Sexism in Medicine

_bethiebabes · 2021-01-23T13:47:50+00:00

'Females tend to diagnose themselves' yeah because doctors refuse to diagnose us.

RedPlanit · 2021-01-23T16:20:02+00:00

Shit like this is how I almost died. I went to the ER THREE times in three days trying to get help because I was in such immense pain. The first time I was written off by a male doctor, being told it was a simple UTI and prescribed some standard antibiotics. I insisted this didn’t feel like a normal UTI and they told me “women get them all the time”. The second time, a different male doctor told me it was period cramps and sent me home. The third time I had a fever of 104, was projectile vomiting, had a migraine so bad I could barely see, and I had passed out on the floor of my bathroom. When I was finally taken to the ER for the third time, they tried to write me off as dramatic and told me it was likely the flu, ignoring my other symptoms of immense pain. They tried to get me to stand and I could not stand and immediately fell forward and vomited all over a poor medical student.

He finally was the one to speak up and say he thought I had sepsis. Sure enough, I did, along with a bladder infection.

I have never been in so much pain in my life. I was sobbing hysterically and could hardly breathe.

I was in the hospital for almost two weeks and was told that if I had waited one more day to come in, I would be dead.

Imaginary_Bed_2572 · 2021-01-23T14:04:41+00:00

Is a doctor, looks up her medical record and somehow believes she wrote the diagnosis herself.........

Equipoisonous · 2021-01-23T14:22:01+00:00

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Hedy__Lamarr · 2021-01-23T14:41:11+00:00

Another reminder to avoid male doctors whenever possible. This kind of thinking is so common. Most male doctors would have just had an internal monologue "Endometriosis? **eyeroll**"

I had a male maternal fetal medicine doctor (MFM) who was absolutely amazing. But he dedicated his life to mothers and their unborn children. When it comes to a GP, OBGYN, endocrinologist, dermatologist, gastroenterologist etc, always opt for a woman whenever possible.

Papaverinum · 2021-01-23T13:54:15+00:00

Male doctors are one of the biggest NVM on this planet (with overinflated ego...).

Wkndwhorechata · 2021-01-23T14:06:21+00:00

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Pornruinedsociety · 2021-01-23T14:54:42+00:00

I'm just reading about misogyny in medicine and came across 'The husband stitch', when I gave birth I had a small tear and they said we might have to stitch it up, my husband replied 'put an extra stitch in' and laughed jokingly, I didn't realise this was an actual thing and the term is The husband stitch! He disgusts me, both my ex husband's seriously disgust me and make my skin crawl, thank fuck I left them both! Never again...never again!

lateglower · 2021-01-23T15:56:12+00:00

I know women die every year because their male doctors don’t believe them.

When I was 23, I had a pain in my groin and told my doctor I was worried I had a blood clot. He spoke to my bf in the room with us instead of me, telling him it sounded like I had an std. I told him that was impossible (at least on my end).

I kept calling back, telling him the pain was getting worse and moving, and was told to just wait for blood test results. A few days later I woke up and my leg was bright red and swollen and I couldn’t walk. I was admitted to the ICU with a foot long blood clot that could’ve broken apart at any moment and killed me by stroke or heart attack. The clot had to be surgically removed while I was awake, and I’m still amazed I didn’t die or lose my leg because of that fucker. And I’m a white woman, so I can only imagine the ways men in the medical community treat women of color.

Edit: also I dated a doctor later and he was the most degrading man in bed I have ever slept with (outside of actual rape I mean, major power issues), and in short order that translated to also verbally degrading me

misty-muse · 2021-01-23T15:54:41+00:00

Thanks in part to FDS, I am so glad I have learned to not tolerate anyone, even my doctor, talking to me this way. If this happened to me, I would immediately walk out. I’ll never see a male doctor again if I can avoid it.

ferociouslycurious · 2021-01-23T17:07:12+00:00

Because doctors ignore and discount us. Live long enough and you’ll know women who die from treatable diseases who sought medical advice but were blown off. A friend lost his wife to a brain tumor because her worsening migraines were attributed to “female problems”. By the time a physician (female) listened, it was too advanced and surgery was unsuccessful.

Emergency-Feed8216 · 2021-01-23T15:51:00+00:00

I think the healthcare system in the US promotes every negative "ism" (sexism, racism, etc.) partly or even largely because of how the system is organized. Sexism and racism in medicine obviously pre-date neoliberal privatization but neoliberalism seems to consistantly facilitate the worst human impulses, ensuring that systems become more resistant to social progress.

Personally I prefer doctors in public health systems in third world democracies. Many that I've encountered have this Doctors Without Borders-ish sense of commitment and humility, probably because the pay really isn't narc-bait and also because of the reigning philosophy that healthcare is a right. Narcissists with God complexes no doubt exist but would have to disguise their MOs more carefully within this tradition. Even doctors in private hospitals within countries with genuinely public health systems seem generally cooler. How that's even possible in countries that still suffer from technicolor forms of toxic machismo might lend to the argument that the economic philosophy driving a system can either reduce or exaggerate the expression of a society's existing biases. All I know is that I have felt more or less sexually battered in nearly every medical encounter in the US since my teens but surprisingly not so much in certain other countries where I've lived and traveled. And I'm not alone in reporting this. Exceptions to this can be found in repressive attitudes about abortion (e.g., courts forcing teen rape victims to carry pregnancies to term), but this generally comes from bureaucratic posturing, not doctors themselves.

The driving economic philosophy also impacts quality of care in measurable ways. One third world latin country with a true public health system that had a swift government response to COVID but really scarce financial resources has a COVID death rate seven times lower than the richest regions in the US. Even after rates of infection soared because govt. could not keep sponsoring workers to stay home, the mortality rate remained seven times lower than Boston, a medical industry and research hub. It's shocking. By all accounts COVID deaths are accurately reported (I'm not talking about Chile or Brazil that had crap responses to COVID and then tried to hide and misreport predictable death rates)-- they are simply lower.

I've heard the NHS used to be groovier, friendlier and more effective before partial privatization/neoliberalization of UK public health. I'm very interested in how neoliberalism creates colder societies and shittier standards of service, including in medicine. To the extent that neoliberalism is arguably a return to ape feudalism veiled under "free market" economic mumbo jumbo, it would theoretically amplify sexism.

FantasticBlood0 · 2021-01-23T17:05:46+00:00

Fifteen years. Fifteen years my mother was told she was being crazy, that she was a hypochondriac, that she was making things up, that she was being over paranoid because she is a nurse. She got her diagnosis 5 years ago - it’s multiple sclerosis. Now she’s wheelchair bound, suffering from blood clots, immobile. Fuck (some) men in medicine.

_RustInPiece_ · 2021-01-23T14:29:26+00:00

[TW] The sexism I experienced in women's health is indescribable. During examination I had one young male doctor r*pe me with a medical device, because he somehow enjoyed forcing a 14 y.o. to cum against her will. You could see the smirk on his face. Women doctors didn't prove to be any better. They all had this "suck it up, you are a woman" mentality, when I told them it hurts too much and that they should go slower. Some made fun of my body during examination. All ridiculed me for speaking up against their rough treatment because I had piercings and therefore should be used to the pain. I don't know how often I had to find another doctor. When I told those female doctors that their oh-so-gentle examination made me bleed for 2 weeks, requiring me to wear panty liners they just shrugged it off as my personal problem. I can't recommend male doctors but female pickme doctors are also straight up dangerous.
And all doctors in women's health seemed to be after my money. You have to pay extra when you want a full examination or any examination at all, even when your insurance covers it. "Pay 50€ extra or we won't treat you today. Come back in 3 month and pay up." How am I supposed to advocate for regular health checks under those conditions?

2021-01-23T15:42:47+00:00

I diagnosed myself with Celiac Disease at 25, and guess what? I was fuckin’ right. Endoscopy and genetic testing confirmed it.

FURYOFCAPSLOCK · 2021-01-23T14:48:35+00:00

Time for a new doctor

noavocadoshere · 2021-01-23T15:33:22+00:00

i made a promise when i was younger to never see another male doctor again and idc how male practitioners feel about it. seeing one in my adolescence not only ruined my fairly good and transparent relationship with doctors (all women) prior to him, but made me frightened to fully open up because how callous he was. i never want to feel that way again, especially by someone who was supposed to help me. how i wish i could go back in time and tell him that he shouldn't talk to me or anyone like that and tell him to go fuck himself.

Aik2 · 2021-01-23T15:43:11+00:00

This is one of the many reasons I choose to always go to female doctors :)

2021-01-23T17:00:14+00:00

my doctor growing up(who also was my moms doctor who delivered me) gave me a pelvic at 15 and had a nurse come in because he apparently loved my vagina because it was “textbook”. i was too young and didn’t really know or care at the time but i look back now and i’ts so disturbing. i ended up working with him at the hospital occasionally and he was there one of the times i went in for pregnancy issues to the ER. apparently he left his wife for a 23 year old nurse. no shock.

MushroomsInTheAttic · 2021-01-23T15:34:53+00:00

Unfortunately I have close familiarity with this. I have a few chronic conditions, some of them are undiagnosed for years for these reasons.

A (male) doctor I've been to told me that "sometimes young women make themselves think that they have a problem and this actually makes them believe that the problem exists". And a few more were quick to blame my problems on anxiety without even trying to check what's wrong. And let's not even start talk about experiences with male gynos...

laughingatsalad · 2021-01-23T15:26:34+00:00

Doctors do this kind of shit and then they wonder why so many women are into crystals, oils etc. Healing crystal are not backed by science but it wont accuse you of being crazy and give pills you dont need

CeruleaAzura · 2021-01-23T16:21:03+00:00

My boyfriend's auntie died of stomach cancer because several doctor's refused to listen to her for well over a year. She eventually went to a private hospital because everyone she dealt with in the NHS refused to take her seriously. By the time she diagnosed it was terminal, less than a year to live. Doctors regularly kill women with their incompetence and they have the audacity to criticise women who self diagnose...

Savesomeposts · 2021-01-23T21:35:31+00:00

How doctors see women’s pain less seriously

Women are more likely to survive heart attacks if treated by female doctors

It takes women 6-8 years on average to be diagnosed with endometriosis

Sewud · 2021-01-23T15:28:35+00:00

If you talk about experiences going to the doctor, a lot of the time for women it's "I have x problem and the doctor didn't do anything about it" and for men it's "I walked into the doctor's office asking for Y prescription, and I got it".

Theboredshrimp · 2021-01-23T17:13:21+00:00

I'm a med student and our biochem teacher told us that "the pain women feel during their periods isn't real, it's actually mental because when they ovulate they lose a child" and when I told him about endometriosis he shrugged me off You're a pharmacist STFU

He said so much sexist and STUPID stuff my braincells are sizzling just thinking about it, he used a study conducted on rats to explain s FeMaLe PhEnoMenOn that isn't real for God's sake !

SoybeanApocalypse · 2021-01-23T20:09:53+00:00

Self-diagnosis can be an important step towards actual diagnosis, especially for things that are chronically underdiagnosed in women. You might be proved wrong by tests or assessments, but at least you are looking at the possibilities based on research and closely following what your body and mind is doing.

I wouldn't be surprised at ALL if women do this more, considering that men are notorious for going to the doctor much less, especially for mental health services. They aren't watching themselves as closely. I think the real question is, why is womens higher vigilance over our own health considered a BAD THING?

Edit: or rather, another good question

watpompyelah · 2021-01-23T16:01:00+00:00

Feeeeeemales diagnose themselves.

MarriedWithPizza · 2021-01-23T18:46:37+00:00

When my mom had breast cancer, before she was diagnosed, she went to three different doctors complaining about intense pain on her breast, they did a bunch of scans and tests, but no one wanted to do a pet scan because she seemed fine. Three doctors said she was ok, and maybe she just damaged a tissue. It was a 4 months back and fourth with the three doctors. My mom was persistence and refused to accept their answer, even I thought she was being a little crazy, I mean how can 3 doctors be wrong??! She finally went to a women’s hospital that focused on immigrants, and they did a pet scan on her immediately. She had just gotten to stage 4 breast cancer. This means that when she was going to the three doctors complaining of pain, she was still on stage 3. But because of their back and fourth answers, and refusal to believe her, her cancer had advanced. I learned that day that doctors will not take you seriously, so you NEED to be in tune with your body and demand better care. My mom should have sued those doctors.

thinktwiceorelse · 2021-01-23T16:43:46+00:00

Reminds me of my doctor. Me: That might be a weird question out of nowhere, but do you think there's a possibility of endometriosis in my case? Him: Well, it's possible. But we could find out only via laparoscopy...anyway. And he continued with what he was talking about previously.

Vmwvi · 2021-01-23T20:18:26+00:00

My ex was a sexual sadist who abused me and another girl he dated before me. He’s at a top medical school.

spicyspa · 2021-01-23T15:39:36+00:00

Awesome comeback! "Females." I bet he's a MGTOW. My ex-husband used to diagnose himself all the time. In fact the only people I know who diagnose themselves are men.

Sadplankton15 · 2021-01-23T13:39:18+00:00

Recently had an argument with a man about sexism in medicine. As someone studying an MD and a PhD, and also as a woman, I have a fair idea. Needless to say he didn’t listen to what I was saying, as he “never experienced it”.

Villanelloh · 2021-01-23T22:11:36+00:00

Doctors may as well just tell girls that from puberty onwards you're just going to suffer pain for the rest of your life because you're women. Meanwhile boys are so sympathised with when they suffer the mildest amount of pain. Male scientists need to fucking prove how "great" they are at medical science by helping women with gynaecology related problems

muse539 · 2021-01-23T23:27:42+00:00

I wrote the final paper of my undergraduate career on this topic! Take a gander, if you want to!

Black Mothers are Dying: The Women Behind the Numbers

Godschild2020 · 2021-01-24T00:13:24+00:00

Can someone tell me why men want to be gynecologists so badly? They work to diagnose and treat anatomy they don't have and have the nerve to dismiss the patient's feelings? On what basis? I'd love to tell a man, no your erectile dysfunction is all in your head.

I just saw a MD who believed I was somatic because I complain of pain all over my body (RA/Fibro). They discovered a previous doctor's medical notes (male) in the group, who for the 15 minutes I was in his company said he didn't think I had any disorders even though I'd already been diagnosed. My female specialist I've been seeing has diagnosed multiple issues and is solving the problems the other 2 idiots couldn't. 70% of male doctors are horrible with female patients.

Valentcat · 2021-01-24T01:02:09+00:00

The AUDACITY. I’d be the fuck out of there.

When I was 15 years old, I went into a walk-in clinic for a UTI. I peed in the cup, then waited for a doctor.

The doctor (an older man) walks in, and tells me my urinalysis showed that I had a UTI. He then asks, “do you have a boyfriend?”

Not knowing where he’s going, I say, “yes, he’s picking me up from the appointment.”

He then looks at me and says, “tell him to go easy next time.”

I was stunned. Not all UTIs are caused by sexual activity, and he never asked if I was sexually active. I always thought that was so creepy and inappropriate of him.

Never feel wrong for sticking up for your care and/or dignity as a woman in a healthcare situation!

beatlefreak_1981 · 2021-01-23T15:18:11+00:00

Queue looking for a new Dr. This is just unacceptable.

UnpeacefulLily · 2021-01-23T19:02:51+00:00

In addition to dealing with sexism, black women have to deal with racism & plain ignorance.

Imagine a doctor who thinks you can tolerate much pain because of your skin colour. Or a doctor who doesn't even know what skin cancer looks like on dark skin.

I always opt for female doctors. And always black female doctors.

Can't be dealing with sexism & racism.

cananurse · 2021-01-23T15:37:22+00:00

I see it everyday at the hospital where a woman was seeking care for months and not taken seriously and then ends up on my unit with a hysterectomy or mastectomy either just in time or too late. Even my niece at 34 found a lump while breastfeeding and the doctor waited 3 months to do anything (wanted to watch it) because it’s rare for women her age to have cancer- she had to have radiation, a radical mastectomy, and chemo because it was an aggressive form of cancer! So infuriating!

whatevertoton · 2021-01-23T20:02:39+00:00

Feeeeemaaaales. Christ🙄🙄🙄

friendlypetshark · 2021-01-23T20:37:06+00:00

They act like its OUR FAULT we have sex organs and we should suffer for it. Its such a throwback to the Christian "Eve" view - and its become endemic even in people who aren't religious.

DigitalFriendForLyfe · 2021-01-23T21:41:12+00:00

As a woman with recently diagnosed endometriosis, this hurts. The first time the pain was bad enough for me to be afraid I was brought to the ER because I thought my appendix had burst. Their report concluded that I was constipated and glossed over the finding of a 2.5" diameter endometrioma found in my right ovary.

Luckily my sweet (female) friend who brought me to the ER is the daughter of a (female) nurse. She insisted that I should get a second opinion.

Luckily my (female) OBGYN saw my ultrasounds and basically diagnosed me immediately. We had to wait three months to confirm the diagnosis. She rolled her eyes as she read the discharge report saying that ovarian cysts are normal and it likely wasn't the cause of my pain.

I'm having my first surgery February 9. The path to pain relief has been so long but I feel so lucky to be surrounded by such strong smart women.

Mcccy · 2021-01-23T22:01:12+00:00

This hits back home. My mom had a cyst in her ovary but her gynecologist (man) would straight up LAUGH at her and said how it's normal for the last periods before menopause to be more painful (????)

She eventually went to another gynecologist (woman) her friend recommended and she had a freaking cyst the size of a ping pong ball.

veruscka · 2021-01-23T18:03:03+00:00

These stories about misogynistic doctors make me see red. I hope every woman that experiences something like this reports that shit. I’ve had male doctors say awkward things to me when I was younger and I didn’t say anything because I felt like it was my fault. Then I switched to only female doctors, and guess what... no more awkward comments.

2021-01-23T18:45:26+00:00

Women make better doctors for both sexes.

Irrelevant, I know.

*But not really.*

light_workerx3 · 2021-01-23T16:33:15+00:00

Unbelievable 🤦🏻‍♀️ my favorite is when I get told because I'm "young" that I'm not in pain ... Well I was diagnosed with myofascial and fibromyalgia so I guess it's all just in my head then ?! I'm 28 years old not 12 ...

StrawberryMoon3 · 2021-01-23T20:14:08+00:00

Females?? Women.

mfamilye · 2021-01-24T00:55:29+00:00

I was once at the Dr with a sick child.

Nurse ... Does he have a fever ?? Me ... Yes Nurse ... Do you know how high ?? Me ... pressing lips to child’s forehead About 103 degrees. Nurse ... snickering and ridiculing You can’t tell his temperature by touching his forehead !!! Nurse ... laughs loudly while taking child’s temperature Me ... What is his temperature ?? Nurse ... 102.7 degrees Me ... smiles inside

canering · 2021-01-24T04:15:52+00:00

My college roommate spent months trying to find a diagnosis for what was eventually revealed to be Lyme disease. Pretty much every doctor told her “you’re a young woman in college, it’s normal to have mental issues like anxiety exhaustion weight loss and forgetfulness!” And gave her anti depressants. The longer Lyme is undiagnosed the more damage it causes

2021-01-23T18:47:01+00:00

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KittyMimi · 2021-01-23T15:20:23+00:00

This is why I refused to go to a male OB/GYN. I searched for a female doctor, and found a great one. At least she has the same reproductive system as me. Yes, I fully believe that means she understands better and can diagnose me better. My counselor and my psych NP are both female as well.

My PCP is a male, but I have had him since I was a kid, and he makes my life easy. I can call and ask for antibiotics for a UTI without having to come in for a urine test, for example. If I did not have this relationship for so long, I am sure that a different male doctor would doubt my ability to diagnose the frequent, burning, unquestionable symptoms.

sugaredberry · 2021-01-23T21:06:15+00:00

This is why I only see female doctors that I have vetted myself. PERIODT.

SoftFortune64 · 2021-01-23T16:21:21+00:00

I would have walked out immediately.

FluffandRainclouds · 2021-01-23T19:55:33+00:00

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dwightuignorant_slut · 2021-01-23T17:01:17+00:00

I have a weird thing where sometimes when I eat stuff that's hard to digest, it sits in my upper stomach and makes it hard to breath. This sometimes leads to long episodes of rapid heart rate (100 bpm and above) and high blood pressure to the point where I think my heart will explode. It's very scary, and after thousands of dollars from an ER visit, it's been brushed of as anxiety. By everyone. I'll probably die from it and everyone will act surprised.

Coy__koi · 2021-01-23T17:56:04+00:00

I hate going to doctors. I have bad social anxiety so it's really hard for me to "advocate for myself" and not get trampled over. I still do my best but not once have I felt listened to or cared for, now I'm stuck with chronic pain for something preventable, something I went to three different doctors for. Ugh, rant over 🙁

glittersparkles212 · 2021-01-23T20:41:27+00:00

FeMaLeS

Momcella · 2021-01-24T06:55:41+00:00

You need to excersise, told him I already do. You need to eat better, told him I already do. You need to blah, blah, blah, blah. I already take care of myself well, tell me what's wrong with me. Lose weight -_-
Went to a different dr who actually ran tests, dug deeper & diagnosed me & my two kids. Turns out, my immune system was attacking me. Went back to the other dr for a different appt, told him I went to see another dr who came up with a diagnosis. He got angry. As he got up to leave, I still had a question, he right out said I should ask the other dr (not in a professional manner) . This dr I've been seeing for 10 yrs acted as if I cheated on him lol. Our appts were getting strange, I guess he was getting so comfortable seeing me, he started talking about how his marriage wasn't what it used to be. His patient was becoming his therapist.

coolestgirlyoueverme · 2021-01-23T19:41:44+00:00

I had this male family doctor where I used to live. I was suffering from extreme period cramps at the time. I went to see my doctor fully expecting him to dismis me and I was prepared advocate for myself, but to my surprise he really listened, took my symptoms seriously, gave me effective medication and ordered the extra tests I requested. What is sad about this is that I fully expected him to dismis me and the fact that I was so happy and relieved that he did his job.

cwfs1007 · 2021-01-23T18:58:18+00:00

I had a doctor dismissing me about an ankle injury and saying how I'll probably just need to stay off it, etc BEFORE taking an x-ray. It was a different tune when he came back with pictures of my fractured ankle.

0chrononaut0 · 2021-01-23T17:08:25+00:00

I haven't had too much issue with male doctors on the NHS in general medicine (been lucky) but HOLY FUCK are male psychiatrists and mental health workers in the nhs a different breed of awful.

Mandielephant · 2021-01-23T19:22:23+00:00

honestly though, I have endometriosis and most women I've mentioned it to also claim to have it. when i first got diagnosed i would ask women about their surgeries when they claimed to have it. not once had anyone who claimed to have it had the surgery required to diagnose it. so yeah i kind of get it. i don't even talk about it anymore so many people claim to have it people just think it means cramps. i promise it does not

luvmyvulvaxoxo · 2021-01-23T21:44:12+00:00

I suffered an injury lifting weights. I was told to take X and give it time, stretch more. I finally went to a specialist and when I'd taken my ex to advocate for me she said "this isn't a face of pain".... Even though I went from running, lifting weights, etc. to being unable to walk 15 minutes.

They finally ran more tests and IMMEDIATELY sent me to a pain specialist. I was told they'd never seen damage that bad. I was also told I'd have pain for life.

I went A FUCKING YEAR with that injury before it was fixed. Looking back I think I probably could have sued them and I wished I had.

favoritesound · 2021-01-24T00:47:34+00:00

Yeah and men tend to let health issues proliferate until it’s too late, and the die young. Is that what you’d rather have happen?

Fucking asshole doctor.

2021-01-23T13:52:51+00:00

As someone with endo, I want to scream at this doctor.

Why aren’t women taken seriously when we say we are in pain?? Doctors LOVE to gaslight us.

2021-01-23T15:00:44+00:00

It’s sad how rampant this is in the medical community. There’s so many studies out there that show women go years without a diagnosis despite seeking help bc they know something is wrong— it’s grossly prevalent in all ages but especially young women are gaslit into thinking chronic pains or illnesses are “in their head.”

Happened to me from age 12-19, finally (luckily) found a doctor willing to listen & immediately sent me to get an MRI for my back. Years of “that’s part of becoming a woman; stand up straight!; you’re just dramatic; you’re too emotional; you’re a hypochondriac making yourself believe that something’s wrong.”

Turns out I had multiple tumors impeding nerve tissue at base of spine. Unfortunately also in that time was diagnosed with Panic Disorder & when educating myself about it found out that it’s extremely common to affect people previously called hypochondriacs when un/misdiagnosed for years.

canwegoskinow · 2021-01-23T16:47:12+00:00

Takes an average of 7 years to be diagnosed with endometriosis. And the diagnosis will only be made after they have cut you open and observed it. Brutal chronic condition which a lot of male drs are completely ignorant about. It’s just pain during your period, take some Advil - all woman have it. So frustrating!!

caribbeanprincess17 · 2021-01-23T17:50:15+00:00

I have endo and thankful my second OBGYN (a sweet old man) caught on about my period pains so quickly. I’d spent most of my adult life believing the pain I experienced was normal when in fact it was not. Smh

saphirekey · 2021-01-23T20:38:57+00:00

I have a unique genetic disorder called a unicornuate uterus. My sister also has a unicornuate uterus. We both had awful periods and cramps that crippled us. No one listened to her until she got miraculously pregnant. I also have a rudimentary horn that will need to be fixed but my gyneo place got a new doctor that won't listen to me.

dididntgrin · 2021-01-23T14:59:00+00:00

Just like the stomach issues that I have had since being a child being diagnosed as IBS because they can't be bothered to do any actual tests and when I try a new doctor they just refer to the diagnosis as a reason not to listen to what I think

maxlouis1969 · 2021-01-23T20:52:55+00:00

recently I had to talk to an older white dr who was filling in for my regular dr. I needed a note for work to take some time off. I was upset and crying while explaining the workplace harrassment I've had to endure, and he said "well, ur just going to have to toughen up. man, I'd hate to be a woman! no, actually I'd hate to be black! a black woman!" this happened in 2020. I was speechless.

sunologie · 2021-01-23T21:24:43+00:00

This is why I exclusively only see female doctors and nurses for like— everything.

2021-01-23T22:23:18+00:00

Not to sound victim-blamey, but I think all women should request a female doctor.

wolf_town · 2021-01-24T00:18:46+00:00

Doctors fail women continuously. ASD is a great example of failure from doctors to understand their female patients.

SpaceC4se · 2021-01-24T00:58:49+00:00

Of course this motherfucker calls them females

Darkness_Pure · 2021-01-24T01:15:57+00:00

Omg I’ve been there. I had a dr refuse to even consider that I had endo. I finally found a good one and he listened and I was right. I had it and PCOS. I ended up with a hysterectomy at 28 because my endo was so bad.

Phoenix__Rising2018 · 2021-01-24T02:08:07+00:00

I got the same line from a fucking medical assistant about my pcos.

smilodon91 · 2021-01-24T05:59:48+00:00

Last year I called an ambulance for myself because for 5 hours I had a racing heart , chest pain and shortness of breath. And I could not drive myself to the ER. When we got there, the paramedic recommended anxiety pills. Gee, do you think he was a white male?

aquietsword · 2021-01-24T06:02:44+00:00

I'm sure other people have said it here, but if you ask for a test or have symptoms dismissed or any other kind of fuckery, MAKE SURE to ask Dr. Asshole to write it down and date it in your chart that you asked for something they refused.

2021-01-23T22:48:33+00:00

Wtf!

sciencebratzdoll · 2021-01-23T23:12:30+00:00

i hate to sound insensitive to y'all in these replies, but my experiences are completely opposite to y'alls; i have a severe pain issue w my vagina & every female obgyn i've been to has accused me of overexaggerating it because she "knows how painful it's supposed to be" and i'm "just not relaxed", while the male ones have all actually believed me when i describe it?? maybe i just got lucky though

Datonecatladyukno · 2021-01-23T23:05:19+00:00

I could have written this

brainsssszzzzz · 2021-01-23T23:17:46+00:00

I had IBS for years, with very little pain. I didn't notice the patterns because I don't pay much attention to my periods (mistake). When I finally started having doubling-over, vomiting pain, I went to the ER. They didn't exactly take me seriously, they said it was just IBS but might be ovarian... so when I asked for an ultrasound they agreed. Turns out I had masses of ovarian cysts in there, legitimately not hurting very much for the most part, but giving me constant diarrhea somehow.

Pay attention to your body.

fdsonlynoscrubs · 2021-01-23T23:37:58+00:00

I hope she found herself a different doctor.

BabyGotBantz · 2021-01-24T04:37:36+00:00

I don’t see male doctors. Females make better doctor’s period. They can empathize and actually listen.

AnniaT · 2021-01-24T16:07:55+00:00

"Females"? An incel doctor for sure.

quirkypinkllama · 2021-01-23T23:55:05+00:00

dayum girl. truth hurts!! maybe he'll stop being an ass to patients too!

Title	Sexism in Medicine
Author	greenteaapplepie69
Upvotes	11
Comments	267
Date	January 23, 2021 1:26 PM UTC (5 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/FemaleDatingStrategy
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/FemaleDatingStrategy/comments/l3c1tg/sexism_in_medicine/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/FemaleDatingStrategy/sexism-in-medicine.734751 https://theredarchive.com/post/734751

Comments

I diagnosed myself with Celiac Disease at 25, and guess what? I was fuckin’ right. Endoscopy and genetic testing confirmed it.