Why is it so hard for young women to get adequate female medical care?

Question

When I was 18 I started having constant abdominal pain. I went to my doctor who insisted that I must have an STD test. When all tests were negative the only answer I received was that there must have been some mistake with the test. I was admitted to the hospital and given a ultrasound. The female tech (who could have been fired for telling me this) told me that it was a classic ovarian cyst. My doctor responded by telling me the tech didn't know what she was talking about. After a week in the hospital I had exploratory surgery. They found the orange size ovarian cyst. That was only the start of a long string of doctors who refused to see me, refused to believe that I was not to blame for my health problems, and refused to give me adequate care. The 5th doctor I went to finally took good care of me. I'm so grateful to him. He saved my fertility and allowed me to have my son. My story is not unusual. Doctors often treat women like hysterical, whining, alarmists. Why?

Answer 1

1) women are more aware of and in tune with their own bodies and health. male doctors do not get this.

2) doctors spend a lot of time and money on becoming doctors... they must know EVERYTHING, and you (not a doc) must be ignorant / stupid.

3) doctors look out for other doctors, just like any other "brotherhood". even if they know you were misdiagnosed or improperly treated, they would never dime out their fellow m.d.

Answer 2

I think many male doctors have trouble understanding the female body, as it does not work the same as theirs. But I've had female doctors that were the same. During my pregnancy, I developed a pain above my belly button, like a sore muscle. It felt like a bump, and my uterus was not yet large enough to reach that area. I told my female doctor about it, and she just insisted it was heartburn. I knew it wasn't heartburn, but she wouldn't even let me protest her diagnosis. I still have that sore bump nearly 11 months after giving birth and I have yet to find a doctor who will even take me seriously enough to look into it. I don't think that female doctor had ever been pregnant though, either, so I think she also couldn't relate to my situation.

Answer 3

I think part of it is that they do get the women that complain about there cycle (Look at Nicole Ritchie who took vicodin for her pms.. that's just a bunch of bull!) And others just aren't very well educated in those areas that are becoming more of a concern. And of course.. lots of them are male and just flat out do not understand what we go through.

Answer 4

because there are a number who are, they kind of ruin things for the rest of us.