Women’s Healthcare = Big Questions
By Rachel Sandoval
My personal journey with my own reproductive health began about 3 years ago when I approached my OB/GYN with concerns about the long-term effects of hormonal birth control. I told my doctor, whom I had been seeing for the previous 5+ years, that I was considering stopping the use of birth control for a variety of reasons including the concerns I had about the effects of being on hormonal birth control for over 13 years. My doctor’s response was “there are no concerns with taking hormonal birth control for an extended period of time” and “you can stop at any time with no repercussions.”
Hard stop. That can’t possibly be right, can it?
I’m no doctor, but I couldn’t possibly wrap my head around that being true. So, my journey began to understand what the heck was going on inside my own body.
I began reading (and watching) anything I came across on the topic of women’s reproductive health. One book in particular, “Everything Below the Waist: Why Healthcare Needs a Feminist Revolution” by Jennifer Block showcased to me how complex the history of female health has been. I learned how birth control has somewhat become the catch all remedy for any gynecologically-related dysfunction (cramps, heavy flow, acne, etc.). This fact is true, even though studies and anecdotal reports show that there is a higher rate of diagnosis and treatment of depression among those taking hormonal contraception. But the fact that really got me, was “that one’s hormonal profile on the Pill looks more like menopause than pregnancy.”
Say what now?
It's not just gynecological medicine either; Block also explores how overdiagnosis and overtreatment of women is particularly acute. She quickly points out, “We’re more likely to be prescribed antidepressants and antipsychotics and recommended for electroconvulsive therapy. We’re also more likely to be prescribed opioids, and 40 percent more likely to become dependent on them. We are prescribed more drugs and more surgery in general.” Block goes on to explain how US doctors’ offices have remained stagnant when it comes to women’s health, particularly women’s reproductive and sexual health.
Through this journey to just understand what was going on in my body, I felt I kept coming back to one persistent thought: “I wish I had known about this sooner.” And why didn’t I? Why wasn’t I taught about the hormones in my body and how they would forever affect my health? My middle school health education didn’t prepare me for what I needed to know about my own body.
I thought I was being a responsible woman and empowering my own health by relying on the “expertise” of my health professionals. But the reality was, I was not receiving the information I needed to make informed decisions.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not blaming doctors. I am simply putting forth the idea that, as women, we have not been receiving all the information. We also haven’t been seeking it out, for a variety of social reasons including the fact that many of us have been brought up to believe that our reproductive health is something to feel shame about. We should be empowered to learn more about our health, and that includes our reproductive and sexual health. I know that all seems a bit grim, but there are ways to improve this – here are a few:
Comprehensive Sex Education – Advocating for age-appropriate education in schools and community settings
Patient-Centered Care – Shifting toward care that includes active listening of questions and concerns and creating a safe, non-judgmental environment
Research – Promoting research that is inclusive or female centered
Policy – Advocating for policy that supports and improves health outcomes and healthcare access for women
Eliminating Stigma – Working to eliminate the social stigma around reproductive health, menstruation, contraception, and the female body
For more on closing the female health education gap, check out this article by Dana Alloy.