Brava! The lack of studies is woeful and means GPs who are struggling with a chasm of knowledge on many female issues. Unfortunately the changes keep kicking us in the ovaries - when I hit 30 they ramped up another level. I struggled to conceive for 4 years and only when operated on did they find fibroids and endo - with a huge section of my bowel attached to my uterus. 40 brought about more issues and thankfully through talking a lot more with friends and colleagues, I'm a little more prepared for what might be in store. However, the anecdotal doesn't translate into medical action so many menstruating people will be struggling on blinkered by the absence of tests, research and 'real' intelligence on the topic.
I'm really sorry that happened to you, Hannah! I hate that it took 4 years of struggling for them to check, and I'm glad your friends and colleagues have been able to share stuff for the next phase of your life. Things are getting marginally easier since the stigma related to these topics is reducing a bit (although we still have a long way to go).
Oh and you're absolutely right! The lack of research was also something else I paused on (and have since written on) — women were not mandated to be part of research until 1993 (only 31 years ago!) because we carry all the eggs we'll ever have so it wasn't a good look for wombs, I mean women, to undergo tests, smh. 🙄
It doesn't stop there. I didn't go into menopause until I was in my mid-50's, and when it hit, all hell broke loose. The first doctor I saw thought I had cancer and recommended that I have a full hysterectomy. Luckily, my surgery-phobic husband suggested I get another opinion. Basically, many tests, doctor visits and thousands of dollars later, they figured out that my problem was a combination of ovarian cysts and endometriosis: My (FEMALE!) GYN explained that the sudden drop in estrogen put my whole body in a tizzy. Seven years later, everything's settled down - a few hot flashes now and then, but pretty much okay.... and no more periods! Thank goodness I didn't let the first doctor proceed with the operation!
I did not know that "sanitary" products were not tested with actual blood - that explains the embarrassing leaks of years past. 😡 More research is neccessary... our reproductive system is tied up with all the other organs on our bodies, so doctors can't really treat women competently unless they take that into account. Thank you for another thought provoking article!
Oh gosh! Yeah, this seems to be recurring tale. Most of my friends swear they'll never go to a male gynac again because they seem to do one of two things: dismiss (too fat, no children, etc.) or go for an extreme option (taking out something that does more than just cause a problem, like you said). In India, a couple of years ago, there were crowd-sourced lists of gynacs you could find and approach. This was immensely helpful and it sucks that it was even needed in the first place.
You're also right on lack of research — when I wrote another piece on how little research has included female subjects in general, it was frankly astonishing. No women in research studies, no thoughts about helping them through issues, and then we continue thinking that women's hormones are so wildly unpredictable that they can't or don't deserve to be understood.
Thanks so much for reading and sharing your thoughts, Jeannine! I will also be writing on the lack of research, info, and understanding about menopause soon too — it's something I've been thinking about as well.
“It shouldn’t only become something worth studying when it affects fertility.” LOUDER FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK!! 📣📣📣
Thanks for reading, Darien! :D
Brava! The lack of studies is woeful and means GPs who are struggling with a chasm of knowledge on many female issues. Unfortunately the changes keep kicking us in the ovaries - when I hit 30 they ramped up another level. I struggled to conceive for 4 years and only when operated on did they find fibroids and endo - with a huge section of my bowel attached to my uterus. 40 brought about more issues and thankfully through talking a lot more with friends and colleagues, I'm a little more prepared for what might be in store. However, the anecdotal doesn't translate into medical action so many menstruating people will be struggling on blinkered by the absence of tests, research and 'real' intelligence on the topic.
I'm really sorry that happened to you, Hannah! I hate that it took 4 years of struggling for them to check, and I'm glad your friends and colleagues have been able to share stuff for the next phase of your life. Things are getting marginally easier since the stigma related to these topics is reducing a bit (although we still have a long way to go).
Oh and you're absolutely right! The lack of research was also something else I paused on (and have since written on) — women were not mandated to be part of research until 1993 (only 31 years ago!) because we carry all the eggs we'll ever have so it wasn't a good look for wombs, I mean women, to undergo tests, smh. 🙄
It doesn't stop there. I didn't go into menopause until I was in my mid-50's, and when it hit, all hell broke loose. The first doctor I saw thought I had cancer and recommended that I have a full hysterectomy. Luckily, my surgery-phobic husband suggested I get another opinion. Basically, many tests, doctor visits and thousands of dollars later, they figured out that my problem was a combination of ovarian cysts and endometriosis: My (FEMALE!) GYN explained that the sudden drop in estrogen put my whole body in a tizzy. Seven years later, everything's settled down - a few hot flashes now and then, but pretty much okay.... and no more periods! Thank goodness I didn't let the first doctor proceed with the operation!
Estrogen does a lot more than help us with reproduction: "In addition to regulating the menstrual cycle, estrogen affects the reproductive tract, the urinary tract, the heart and blood vessels, bones, breasts, skin, hair, mucous membranes, pelvic muscles, and the brain." (https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/estrogens-effects-on-the-female-body#:~:text=In%20addition%20to%20regulating%20the,pelvic%20muscles%2C%20and%20the%20brain.) Its partner in crime, progesterone, is also involved in "...the cardiovascular system, the central nervous system, and bones." (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8538361/#:~:text=Thus%2C%20it%20is%20commonly%20known,%2C%20and%20bones%20%5B1%5D.)
I did not know that "sanitary" products were not tested with actual blood - that explains the embarrassing leaks of years past. 😡 More research is neccessary... our reproductive system is tied up with all the other organs on our bodies, so doctors can't really treat women competently unless they take that into account. Thank you for another thought provoking article!
Oh gosh! Yeah, this seems to be recurring tale. Most of my friends swear they'll never go to a male gynac again because they seem to do one of two things: dismiss (too fat, no children, etc.) or go for an extreme option (taking out something that does more than just cause a problem, like you said). In India, a couple of years ago, there were crowd-sourced lists of gynacs you could find and approach. This was immensely helpful and it sucks that it was even needed in the first place.
You're also right on lack of research — when I wrote another piece on how little research has included female subjects in general, it was frankly astonishing. No women in research studies, no thoughts about helping them through issues, and then we continue thinking that women's hormones are so wildly unpredictable that they can't or don't deserve to be understood.
Thanks so much for reading and sharing your thoughts, Jeannine! I will also be writing on the lack of research, info, and understanding about menopause soon too — it's something I've been thinking about as well.
Thank you for your writings - I'll be looking forward to your article on menopause!