What A Healthcare Provider's Visit "Should Not" Look Like

Dr. Karen Tang

There are so many women who have suffered for YEARS with horrible period pain and/or abdominal bleeding. Oftentimes, they see healthcare providers who either minimize their concerns ("Everyone has period cramps! It's normal!") or only offer one treatment ("Hysterectomy is your only option").

Every individual deserves to have their concerns heard, a full work- up done to figure out what's causing their symptoms, and all of their options explained, including the risks and benefits and limitations of each option. Healthcare providers should work with each individual to figure out the best, safest, and most acceptable treatment for THAT PERSON, taking into consideration things like their thoughts on medicine vs surgery, health risks, and thoughts on fertility, whatever those might be!

Thanks to The White Dress Project and HealthyWomen for highlighting some of the communication challenges that people may face --- and starting this dialogue on how it can be DONE RIGHT!

Have you experienced appointments like this? And/or how did your health-care provider do it RIGHT?

To healthcare providers, how do you approach these consults and discussions when it comes to conditions where there are many treatment options?