When you go to the doctor's office, you expect to be treated with respect. You come in with the expectation that your body or your lifestyle choices won't be shamed. You ESPECIALLY expect that from a gynecologist, who gets paid to look at your most intimate parts.
Unfortunately, the opposite was true for the women below, where a trip to the ob-gyn turned into something way more shame-y. The Hippocratic Oath doesn't cover this kind of BS.
One woman was told her depression wasn't real.
This woman's story started with her having to wait nearly two hours to see the doctor, but that's not all.
When she said she had depression as a teenager, the doctor asked her what she could possibly have to be depressed about. He also told her that depression was over-diagnosed in Canada.
UM, WHAT.
It's not a gyno's job to determine if someone's depression is "real" or not. UNACCEPTABLE.
This woman went to the gyno for a refill on birth control for PMDD, only for her female doctor to tell her it's not her job to deal with her "psychiatric problems."
PMDD is very real for around 5% of women of childbearing age. For this doctor to dismiss it as "psychiatric problems" is incredibly offensive and harmful to those already suffering. Sounds like it's time to get a new doctor.
This woman was patronized and lectured on sexual trauma.
When asked to explain what caused her PTSD — something a gynecologist shouldn't be getting into at all — a woman revealed she underwent sexual trauma, which includes rape, assault, childhood molestation, and sex work.
Instead of moving on (or, like, not even asking about it at all), the gynecologist chose to patronize her patient, and tell her that she needs friends. NOT. OK.
Another woman pointed out this concerning sign in her ob-gyn.
Was the sign referring to cunnilingus or was it low-key slut-shaming? Who knows.
This woman was asked if she was seeing anyone as the doctor shoved his hands in her vagina.
Talk about awkward.
And if that wasn't bad enough, this ob-gyn tried setting up his patient with his son...while examining her.
I'm cringing for her.
Another ob-gyn asked what their patient was doing after her appointment — because she shaved.
Even if the ob-gyn wasn't trying to make her patient feel uncomfortable, assuming a woman is shaving for some sort of special occasion is kind of creepy.
Another doctor shamed a woman FOR shaving.
One doctor said that shaving was "unhygienic" and that only "low-class women do it."
While there is truth to the claim that shaving is unhygienic because it exposes your skin to a greater risk of contracting an STI, saying that only some women do it is inappropriate and definitely shameful.
OK, ob-gyns, leave women's shaving habits alone.
A woman's grooming habits are between her and her razor. Don't call them terrible.
A woman's shaving preferences are not "cute."
Seriously, why is shaving such a big deal to doctors?
Another woman said her ob-gyn called her gonorrhea gross.
Um, isn't a gynecologist supposed to treat STIs and STDs? Calling something that they're getting paid to treat "gross" is childish AF.
There's literally no need to comment on a woman's body. It's totally unnecessary.
Unless a patient's "large labia" is somehow going to adversely affect her health, commenting on it is unnecessary.
Seriously, don't comment on women's bodies.
Even if you have something positive to say, it just makes it supremely awkward.
In case the people in the back need to hear it again: commenting on women's bodies is flat out rude and disrespectful.
Just because a woman is skinny doesn't mean she has an eating disorder. To assume so is just plain rude — especially for a doctor. Move along.
Another woman was told she was "too young" to make any decisions about having children.
A 30-year-old woman was told she was "too young" to know for sure if she definitely doesn't want to have kids.
Here's the thing, though — it's not an ob-gyn's job to question a woman's decision on having children. Questioning a woman on choosing not to have a child is patronizing and misogynistic, implying that a woman's greatest purpose in life is having children.
Even worse than being body shamed during a doctor's visit is being violated — which happened to this woman.
After specifically telling her doctor she didn't want a male medical student in the room during her pelvic exam, the doctor ignored her wishes and allowed two people into the exam room to observe.
Before you say, "she should've said something!" know that freezing in these circumstances is incredibly common and it can be hard to speak up when you a. already said no once and b. feel you have no control. Regardless, you have the right to your privacy and a doctor should respect it.
Sadly, this happens more often than it should.
And then there's this gynecologist.
One patient applauded her ob-gyn for posting a printout of Channing Tatum's face above her examination table.
Moral of the story: Don't comment on patient's bodies or sexual past. A photo of Tatum will get you a better rating on ZocDoc.
