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Cal's avatar

Dr. Gunter, two questions: any theories as to why men who appear to dislike women go into gynecological medicine? And are there any serious studies in progress tracking how many women turn to 'alternative' therapies after feeling humiliated or shamed by their GYN doctors?

Asking because I read Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom when I was in my 20s. I was impressionable and although some of what she said made me go, Huh?? I was so grateful for a book like hers that I didn't perceive it as misinformation. I'm so glad I didn't go down the 'alternative medicine' path any further than I did. (Thank you for outing her and continuing to call out pseudoscience profiteers.)

I recently had my first appointment at a well regarded Menopause Clinic in a major teaching hospital in NYC and the experience was so awful (young, male MD treating the encounter with barely veiled mortification and hostility) that I told my husband it's no wonder so many middle-aged women turn away from conventional medicine. Someone that unskilled and/or uncaring - regardless of their medical expertise - can instill lasting humiliation and fear, especially when the medical issues are of such intimate and potentially embarrassing variety. (This was actually my second visit to the GYN wing of this hospital and my second bad experience. My first visit resulted in a minor but very painful injury from a pelvic exam.)

I think this is a major problem and I seriously wonder if there should be a whole new class of medical staff trained to support patients, either in the exam/consult room or in the days following, say, over the phone.

I'm supposed to have a follow-up visit in a month and I find myself dreading it so much. I'm still so angry about my first visit (not to mention terrified at the thought of ever having another pelvic exam) that I'm trying to work up the courage to inquire with the attending physician there whether it's within my patient's rights to only have only her treat me - no students - because I'm actually afraid I'll never go back otherwise.

Sorry for the long post. This one touched a nerve.

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GrannyK's avatar

I read her first book at a time in my life when when I was frustrated with my job (O.R. Nurse) and had just gotten out of my second marriage. I started of interested in what she had to say and finished it thinking WTF did I just read. I started her second book and just couldn’t go on after the first 2 chapters. At that time I owned her first three books; I threw them away instead of donating them to the library which is what I normally do with books I no longer want. I just couldn’t leave them someplace they would still be in circulation. If I had had a place to burn them I would have done so.

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