginal, sexual, uterine and bladder health. She is in clinical practice in North Vancouver. She hosts the Sunday Night Sex Show on CKNW, CJOB, CHED and CCHQ. She is a TEDx Speaker, and author of Sex & Health: Why One Can't Come Without the Other. Her radio show is a free download on iTunes. Sunday Night Health Show

This societal malignancy of sexual harassment and workplace bullying, a common occurrence across every organization is difficult to understand. The good news is that these disgusting events ignited a firestorm in women and they began to speak up about their own situations. Most women have at least one. Hashtags like #MeToo and #MyHarveyWeinstein are pepper spraying the internet. And Harvey Weinstein never realized that Karma is actually....a woman. And Hell hath NO fury like a woman's scorn. Some men are now denouncing this behaviour but quite frankly guys it's too little and far too late.

But one might ask why don't women speak out about this soul and often career destroying behaviour? Worse, why do so few people who witness this behaviour fail to speak out or defend a target of a sexual harasser or bully? Fear. Fear all around. Fear that it was in their head for women (in part because we've been told we have hysteria for centuries). Fear that it would be perceived by others as their own fault because they had a drink or were dressed provocatively.

Those who witness sexual harassment or workplace bullying remain mum too. They're also scared. They don't want to lose their jobs. They may have been unemployed for a protracted period of time and fear job loss. Take Anna, a two bit scientist at a startup company, she was unemployed for three years when the rates of unemployment were at an all time low. How depressing is that? PhD and no job.

So when one of those startup companies was looking for a "scientist", she finally landed a job. She was hired because of her vulnerability because the head of the company was a narcissist. He thought he could abuse her and thought she would never call him on his abusive behaviour. He was right about one thing.

She witnessed many incidents of targeted workplace bullying and sexual harassment. However, early on, she got across to her boss that he was never to treat her the way he treated other women and he didn't. Why? She wielded some power. She learned her boss, a closeted gay man was having an affair with a well-known male politician. His out of work life consisted of cocaine fuelled addiction, depression, despair and men having sex with men.

She also knew the secrets of the science or lack thereof at this company and the promises to those who'd invested millions. Nothing there. According to her, his "solve a global problem" solution was a farce. It didn't work and she let him know it. Her job was safe. She held the power. As for abuse of the other women? Anna, mother of three young daughters, turned a blind eye.

Women are treated unfairly so often by men in the workplace. We are paid less and passed over for promotions, mansplained to and manipulated for sexual favours. Working in and outside of the home is often not too easy.

Unfortunately as the target of a sexual harasser or a workplace bully, without the support of colleagues, women are unarmed. They have no idea what to do and think there is nothing they can do. They blame themselves, try harder, become stressed may experience anxiety, heart palpitations, weight loss and sleep disruption. Many women suffer the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder much like victims of war after they've been sexually assaulted, harassed, or bullied in the workplace.

There are some important things women can do to deal with this.

Here are my suggestions:

1. Document any quid pro quo behaviour by your abuser, i.e. sexual favours in exchange for a promotion or job.

2. Document date, time, place and any witnesses of behaviour

3. Document in a notebook not on your computer and keep it in a safe place.

4. Gather the evidence, text messages, sext messages, emails and voicemails.

5. Report the harassment at work, in writing. If you had a conversation about it, follow up with an email.

6. File a complaint with the BC Human Rights Tribunal or whatever regulatory body has jurisdiction over this. BC Human Rights Tribunal has a six month statute of limitations.

7. Hire an employment lawyer. They will often not charge you until a settlement is reached.

Unfortunately, settlements silence women but if a company has enough of them to pay out, then the culture may begin to change. There are times when a job isn't worth one's soul and the only real option may be to leave the company, soul intact.

Maureen McGrath is an expert on workplace bullying and sexual harassment, a sexpert, women's health expert and hosts the CKNW Sunday Night Sex Show . Maureen's TEDx Talk on No Sex Marriage: Masturbation, Loneliness, Cheating and Shame has had close to 6 million views in one year. Sexless marriage is a thing. Maureen is the creator of the blog 50ShadesofPink.ca and has a clinical practice in North Vancouver, British Columbia where she helps many couples in sexless marriages. Maureen is also available for SKYPE consults. Contact her at her website: Back To The Bedroom For more information about Mona Lisa Touch a new novel hormone-free therapy for vaginal dryness, painful sex, low sexual desire and urinary incontinence visit Mona Lisa Touch.

I asked Leslie if it would be ok for me to ask her about her vaginal health and sexual life and she welcomed the help. She said that vaginal dryness was her only symptom and this seemed to be getting worse as time went on. Vaginal dryness can worsen if not treated. She said that her relationship was important to both of them and she was so sad that their sexual relationship had ended far too soon but she just could not handle the pain when he penetrated her. She had nowhere to turn, or speak to; she said as she had no sisters and her mother had passed away. She also said this was not something her friends discussed openly.

Sex life ending far too soon is all too common in the face of vaginal dryness. This is yet another taboo subject not only for women but for men too. According to Clarifying Vaginal Atrophy's Impact on Sex and Relationships (CLOSER) survey: emotional and physical impact of vaginal discomfort on North American postmenopausal women and their partners, most surveyed North American men believed that vaginal discomfort caused their partners to:

• Avoid intimacy (78%)
• Experience loss of libido (52%)
• Find sex painful (59%)

Approximately 30% of North American women and men cited vaginal discomfort as the reason they ceased having sex altogether.

Although Joseph was my actual patient, I felt that it was vital to treat both as a couple. Sex is very beneficial and may help people with mood and sleep, some of which were troubles that Joseph was experiencing. For Leslie, I recommended that she try an over the counter personal moisturizer, RepaGyn® daily for two months and then twice weekly to help improve the overall health of her vaginal tissues. The ingredients like vitamin E, aloe vera, and tea tree oil contained in RepaGyn® would help to keep her tissues healthy and youthful.

In my follow up visit with Joseph, at my recommendation, he had been to see his family doctor and had a cardiovascular work up for his ED. ED can be the “canary in the coal mine” for heart troubles and or diabetes. He did have hypertension (high blood pressure) and was now being treated. He also had treatment for his ED and he and Leslie (who was no longer experiencing vaginal dryness after have used RepaGyn® for one month) had gotten themselves back to the bedroom!