For women’s health, I wanted to quickly dive into some rather sad statistics. First if you are a woman or if you are someone who loves a woman in whatever capacity, I want you to feel empowered to speak up for your right to appropriate health care. Your body is yours, you are well within your right to refuse care that infringes upon your bodily autonomy. You are not at the behest of your healthcare professional. You are well within your right to question, ask, and fully understand what is happening and why before you give consent.
I also want you to feel empowered to request your healthcare professional to review your health concerns again or get a second opinion if you feel like you have been brushed off.
When it comes to reproductive health, women often feel as though they are brushed off. I remember with my first pregnancy, I was made to feel shamed for needing to take medication to prevent myself from throwing up. I was nauseated to the point of being dehydrated and the doctor who saw me was insistent that I might not actually need medication. I had something called hyperemesis gravidarum, where I lost weight instead of gaining it while pregnant, but was still made to feel like a bad mom-to-be. During my second pregnancy, I developed Pubis Symphysis Dysfunction, which created so intense pain that I could barely walk upright. Driving was painful… But the most I got from my doctor was “yeah, that sucks. It isn’t that uncommon for second pregnancies.” as though that was supposed to make suffering okay.
I have a friend with endometriosis and another friend with PCOS… Both of them spent years voicing their concerns to their doctor and suffering through debilitating periods before their doctors finally did tests. Some discomfort during your menstruation is normal, but pain that interferes with daily life is not normal. Do not let a doctor or nurse practitioner tell you otherwise. Use your voice, I’ve got your back.
